Gorres battles Thai in OPBF qualifier

WBO ranked No.5 super flyweight Z "The Dream" Gorres faces one tough obstacle before he vies for the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation title as the ALA Stable standout battles Thailand’s Wisanu Pornobnum in an official OPBF elimination bout on Oct. 29 at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.

The winner of the 10-round rumble will earn a mandatory shot at the OPBF junior bantamweight crown currently held by Masayuki Arinaga of Japan.

Arinaga’s handlers, however, have sent feelers this early that if Gorres wins, the Japanese champion is likely to abdicate his throne.

If this happens, international promoter Sammy Gello-ani said they are going to promote an OPBF championship fight for Gorres early next year in Cebu.

"Arinaga’s handlers told us that if Gorres wins, Arinaga will probably vacate his throne as he is not interested in defending his title against Gorres. If this happens, we are going to promote an OPBF championship bout for Gorres here in Cebu early next year," said Gello-ani.

But before thinking of his OPBF title shot, the 22-year-old Gorres must set his focus first on Pornobnum, who poses a big hurdle to the Cebuano fighter’s championship dream.

Pornobnom has fought 22 times in his four-year pro career, compiling a record of 16 wins, including three via stoppage, five losses and one draw. He is coming off back-to-back victories, the last was a masterful first round knockout of his compatriot Dechapol Bankluaygym three weeks ago in Phang Nga, Thailand.