Friday, February 23, 2007
Sayson: The Zs in Z Gorres
By Homer Sayson
Secondovertime
CHICAGO - It's easy to be mad at Fernando Montiel. He seems to have too much vinegar in his mouth, bragging that he will take out Z Gorres in the first round of their WBO super flyweight title fight tomorrow night at the Cebu City Sports Center.
It's also easy to like Montiel, the 27-year old champion from Los Muchis, Mexico. His overflowing confidence is admirable, and he showed a lot of balls by talking smack against his opponent in a distant, foreign land.
Beneath the verbal tornado, however, is the stunning truth that there truly is some bite to Montiel's bark. He has a 32-2 record with 24 KOs. He is mean and vicious, a dangerous puncher with an insatiable appetite for violence.
But at the end of tomorrow night's "Moment of Truth" offering by Sammy Gello-ani and Golden Boy Promotions, I believe that Z Gorres will walk away wearing the 115-pound championship belt.
Here's what I believe are the Z's to victory:
1) ZIGZAG — Normally, the road to success is a straight line. But in this case, Gorres will have to advance or retreat in a zigzag
pattern. He needs to weave and evade, because going head-on against a heavy hitter like Montiel would be like inviting a convicted sex offender to a bikini party.
Doing so would be hard, but having been trained by capable hands — Freddie Roach and Edito "Ala" Villamor — Z has the discipline to stick to the plan. He also the conditioning to run circles around Montiel.
2) ZIP — With only 14 KOs in his 26 wins, Gorres is obviously the lesser puncher in the duel. He will need to put more zip in his jabs, add extra mustard to hold off Montiel, who can be aggressive as a spurned lover.
A knockout punch is always a plus in the fistic jungle. But being able to deliver punishment through the accumulation of punches is just as lethal in a brutally debilitating way.
Gorres had beaten many foes by manifesting a ring brilliance that is both graceful and poetic. He needs to summon one more of those masterpieces to conquer his Mt. Everest.
3) ZEBRA — For Gorres to annex a world crown, he will have to move quickly, like a Zebra evading a hungry lion. He needs to stay away from Montiel, pepper the Mexican with jabs and lead rights.
And Gorres cannot, in no uncertain terms, loiter in the ropes where Montiel can unleash a storm of punches.
4) ZEAL — One of the endearing qualities of Gorres is his zeal, the passion to succeed. And fighting in his hometown, before his loved ones and his fans, Z will be energized. This is the biggest bout in his 24 years.
The great ones also rise when called, and I have no doubt Z will answer the bell.
The biggest question, really, is this: "Can Z take a punch, Montiel's punch that is?"
Absolutely. With his sleepy eyes and shy, quiet demeanor, Z is often misconstrued as a softy. But he really isn't. He is tough as they come. The fire in his belly can melt steel.
I last spoke to Z over the phone three weeks ago, when he was still in LA training at the Wild Card gym. He told me about his dream house, the desire to help his family, and the joys of watching his kids grow.
He hopes to someday retire as a champion. All he asks for is a chance.
That chance has come, the opportunity of a lifetime. The moment of truth is here. One fight, 12 rounds. For all the marbles.
Godspeed, Z Gorres.
(homsay@hotmail.com)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 23, 2007 issue)
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