Friday, February 23, 2007
Z too soon to be king: Montiel
By Rommel C. Manlosa
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
WBO super-flyweight champion Fernando “Cucholito” Montiel admitted that his challenger Z “The Dream” Gorres possesses great boxing skills that can make him a world champion, but not on Saturday yet.
In the final press conference barely 48 hours before the “Moment of Truth” at the Cebu City Sports Center, Montiel and Gorres met for the first time at the Caspian Room of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel yesterday.
Montiel explained that previous reports about him hesitating to come to Cebu to fight Gorres was a result of miscommunication,
“(Everything was a miscommunication), I am very much willing to come to the Philippines to fight Gorres. I will even come to fight him even in the moon,” Montiel said.
Listening to Montiel, Gorres, the 24-year old ALA Boy, stayed calm and focused for Saturday’s fight.
Perfect shape
“I am sure this will be a good fight. I am in perfect shape, I’m 100 percent mentally and physically fit and I’m going to get the belt for Cebu, for the country and for Sir ALA,” said Gorres, referring to ALA Boys mentor Antonio Lopez Aldeguer.
Gorres said he felt strong and ready to rumble because he knows that he has the homecourt advantage.
“I am not referring to the hometown decision things, because we know that Filipinos, especially the Cebuanos, hate those things. The homecourt advantage that I meant was the fans and the crowd who are going to support me. Their support would give me additional strength to beat him,” Gorres added.
Promoter Sammy Gello-ani appeared overwhelmed that his dream of holding a world championship match is just around the corner.
As for Gorres, Gello-ani is very much confident that the Cebuano fighter could take away the belt from Montiel, who came heavily armed to keep the belt.
Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) vice president Eric Gomez expressed excitement.
Great fight
“I am very excited. This is a great world title fight, which can be fought in the US or in Mexico. Whoever wins, this is going to be a great fight. Montiel is the best super-flyweight champion and Gorres is the best world title prospect,” Gomez stressed.
Both Montiel and Gorres are under promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions.
While Gorres still had four more fights remaining with GBP, Montiel, whose three-year contract with the Oscar De La Hoya owned outfit, still owe three more championship fights.
“Technically Montiel is still with us, but his contract has expired but there is a special clause in the contract that he had to fight under us for five championship fights. So far he has done two with us. This fight is not counted because this underwent purse bidding,” Gomez explained.
Evaluation
However, if ever Montiel loses to Gorres, GBP is going to evaluate the situation.
International matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz on the other hand assured that Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista’s late replacement Marino Montiel Gonzalez is physically fit and ready to face the Boholano sensation.
“Marino Gonzales is preparing for a fight in Mexico City next week but I had to pull him out of the card to bring him to fight Bautista. And I can assure that he is very prepared and ready to fight Boom-Boom,” explained Lewkowicz.
Gonzales will arrive at 8:30 in morning from Mexico.
Gomez and Lewkowicz brought with them the 18-karat gold world cup, encrusted with 115 diamonds and other gems, which is deposited at the Union Bank in Ayala.
The world cup, which will be contested by Filipino and Mexican fighters here sometime in July or August, is valued at $500,000.
Today, the official weight in will be held at the Park View Hall of the Rajah Park Hotel at 1 p.m.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 23, 2007 issue)
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