Chipping in for Z Gorres
CEBU CITY -- The support is pouring in for injured boxer Z “The Dream” Gorres and his family.
Aside from the help given by Filipino nurses in Las Vegas during his two-month stay at the University Medical Center, and another promise for financial aid from Senator Lito Lapid, Gorres is set to receive more now that Manny Pacquiao stepped in.
Some P23.5 million more.
The amount is expected to help pay for Gorres’ hospital bill and his continuing rehabilitation in this city.
The handlers of Gorres are thankful that despite the tight schedule of Pacquiao, who is set to start training for his March 13 fight against Joshua Clottey, the Filipino is taking time out to help a fellow boxer.
“We’re very thankful (to Pacquiao). Any help can go a long way for Z. Right now, we need all the help we can get,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer said in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu.
Although no details of the dinner were given, a television report said it will be held in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao’s adviser Mike Koncz also said their goal was to raise $500,000 or P23.5 million in the dinner.
Gorres won his last bout against Colombian Luis Melendez but was rushed to the hospital after suffering from a blood clot.
He had two operations — the last one just last week.
That win against Melendez was supposed to be the stepping stone for Gorres’ rematch with Fernando Montiel for the WBO super bantamweight title. However, it turned out to be a career-ending fight.
Left side
Aldeguer said Gorres can now talk normally and the two were able to chat briefly Monday.
During his first few weeks, Gorres communicated mainly by using a pen and a paper.
However, Gorres, who was discharged from the hospital last Saturday, still has problems with the left side of his body, which suffered the brunt of his brain injury.
Gorres is scheduled to return to the Philippines on February 15; however, there is a possibility that it will be postponed to sometime in March.
Aldeguer said the boxer wants to improve some more before he gets to be reunited with his children — Dheybert, Shayla Dhey, Zhey, and Khodhey.
“Z said he doesn’t want his children to see him like this and asked me that he would like to return here when he has already improved,” said Aldeguer.
Gorres is expected to continue his rehabilitation at Perpetual Soccour Hospital in this city once he arrives. (EKA/Sun.Star Cebu)