Gorres battles Thai in OPBF eliminator

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 topbilling the "Fight for Fame" card on October 29 at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.

The winner of the scheduled 10-round rumble will earn a mandatory shot at the OPBF jr 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 impending OPBF title shot, the 22-year-old Gorres must set his focus first on Pornobnum, who poses as an impediment for the Cebuano fighter's championship dream.

Pornobnum has already 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.

Pornobnum once vied for the WBF International flyweight title, but lost via ninth round TKO to Filipino Sukarno Banjao on November 27 last year at the Casino Filipino Ampitheatre in Parañaque City.

Gorres, on the other hand, sports an impressive 20-1-1 win-loss-draw ledger packed with 11KOs. He beat former PABA light flyweight champion Deeden Kengkarun via lopsided unanimous decision in his previous bout last July 30 at the San Andres Sports and Civic Center in Manila.

In the supporting main event of this SGG Sports Promotions-presented slugfest, reigning RP bantamweight champion Michael Domingo (25-14-3, 12KOs) of SGG Stable will make the first defense of his title against former PABA flyweight champion Rolly Lunas (20-5, 10KOs) in the only 12-round brawl of the day.

Domingo won the RP crown after dethroning Joel Bauya via ninth round technical decision two months ago.

The other matches to watch out for pit rising ALA star Donnie Nietes (15-1-3, 10KOs) against WBC International minimumweight titlist Arman de la Cruz (17-6-2, 7KOs) of Guindulman, Bohol and ALA Stable's Robert Allanic (8-1, 5KOs) against Roy Doliguez (16-10-5, 9KOs).

Completing the explosive show are ALA Stable's Rollen del Castillo vs. Alex Aroy, Milan Melindo vs. Juaren Librez, Albert Yap vs. Agie Marapao, and Rashied Bacus vs. Tantay Recablanca.