Most impressive of all

Of the five Filipino fighters who won in Golden Boy’s World Cup at the Arco Arena in Sacramento last Saturday night, I thought superflyweight Z Gorres was the most impressive of them all.

Gorres gave a masterful display of boxing craftsmanship as he dominated former WBC lightflyweight titlist Eric Ortiz from start to finish. Referee Raul Caiz Sr. stopped it on the ringside physician’s advice at 2:15 of the eighth as Ortiz bled from a bad cut over his left eye and had an egg-like welt on his right temple. Ortiz was clearly in no condition to continue.

No other Filipino delivered a more classy performance.

Gorres fought intelligently. A southpaw, he circled away from Ortiz’ strong side, the right, and threw combinations from long range to fluster the Mexican. Ortiz desperately tried to force Gorres into a brawl but the Filipino wouldn’t oblige. Twice, Ortiz wrestled Gorres to the ground, hoping to get his goat and upset his rhythm. Gorres wouldn’t take the bait and stuck to his fight plan. He was brilliant in the ring, dazzling with his footwork and dizzying with his handspeed.

I gave Ortiz only one round, the third, and that was almost by default as Gorres backpedaled most of the way, avoiding the Mexican’s rushes and tiring him out. Ortiz used his elbows, shoulders, forearms and head to try to shake up Gorres. No dice. Unperturbed, Gorres methodically peppered Ortiz with a sharp right-left combinations that repeatedly found their mark.

Sure, Ortiz has seen better days in the ring–he was knocked out in a round by Brian Viloria. At 32, he’s seven years older than Gorres. And the former champion was initially booked to fight A. J. Banal in a sixer so it’s possible he wasn’t ready to fight a 12-rounder. Still, you’ve got to give credit where it’s due.

International matchmaker Jun Sarreal agreed that Gorres shone brightest.

“Gorres is a thinking fighter and he showed it against Ortiz,” said Sarreal whose newly opened gym on the third floor of a building in front of Sogo Hotel on Banawe is now the hottest workout facility in town (it has 700 members, including Francis Magalona and Michael V). “His handicap is he has no knockout punch. He also has to be more aggressive. Against (Fernando) Montiel, he could’ve won the world title but as a challenger, he had to carry the fight and he didn’t.”

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Sarreal said Gerry Peñalosa, who wrested the WBO bantamweight crown from Jhonny Gonzalez on a one-punch seventh round knockout on the same card, also made a good account of himself in a come-from-behind stunner.

“If he didn’t score a knockout, Gerry would’ve probably lost the decision,” said Sarreal. “He’s a technician, not a born fighter. He’s at his best when his opponents are coming in. When he fought (Masamori) Tokuyama in Japan for the WBC title, he could’ve won but didn’t do enough. Tokuyama was ready to quit in the seventh round but Gerry didn’t go for broke. It was a close fight and when you’re fighting overseas, the only way to get a decision is to win by a mile–like what (Bernabe) Villacampo did to beat (Hiroyuki) Ebihara for the world flyweight title in Japan despite three Japanese judges in 1969.”

Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim, who was at ringside in Sacramento, said A. J. Banal, Michael Domingo and Peñalosa were the most impressive winners in his book.

Banal poleaxed Jorge Cardenas in three and the Mexican had to be carried out of the ring on a stretcher. Domingo upset previously unbeaten Golden Boy prospect Miguel Roman.

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As for the only Filipino casualty, Lim said Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista will learn from his one-round knockout defeat to WBO superbantamweight titlist Daniel Ponce de Leon.

“It’s better to lose now than later since Boom Boom is still young at 21,” said Lim. “He has a tendency to fight back when he’s hurt, instead of moving out to recover. He was able to recover from knockdowns in the past but Ponce de Leon hit him hard, first on the chest then on the head. We’re not giving up on Boom Boom. He’ll be back.”

Sarreal said Bautista appeared too excited to mix it up and paid dearly for it.

“Boom Boom is strong but the question is–can he take a punch?” wondered Sarreal. “He was too stiff against Ponce de Leon and just stood in front of him. He’ll be a wiser fighter next time.”

ALA stable owner Tony Aldeguer said Peñalosa stole the show with his “lotto” punch–a shot to the liver that caught everyone, especially Gonzalez, by surprise. Before the fateful ending, Peñalosa was behind on two of the three judges scorecards with the other, even.

“I’m so happy for Gerry,” said Aldeguer. “He deserves it.”

I saw Gonzalez on top, 58-56, entering the seventh. Punch stats showed that Gonzalez landed 103 of 467 punches, compared to Peñalosa’s 69 of 357. Gonzalez also had more jabs connected, 31 of 248 to Peñalosa’s 17 of 162. Sarreal was  right. The trend indicated a Gonzalez win by decision but Peñalosa had other plans.