KNOCKOUTS PREDICTED ON SATURDAY AT THE WATERFRONT
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 29 May 2008
CEBU CITY -- If one were to believe what the boxers were saying during today's presscon at the Golden Cowrie Restaurant in Lahug, the 'One More Time' boxing event set explode Saturday night at the Waterfront Hotel here will be a short night as all six boxers in the card's top three pairings each predicted to knockout his opponent.
UBO super flyweight champion Nick Otieno of Kenya said that he "hope Gorres won't run because I surely want to knock him out." To which IBF Intercontinental Champion Z 'The Dream' Gorres responded that he will "give what his Kenyan opponent Nick Otieno wants (a fight) to make the people happy."
Asked whether Otieno is predicting a knockout, Paul Otieno, Nick's brother and trainer said "definitely." To which Gorres' trainer Edito Villamor responded "maybe, he'll knock Gorres out but we'll make sure we'll knock him out first before he does one over us."
Gorres (27-2-2, 15KOs) is coming off a controversial draw against former IBF flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan at the Waterfront Hotel last February in a fight where knockdowns were registered by both camps but the fight went out of hand due to the inneptness of the referee. Otieno (15-1-0, 5KOs), on the other hand, earned the right to face Gorres when he stopped Gorres' original May 31 opponent Francis Miyeyusho of Tanzania in the first round last April 5 in Nairobi.
Gorres, who had been training to develop more of his power punches, needs an impressive him against Otieno to make a strong case for another go at a world title, possibly a rematch against Darchinyan if Darchinyan defeats IBF superfly champion Dimitri Kirilov of Russia schedule on August 2 in the U.S.
Rashid Ally (11-9-5, 2KOs), the 27-year-old Tanzanian who will challenge former world champion Malcolm Tu?acao (21-2-3, 14KOs), cracked up the media in attendance when he told Tu?acao that "he should have stayed retired" and because he didn't, he'll "make sure I will retire him after this fight." Stung, Tu?acao blurted "we will find out in the ring on Saturday" as both fighters predicted to knock each other out.
Judging from his record, it is hoped that Ally would bring more to the ring that could actually challenge the former WBC flyweight champion who is noted for his mastery of the sweet science than just cheap talk and actions as Ally also taunted Tu?acao during their faceoff for the photo ops.
Meanwhile, promising lightweight prospect 16-year-old Jason Pagara (13-1-0, 7KOs) of Cagayan de Oro City who will debut as an ALA fighter on Saturday, predicted that he will knockout his Indonesian opponent Heri Andriyanto (11-3-1, 7KOs) within three rounds. Andriyanto just laughed off Pagara's prediction and said "I don't care what he says. I come here to win and I will return to Indonesia with a title."
Pagara and Andriyanto will contest the WBO Youth Lightweight Title and as promised by WBO Vice-President for Asia-Pacific Leon Panoncillo, also a chance to barge into the world lightweight rankings. By all indication, the Pagara-Andriyanto regional title fight promises to steal the thunder out of the top two cards.
On hand to host the well-attended 'One More Time' press conference was ALA Promotions President Michael Aldeguer. Also present were ALA Promotions Vice-President Dennis Ca?ete and ALA Group of Companies big-boss and boxing patron Antonio L. Aldeguer.
The Philippines' top sports channel, Solar Sports, will cover the Saturday event and will telecast it on Sunday, June 1, 2-4PM on Cable; June 11, 4-6PM and on June 13, 5-7PM.
Top photo: Z Gorres (L) and Nick Otieno (R) pose with ALA President Michael Aldeguer during this afternoon's presscon at Golden Cowrie Restaurant in Lahug, Cebu City.
Malcolm Tu?acao (L) and Rashid Ally (R) pose during this afternoon presscon.
Jason Pagara (L) and Heri Andriyanto (R) pose with ALA President Michael Aldeguer (2nd from left) and WBO Vice President Leon Panoncillo during this afternoon's presscon.
One More Time (L-R): Pagara, Tu?acao, Gorres, Aldeguer, Panoncillo, Otieno, Ally and Andriyanto.
Photos by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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