Melindo and Gorres Raise the Stakes
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 25 Feb 2009
ALA Boys Milan ?El Maestro? Melindo and Z ?The Dream? Gorres will be taking a gamble in their careers this March 14 at the Cebu Waterfront Resort Hotel.
The 20 year old Melindo will be facing former world champion Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia. Rachman is 16 years older and is a 73 fight veteran (62W- 6 L ? 5 D with 31 KO?s). He won the IBF mini-flyweight title almost five years ago with a 12 round decision win over Daniel Reyes.
He had three successful defenses before losing to Florante Condes by split decision. Prior to his loss to Condes, Rachman had a pretty good track record against Filipino boxers. As an up and coming contender, he has beaten by decision the likes of Jerry Pahayahay (2001), Bert Batawang (2002), Benjie Sorolla (2002), Ernesto Rubillar (2003), and Jun Arlos (2003). He also has as a 2nd round KO win over Noel Tunacao in 2003.
Aside from his vast experience, Rachman is known for being an aggressive fighter and an accurate puncher. But the 21 year old Melindo exuded confidence during the press conference held at the Sugbahan Restaurant in Mandaue City.
Melindo, who has a 17-0 record with 5 KO?s, said he can beat the more experienced Rachman. This rising star of the ALA gym was last seen on October 2008 in Cagayan de Oro City stopping Tanzanian Juma Fundi in the 3rd round to retain his WBO Asia Pacific 105 lbs. title. This will be risky move for him, considering that he is already ranked by the four main sanctioning bodies.
Gorres on the other hand will be making his first foray into the bantamweight division. He is no stranger in fighting at the highest levels. He has a close controversial loss to Fernando Montiel and a draw with the fearsome Vic Darchinyan. He also has an 8th round TKO win over former title-holder Eric Ortiz.
The 26 year old Gorres will be facing Mexican Roberto Carlos Leyva (25W (KO 20) 8 losses and 1 draw). The 29 year old Leyva was a WBC Youth minimumweight world champion and a former IBF minimumweight world champion. He won the vacant title in 2001 also over Daniel Reyes. He would lose to Reyes in a rematch 3 years later.
During the press conference, Gorres stated that the reason for his move up in weight was that he has been having trouble making the superflyweight limit. He has outgrown this division and he walks around near superfeatherweight when he is not in training.
L-R: James Bacon, Z Gorres, ALA President Michael Domingo, Milan Melindo and Mechael Domingo during yesterday's presscon at Sugbahan Restaurant in Mandaue City.
Gorres (28W ? 2L- 2D, 15KO?s) is in an interesting point in his career. He has been ?almost but not quite? when it comes to wearing a world title belt. Michael Aldeguer hopes he can still retain his world rankings in the bantamweight division. If he hurdles Leyva, the bantamweight world title holders right now are Japan?s Hozumi Hasegawa (WBC), Panama?s Anselmo Moreno (WBA), Ghana?s Joseph Agbeko (IBF) and Gerry Penalosa who has the WBO belt. There are reports of Vic Darchinyan making a move up to the 118 lb. division. Gorres doesn?t mind facing Darchinyan or Montiel again.
The March 14 fight card also features Michael Domingo vs. Monico Laurente. Domingo is now cleared to fight after a bout with hepatitis B. James Bacon will be looking for revenge against the guy who gave him his only career blemish, William George.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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