Live The Dream

Posted by France at December 10th, 2009

On the 13th of November, 2009, following ten rounds of bantamweight division boxing versus Colombian Luis Melendez, Filipino fighter Z “The Dream” Gorres hit the canvas of the Mandalay Bay House of Blues ring in Las Vegas, Nevada, just minutes after being announced the winner of the contest—the very contest that would have lined him up for a championship rematch with reigning WBO Bantamweight champion Mexican Fernando Montiel.

The 27-year-old Cebuano will spend his next days in coma after undergoing brain surgery at the University Medical Center in Las Vegas, suffering from subdural hematoma or blood clot in the brain. He will not get to do the rematch that would have catapulted him to world boxing stardom.

Z is one of the most humble and kindest boxers I’ve ever met. I’ve seen him at training and he’s such a disciplined hard worker. What he may give up in length at times in the ring he makes up in speed and ring smarts. He lost a close controversial (split decision) title fight to Fernando Montiel in Cebu in 2007. Many thought he won that fight. I do too. In my eyes, he’s one of world our champions, too.

—TJ Manotoc, ANC Sportscaster

Buchoy might have lost his shot at a world title but I would rather see him as a champion father to his four kids and a champion husband as well.

Buchoy is a highly-skilled boxer and would have made it as a world champion. But I guess God has a better plan for Buchoy, who can now tell that boxing might be a way to rise from poverty, but it remains as one of the most dangerous sports.

—Chino Trinidad, Sportscaster/Columnist, GMA 7

Z is now awake and in recovery stage; financial help would be greatly appreciated by the Gorres family. You may send your donations through the PAYPAL account of Datches Gorres, Z’s wife, at datchesgorres@yahoo.com.