VANCOUVER – Immediately after Manny Pacquiao made history by annexing his seventh world title in seven different weight divisions, we heaved a sigh of relief when we learned that Cebuano world title prospect Z Gorres was able to recover from the ICU of the University Medical Center Hospital in Las Vegas less than 24 hours after he lapsed into coma and went under the knife to remove a blood clot in his brain.
I commend Cebu’s boxing guru Antonio L. Aldeguer and his son, Michael, Gorres’ registered manager, for their all out support both morally and financially to Gorres who collapsed after being de clared the winner in his 10-round non-title tiff against Luis Melendez at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino last Nov. 13.
Experts said it was Melendez wicked punched in the dying seconds of the 10th and final round that changed the entire picture as Gorres was knocked down after being wobbled. That was the only round won by Melendez and the knockdown could not even shake Gorre’s big lead. Accidents like this one occur not only in boxing but also in other contact sports, except perhaps in chess, scrabble, and Games of the General. Even in table tennis, a player can suffer a blood clot if he falls and hits his head hard on the floor.
That’s why it is imperative for all players—amateur and professional— to strictly adhere to the rules, especially how to safeguard themselves at all times. Fatal accidents such as head injuries could happen when you least expected them.
As of Nov.18, 12 pm Las Vegas time, Gorres responded well when he was asked to lift two fingers and find the tube and he was able to do it which is very good, said the statement released by Ala Promotions. “He is still critical but stable. The next coming days will be how he responds to more commands. The goal is to wean him from the ventilator,” the press statement stressed. Gorres’ recovery was a miracle. Had the tragic incident happened in the Philippines or in countries that don’t have adequate medical facilities like in the United States, God knows what would have happened to the 27-year-old number two bantamweight contender in the world.
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As publisher of the Philippine Asian News Today, I would like to respectfully thank the management and staff of the Magna Media president Andy Olson in Las Vegas, Nevada for giving our publication media accreditations during the “Firepower” tussle between Pacquiao and Miguel Angel Cotto on Nov. 14. Without the media accreditations, we could not have given our dear readers up-to-date stories about the fisticuffs which became the talk of the globe owing to the successful attempt of a hitherto unknown Asian to make history by becoming the first prizefighter in history to pocket seven world titles in seven divisions.
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. is now receiving brickbats from the press for his continuing lackadaisical attitude toward a proposed duel with the best boxer in the world pound-for-pound, Manny Pacquiao. Instead of accepting the challenge to prove his worth against Pacquiao, Mayweather elected to exchange verbal snipes with characters who criticized his indecisiveness. He should stop lashing at Pacquiao and undermining the Filipino speedster’s talent because Pacquiao is now universally recognized as supreme athlete. The best way for Mayweather to prove that he is better than Pacquiao is for him to accept the proposed multi-million showdown next year without resorting to character assassination. We understand how bitter he is and perhaps jealous at the globalattention Pacquiao is reaping now that he has bested all the feared terrors in the divisions—light welterweight and welterweight--Mayweather had previously dominated. If he shuts his mouth and inkhis signature in the deal, he will egain the respect of the boxing community. If he continues to make a noise without signing any document to realize the dream match, people will think that he is afraid of Pacquiao. International led by its president
