RP boxer wins but is now in critical condition

MANILA -- Prayers are being offered for the speedy recovery of Filipino bantamweight contender ZC Oliveros “The Dream” Gorres, who remains in critical condition after winning his 10-round bout in Las Vegas, Nevada Friday (Saturday in the Philippines).

AJ “Bazooka” Banal, a stable mate of Gorres at the Antonio L. Aldeguer (ALA) Gym in Cebu, said he and his fellow boxers will attend a mass to offer prayers for their fallen comrade.

"Magsisimba kaming lahat ngayon para kay Gorres,” said Bazooka. “Naniniwala kaming gagaling siya. Pinapapaubaya na namin sa Diyos ang lahat.”

His town mates in Mandaue, Cebu have already gathered in front of his house, expressing concern for Gorres.

"Alam namin nanalo siya, kaya lang sinugod siya sa ospital... hindi talaga kami makapaniwala sa nangyari," said his father-in-law Nilo Necabane.

They have not told Gorres' son about his father’s condition.

"Hindi namin pinaalam sa kanila ang nangyari, tanging alam lang ng mga bata na may laro ang kanilang papa," Necabene said.

Filipino super flyweight Nonito Donaire asked Filipinos to "send prayers for Z Gorres."

Surgery for swollen brain

The 27-year-old Gorres was rushed to the University Medical Center after collapsing at the end of his successful bout against Colombian Luis Melendez at the Mandalay House of Blues in Las Vegas, Nevada.

His manager Michael Aldeguer told ABS-CBN News that the Filipino boxer had to undergo surgery due to a blood clot in the left side of his brain. He remains under observation at the intensive care unit.

Doctors said the next 24 hours will be very critical for the Filipino boxer, and they will be observing him closely. A CT scan has been scheduled for Sunday (Saturday in the US) to determine if the swelling of Gorres' left brain has subsided.

Boxingscene.com said Gorres suffered from subdural hematoma. It said the boxer's surgeon, Dr. Micheal Seiff, had to remove part of his skull to relieve the swelling of his brain.

It said the boxer has been placed in a medically-induced coma.

Gorres knocked down in last round

The 10-round fight started out slow for both fighters, but the action picked up when Gorres decked Melendez with a one-two combination in the 3rd round.

The fight's pace went up further after the Filipino southpaw knocked down the Colombian with a left-right combination.

Melendez got up, but was overwhelmed by the Filipino throughout the fight. The Colombian fighter, however, came back strong and held his own in the 10th round.

Melendez toppled Z Gorres with his own one-two combo.

The Filipino was able to recover from the knockdown, but after being declared winner in the bantamweight division fight, he collapsed.

Gorres, who now holds a record of 31 wins against 2 losses and 2 draws, stayed on the floor for about 5 minutes before he was brought out of the Mandalay Bay on a stretcher and driven to a hospital.

Gorres is a native of Agusan del Norte but is based in Cebu, where his training ground, the ALA Boxing Gym, is located.

Among his notable fights were against Fernando Montiel of Mexico and Vic Darchinyan of Australia.

He lost a close decision against Montiel, while he scored a draw versus Darchinyan. -- With reports from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News and ABS-CBN Central Visayas