Source: ABS-CBN News
-- Filipino boxer ZC Oliveros “Z” Gorres is back in the Philippines, more than 3 months after he was sidelined by a career-ending brain injury.
“Talagang masayang-masaya ako na nakabalik na po ako ng Pilipinas. Makikita ko po muli sa wakas ang mga anak ko,” Gorres said in an interview with ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda.
Gorrez, also known as "The Dream," arrived from the United States at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 at around 5 a.m. Tuesday. He will proceed to Cebu at 9:30 a.m. to be reunited with his children.
He was accompanied by his wife, Datches, physician Dr. Ben Calderon, and manager Michael Aldeguer.
Gorres will continue with his rehabilitation so that he may be able to walk again. As earlier reported, his return to the ring is a very remote possibility.
“Depende po ‘yan po kung pero sa tingin ko, sabi ni Dr. Calderon, hindi na raw dahil sa utak po yung surgery,” he replied when asked if he will still be making a comeback.
Meantime, he said that he is feeling well: “Okay naman po pero medyo inuubo ako dahil po sa klima sa Vegas, umulan, uminit ganyan po.”
He then expressed his gratitude to those who helped him get through his ordeal.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa mga taong sumuporta sa akin lalung-lalo na ang mga Pilipino nagdarasal, ‘di lang dito sa Pilipinas kasi doon sa Vegas ‘di ko inakala na ganun ang bigay ng suporta ng tao sa Las Vegas.”
Brain surgery
Gorres fought Colombian Luis Melendez in Las Vegas in November and won the fight despite getting knocked down by Melendez in the final round.
But moments after he was declared the winner of the 10-round bout via unanimous decision, he collapsed and was rushed to the University Medical Center (UMC).
Doctors performed an emergency operation on Gorres’ brain to remove a blood clot.
He went through another major surgery because doctors needed to put back the part of the skull that was taken out in his first surgery.
Miracle
The months have passed and doctors saw Gorres' recovery as short of miraculous.
Physician Dr. Ben Calderon said he is pleased with Gorres’ progress.
The fallen Cebuano fighter can now even move the left side of his body and can also walk a little bit without any assistance.
He was even at ringside in last Saturday’s (Sunday in Manila) Pinoy Power 3/Latin Fury 13 to show support for his fellow Filipino boxers.
He was supposed to be included in the Pinoy Power 3 fight card but the brain injury got in the way.
Monetary support
Meantime, Gorres and his wife are happy for the support they are getting from fellow boxers especially pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao, who also graced the Pinoy Power 3 event at the Las Vegas Hilton, appealed to the crowd to provide assistance to Gorres. He even spoke about a fundraiser for the injured fighter.
The 7-division world champion said he and Top Rank Promotions big boss Bob Arum have already given their monetary support. Pacquiao preferred not to reveal the how much he gave Gorres.
For now, the big problem facing the Gorres family is their huge hospital bill amounting to $562,000 or more than P26 million.
Doctors and boxing coaches in Las Vegas are now pushing for a Z Gorres bill which they hope can raise the insurance of boxers from the current $50,000 to $1 million.
Source: ABS-CBN News
Pinoys in Vegas raise $8,000 for Gorres
-- Fallen boxer ZC Oliveros “the Dream” Gorres declared his all-out support for his fellow Filipinos who will take on Latino foes in Pinoy Power 3 in Las Vegas next month.
“Good luck talaga, good luck sa kanila. Dapat hindi magkumpiyansa at panalangin sa Panginoon,” he told Bev Llorente of ABS-CBN North America News Bureau.
Gorres is currently undergoing rehabilitation in the United States after undergoing 2 major brain surgeries.
He was scheduled to fight for a world title in Pinoy Power 3 before his injury during his 10-round bout against Colombian Luis Melendez last November.
Although he won via unanimous decision, Gorres suffered a left straight punch to the temple in the 10th round which caused a blood clot in his brain.
Despite this, Gorres said that watching the fight ringside is almost as good as being in the ring.
Fellow boxer Mark Jason Melligen, meantime, stated: “Sa ngayon na laban na ‘to ibubuhos ko talaga babawiin ko ang nangyari sa kaniya at yung talo ko.” Melligen will face Raymond Gatica in the undercard, according to Sun.Star Cebu.
Pinoy Power 3, which features Nonito Donaire, Jr., Gerry Peñalosa, Bernabe Concepcion and Ciso Morales, will take place on February 13 at the Las Vegas Hilton. The event will be telecast live on ABS-CBN on February 14.
Donaire will face off with Gerson Guerrero, Peñalosa will fight Eric Morel, Concepcion will battle Mario Santiago, and Morales will challenge Fernando Montiel.
Significant improvement
Meanwhile, Gorres’ attending physician, Dr. Benito Calderon, said his ongoing comprehensive rehabilitation has seen significant improvement with his ambulation. Gorres can now walk with a walker up to 50 feet with assistance.
“Ang target lang natin dito is makalakad muna siya kung maka fully recover siya, I think maganda ang future niya, kahit na he can work as a trainer siguro, pero as a fighter again I don't think he can do that,” noted Calderon.
Gorres and his wife, Datches, are hopeful that the rehabilitation will lead Gorres to a full recovery so that he may live a functional life.
Moreover, they are thankful for the support of the Filipino-American community in Las Vegas.
Fundraiser
Hundreds of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in Las Vegas congregated to help raise funds for Gorres. The local Pinoy community raised more than $8,000.
“Malaki talaga ang pasasalamat ko dahil sa pinakita nila. Talagang ang mga Pilipino nagsusuporta walang iwanan talaga,” said Gorres.
Datches that even though she was a stranger in “Sin City,” her kababayans’ overwhelming support helped her a lot.
“Hindi lang po ako nag-iisa lalo na sa lugar na ito na wala kaming kamag-anak, at least, may mga taong nagbigay ng tulong at suporta sa amin,” she stated.
Local entertainers donated their time and talent for the injured boxer. Some even sang “Habang May Buhay” by After Image.
“Ang nangyari kay Z Gorres ay puwedeng mangyari sa ibang boksingero kaya nandito kami para damayan siya, the Filipino bayanihan spirit,” said one of Gorres’ supporters, Filipino business owner Mimi Lim.
