LAS VEGAS, Nevada – The spiritual adviser and one of the best friends of fallen Cebuano boxer Z Gorres bursts into tears immediately when he learned that the world number two bantamweight contender had been rushed to the UMC Hospital here when he collapsed after winning a 10-round non-title scrapped against Luis Melendez at the House of Blues in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Friday the 13th.
Jack Hall, 92, immediately summoned his wife, Jenny, and began praying for Gorres’ survival.
“Lord, don’t let him die in the name of Jesus,” Hall sobbed. He sent email to friends appealing for their prayers.
“Brothers in Christ,” Hall volunteered, “the last round of the very good performance against a 90 percent KO artist, he (Gorres) was hit with a hard punch and was not ready for the last minute of the 10th round.”
Hall said, Gorres was declared the winner “on wobbly legs” and found it hard to get out of the ring. When he collapsed, Gorres was taken out of the stretcher to the UMC Hospital.
Gorres, 27, went to a surgery for brain damage and doctors opened his skull to to drain the fluid in his brain to relieve pressure. He suffered a subdural hematoma and may not wake up for several days, doctors said.
Gorres (30-2-2, 15 Kos) outpunched his Columbian foe Melendez (26-4-1, 21 KOs) but he absorbed more punishment mostly on the head.
The stragedy struck a night before the "Firepower" duel for the WBO welterweight title between champion Miguel Angel Cotto of Puerto Rico and challenger Manny Pacquiao.
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