Gorres homebound after Las Vegas ‘nightmare’

Filipino boxer Z “The Dream" Gorres is homebound more than two months after undergoing brain surgery and recovering from the life-threatening subdural hematoma (traumatic brain injury) he suffered from a fight last November in Las Vegas. Still wheelchair-bound but now able to speak, move his hands and walk a few steps, Gorres left Sin City on Sunday accompanied by his wife Datches and Philippine Medical Association of Nevada president Dr. Benito Calderon and his wife on the flight back to the boxer’s hometown in Cebu. A big number of well-wishers accompanied the 27-year-old boxer to the McCarran International Airport, reported PhilBoxing.Com. Leading the sendoff party were Las Vegas-based trainer Tony Martin and his family and UNLV boxing coach Frank Slaughter with his son, the prime movers, of fund-raising efforts for the former world title prospect. “Excited na ako na makauwi kasi matagal ko nang di nakikita and aking mga anak at magulang," Gorres said in Cebuano in a TV interview with Sports Saksi Chino Trinidad.
The convalescing Gorres made his first public appearance at the Pinoy Power card last Saturday at the Las Vegas Hilton (Sunday in Manila), where he watched compatriots Nonito Donaire, Jr., Bernabe Concepcion and Mark Jason Melligen beat their respective opponents, and Ciso Morales and Gerry Peñalosa bow to their rivals. Of all the fights, the bantamweight duels of Morales versus WBO bantamweight titlist Fernando Montiel and Peñalosa against Eric Morel hit home for Gorres. Prior to suffering subdural hematoma after his 10-round duel with Colombian Luis Melendez last Nov. 13, Gorres was supposed to vie for Montiel’s crown. Despite getting deprived of his dream of winning a world title in his eight-year career, Gorres (31-2-2, 17KOs) still has a lot to be thankful for under the circumstances. “Sa nangyari sa kanya [recovering from the life-threatening injury], para na rin siyang nag-world champion," his loving wife Datches said. With his remarkable recovery, Gorres also serves as a symbol of hope and fighting spirit for people faced with extreme adversity. “Ang advice ko, dapat hindi magpadaig sa sakit o problema. Ilapit lang at ipanalangin sa Panginoon," said Gorres, whom doctors described as "nonfunctional and vegetative" and "literally minutes from death" when he was first rushed to the University Medical Center in Las Vegas after collapsing after the Melendez fight. Gorres got hit by left cross from Melendez in the final round of that nightmarish fight, managed to get up for the verdict that went to his favor but fell unconscious before leaving the ring. He was quickly rushed to the UMC and underwent cutting-edge emergency surgery, a part of his skull removed to give his battered brain room to swell. He spent the next couple of months doing rehab and was eventually discharged from the hospital last Jan. 15. - GMANews.TV