INQUIRER Sports

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, United States?Manny Pacquiao says when he was just 18 years old, a boxer on the undercard of one of his fights got into trouble in the ring and ended up dying in his arms.

The seven-time champion Pacquiao was reminded Saturday of the incident that took place just over a decade ago when Filipino bantamweight Z Gorres was hospitalized Friday with a serious head injury following his victory over Juan Melendez of Colombia.

"I pray to God for his recovery and I am very sorry for him and his family," said Pacquiao, prior to his 12 round technical knockout of Miguel Cotto in a WBO welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand hotel.

The 27-year-old Gorres, who was fighting on a smaller Las Vegas card, was hurt in the last half minute of his fight Friday at nearby Mandalay Bay hotel.

Pacquiao's trainer and former boxer Freddie Roach said the Filipino superstar understands the risks whenever he steps in the ring.

"He told me this is what we do. This is what we signed on for," Roach said of Pacquiao.

Gorres had undergone surgery Friday night to reduce swelling to the head and is expected to be in hospital for the next few days.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Sunday that Gorres was in stable condition after undergoing treatment for a subdural hematoma.

Gorres was winning his fight when he got hit hard late in the 10th and final round and fell down. He got back up and finished the fight but struggled to get back to his corner.

He collapsed in the ring and had to be carried out on a stretcher.