INQUIRER Sports

CEBU CITY ? Z ?The Dream? Gorres is unlikely to fulfill his promise of a birthday celebration for his wife and a computer set for their seven-year-old son.

But they won?t mind.

All they want now is for Gorres to get well and return safely home.

They?ll get their first wish, but the second has to wait a little longer.

Gorres is recovering fast at the University Medical Center in Las Vegas, where he was rushed after collapsing minutes after winning a bout Friday night (Saturday morning in Manila).

Surgeons later removed a blood clot from his brain and he is now responding to doctors? instructions after coming out of an induced coma.

The 27-year-old Gorres was coasting to victory against Colombian Luis Melendez when he was knocked down by a solid punch to the head late in the 10th and last round of their bout held at Mandalay Bay?s House of Blues.

Gorres got up on wobbly legs and hang on to survive the round. He was on his feet when he was declared the winner but then collapsed when he went back to his corner.

In an interview Monday, Gorres? wife Datches recalled that her husband did not send her a text message or call last Saturday after his bout, so she went to an Internet café to check on the fight result.

It was only then that she learned about her husband?s plight.

Datches said she was very emotional at first and was gravely concerned over her husband?s condition.

However, she said she felt relieved on Monday after her husband?s manager, Michael Aldeguer of Cebu?s ALA Promotions, told her that her husband was recovering well.

Datches of Barangay Ibabao, Mandaue City, said her husband had planned to hold a party for her 26th birthday on Dec. 3.

She added that Gorres, the world?s No. 2 bantamweight contender, also planned to buy a computer set for their son.

?Fight for us,? was the text message she sent Saturday to Gorres, referring to her and their four children, aged 7, 5, 3 and five months old.

Aldeguer said Gorres was able to lift his hand and make the thumbs-up sign in response to nurses? instructions.

He added that Gorres will be out of the respirator soon so he could breathe on his own and that all his vital signs are stable and normal.

Datches said Gorres? speedy recovery was due to his desire to provide a good life for them. She added that Gorres is also a religious man.

Before and after every fight, Datches said Gorres would visit the Birhen (Virgin) of Lindogon in Simala, Sibonga town, and Senior Santo Niño in Basilica del Santo Nino church in Cebu City.

Datches herself went to Simala on Sunday to pray for her husband.

She also expressed gratitude to Antonio Aldeguer, owner of ALA, who has been giving them support while Gorres is still in hospital.

?He is like a father to us,? Datches said.