So I watched some of Juan Gomez. Here's what you need to know

Gomez doesn't have enough power to keep Vitali off him.

As soon as Vitali realizes he can walk through Gomez's shots (roughly half way through the first round) it's OVER.

 

gomez has always been a very skillfull fighter, he has cost himself a lot of money over the years by being a lazy ,time wasting waste of space in the gym and promoting himself and his own abilties in the ring.

he should have got his finger out and knuckled down to hard work years ago.

he did a tim witherspoon and lost to a nothing fighter he had way more talent than in the first round costing him money and having to work his way back to the top.

can he beat vitali, doubt it, but he certainly has the abilty to pull a shock and the fight cannot be written off as a forgone conclusion.

 

The way I see it, a in shape Gomez (about 220 lbs) gives Vitali problems. This is an interesting match, Gomez has only been beaten once in the fluke loss to Diaz and (if I'm not mistaken) has never come close to being outpointed, Vitali has been beaten twice but only by cuts, and I don't think has even been close to being outpointed. I'm still rooting for Gomez but I'm not entirely sure he will win.

 

Man, that Mofo is in shape...as I said before, I can't stand him b/c of his attitude and behaviour outside the ring but come March 21, he'll give Vitali a hell of a fight...226 lbs of lean, mean muscle bound machine...

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I think Gomez power may be underrated. Of course he's not a knockout artist, but Oli McCall, the man with one of the best chins ever, and who went 24 rds with Gomez, said that Gomez was the only fighter to ever hurt him (not that I noticed tho). Remember McCall has been in countless gym wars with Mike Tyson and faced big punchers like Lennox Lewis or Frank Bruno in his career. Also keep in mind Gomez knocked down the ironchinned Virchis (I know he was off-balance, but still).
Given Vitalis good chin, I don't think Gomez could stop him, but still I think he could get Vitalis respect.

The thing with Gomez is, he was a really good boxer, who should have been able to box Vitalis ears off five years ago, but at this point he's already past his best. He's not as fast as he used to be, his reflexes have slowed down - it's still enough to outbox slow sluggers like McCall or Virchis, but it won't be enough against Vitali. He got caught by the slow Oli McCall (altho he was unfocused and poorly prepared in those fights), I think he'll get caught by Vitali too.

Ever since moving up to HW, Gomez didn't take the sport that seriously and he always had conflicts with his promoters. First Universum, now Arena. He could've had title-shots much earlier if he had stayed focused on boxing. But like so many naturally talented boxers, he overestimated himself and tought he could do without hard work in the gym. Remember also he was a poor kid from Cuba, who wanted to enjoy his life a bit when he finally made some bucks. Gomez is known to party hard, and this always put his promising career in jeopardy.

To those who say he got a glass chin, I can only say they will be quite surprised. Like it was said above, his only loss came to a journeyman who landed like a dozen right hands flush on his chin, and he didn't even go down - the referee waved it off. He never was KOed, like some here claim. That loss was a fluke. Plus Gomez took big shots from both McCall and also Virchis in his last fights, both big punchers, and although McCall had him hurt he stayed on his feet. Many other fighters would have tasted the canvas there.

Vitali will have his piece of work cut out for him, especially if Gomez has prepared well for the fight (for once...), but in the end I guess Vitali will stop him in round 9.

 

The only problem with that photo is that on the picture Öner and Cuellar (and the WBC belt) looks to be in great shape as well, which is at least suspicious. *cough* photoshop *cough*.

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This one is pure genious, VK wiping off the sweat from JCG's face.

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I agree that Gomez is very underrated and is a very good boxer. He is also a southpaw which always makes for an interesting feeling out process. I see Gomez having problems with Vitali's long right hand though. I can possibly see IF GOMEZ USES GOOD FOOTWORK... that he could possibly keep pivoting, and circling and with the great use of a right hook and straight left keep Vitali moving on those old legs and possibly pulling something off. Vitali's legs don't seem to move quite as well these days. If Vitali comes out and dominates the distance, pace, and movement then the fight will be a brutal one for Gomez.

Of course Vitali is the big favorite going into this fight, but Gomez is a lot better than some give him credit for.

 

Gomez speed and movement will give Vitali some problems but eventually Vitali will take over and win a unanimous decision. Late round stoppage is also possible.

 

Gomez is very skilled and has good speed, i think he can give Vitali a lot more trouble than most people think.

 

good post. agreed he should give vitali a solid test.

 

Gomez is slick but some people do not realize he is not the same fighter from 2003 when he fought Sinan Samil Sam. He was 213 for that fight. He was 233 for Virchis and the extra 20 pounds is around his waist the worst place to have it. As mentioned by someone else he now is more of a flat footed fighter also.

Gomez's Chin will fail him at some point in the fight.

 

Rico, I don't agree. That additional weight was no problem for him in his last fight vs Virchis. He still can move very well. My impression was that he has more power and durability now. Gomez is a true heavyweight now.

 

Vitali doesn't lose fights. He's lost two "boxing matches" due to injury stoppages, but never loses the "fight". Thats all anyone needs to know.

 

Until one day.

 

:yep