Vitali KLITSCHKO vs. Juan Carlos GOMEZ - 5 years later it still sounds interesting

UPDATE 4/1/2009

It seems it's Wlad who's going to fight David Haye (probably in the London O2 Arena or maybe Valuev), so Vitali is going for the mandatory challenger in Juan Carlos Gomez, possibly on March 21, Stuttgart. Nothing is official yet. But it seems Team Arena is ready to accept K2's offer, which is a career-high payday for Gomez, once the best CW out there.

VK-Gomez + WK-Haye? Sounds awesome!






Juan Carlos Gomez' name might not sound too familiar to the US public, but let me tell you something: IMO (and for many others), he was the best CW since Holyfield and was a hell of a prospect when he moved up to the HW scene in 2001. What might be the biggest waste of talent for the division in decades is that the very talented and equally lazy and unmotivated Cuban failed to live up to the expectations.

7 years later he's the official challenger for the WBC title, therefore the mandatory for THE LEGITIMATE #1 HW, Vitali Klitschko.



If you haven't heard, this fight has it's history.

Years back Gomez and Vitali were stablemates in Universum Box-Promotion. Of course the Klitschkos were the stable's HW fighters therefore there wasn't really too much in moving the CW champ Juan Carlos up. Then both the brothers and Gomez left Universum. Gomez, campaigning in HW, beat a bunch of good fighters but also fought just once I year and in a shocking upset got stopped in the 1st. Vitali of course became The Man after Lewis left, but injuries forced him to retirement. So Wlad became the #1 until Saturday. Now VK is back.

Vitali vs. Gomez sounded just great let's says 5 years back. Gomez was (and still is) a flashy, quick, powerful, very skilled fighter with all the goods Cuban boxing could offer, and you can add a good chin to that (that loss wasn't caused by a weak chin. He was got caught cold in a very bad shape) and he showed vs. Virchis that he still has it despite being 35.

The matter of fact, 5 years later both Gomez and Vitali (37) looked very good in their last fight, and now Gomez is of course the mandatory, and the deal has to be made in 90 days.



I say: it's a very interesting fight, finally a competitive one for a Klitschko. (The only thing made Wlad vs. Peter interesting was Wlad's weak chin a Peter's crude power, other than that, you can't say you expected any other Klitschko fight to be competitive). It really sounds good. Gomez has the stamina, the accurate power punches, the nice movement, the speed and the timing to give the still good Vitali troubles. Of course Vitali possesses great power, he's huge, also accurate, pretty fast and his chin is superb...

I don't expect a quick or one-sided fight here at all... I see Gomez having success early, and if he can slip the VK jab to counter with hooks and find the way to stay on the inside, he can be effective, although I just can't pick the guy to pull it off.

He's no Peter: he's mobile, giving angles, can defend himself and even has that bit advantage in speed that could trouble VK. But can he hold off the big man, can he block the bombs, can he be really effective on the inside, land body-head combos to slow down the big man? I don't know...


All I know is that's a good fight in the heavies, despite it's 5 years late. Bring it on! :happy

 

Yep Gomez is one of the best in the hw and probably top 5 even, despite his inactivity and lack of discipline over the past years. He is probably as big a threat to the brothers as any other boxer out there.

 

Great post, looks like it will be an interesting fight from what you say.

 

Vitaly Klitschko in yesterday's edition of Bild,Germany's biggest newspaper: " Gomez' style suits me well.I already knocked him down during a sparring session"

Both Gomez and the Klitschko brothers used to be stable mates back then when they both fought for German promoter Kohl.

 

Interesting fight, Gomez impressed me against Virchis. He's already shown he can beat a powerful big man, but Vitali is a lot more skilled and fast if he keeps his form.


I wouldn't be surprised to see a Vitali-Donald like fight, with Gomez eventually being worn down while holding his own during the early and mid rounds.

 

Yes, this is one fight Im definately looking forward to. This fight will show us how fit and sharp Vitaly realy still is. The first 6 rounds will be the most interesting. If Gomez doesnt come in well prepared it might not even lasts 6 rounds, since VK will be prepared.

 

Of course Gomez had his own opinion on Vitali's win:

"Congratulations, Vitali! You did a good job against the living sandbag. I am happy for you but for myself even more. I will enjoy taking the title from you and finally becoming heavyweight champion of the world. Although I already heard that you are trying to sneak out of the fight. Don’t run away, Vitali. Come and fight me like a man!

Are you afraid, Vitali Do you need money or another tune-up bout before facing me? I understand that you prefer to step in the ring with guys who cannot fight. But I am your official challenger. You can’t run away forever. You know that I am the man who will beat you. You know how good I am!"

I have always been the best fighter in the Universum gym. And both Klitschkos knew that. I have been WBC International Champion before Vitali made his pro-debut. When I won the world cruiserweight championship he was still beating up guys that my grandma could have knocked out. And, Vitali, in case you forgot how good I actually am, just ask your younger brother – he should remember!"

As a junior Gomez had beaten Wladimir Klitschko at a fight in Denmark.

"Now I will go for both brothers at the pros. After I won the first title from Vitali I will take the other ones from Wlad. I am ready to finally become heavyweight champion of the world. It’s showtime!"



Too bad he speaks so much instead of training...

 

rusty,slow,and stiff???

Gomez a horrible opponent for Vitaly??

Have you seen some of Gomez' last outings to a ring,kirk??

Gomez more and more resembles a certain big whale who was harpooned by Vitaly,kirk.

No need to worry that much,kirk!

 

Gomez is not well known an was Ko'd in 1 round vs a 2nd rater.

I'd much rather see Vitlai face a well known fighter.

Vitali vs Valuev for a title unification would be a great match.

I would not mind seeing a re-match with Lewis, or Byrd either.

 

As I understand it, Vitali has 90 days - as stated by the WBC- to fight his mandatory defense against WBC #1 Gomez.

90 days. That's about half the time between fights that Vitali used to take when he was actively fighting. He used to fight every 6 or 7 months.

If he is to keep fighting, and hoping for a future unification with the WBA titleholder (whomever that may be down the road), Vitali has better step up the pace he used to fight at. He should get back in the gym in about a month/month and a half, if he's gonna be prepared for Gomez. I think Gomez is a better boxer than his reputation says, and he'll be a much tougher fight than Peter was.

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Gomez is going to get ktfo within 3 rds.

 

When Juan Carlos Gomez comes into the ring in shape, he is a hell of a fighter.

 

Gomez will be a tougher opponent than Peter and may even be competitive for a couple of the first round but he's still going to get stopped by Vitali.