Gomez fights in Glasgow tonight......

Dunky, you and any of the regulars on here can call me jeffro anytime you like as fr the event;

I arrived at the venue about two hours before fight time. The venue was an absolutely beautiful set up. A bit like the top end hotel complexes you get with the De Vere group.

The changing room we were in was occupied by a local lad making his debut, his team, Birkenheads Steve Williams, Shea Neary, Benny King, Al Maachi, Kevin Maree and Mike. The atmosphere was one of nervous anticipation, the local lad was obviously making his debut- always a shaky affair and Steve Williams was making a big step up in class against dangerous Dean Hickman.

It was great stuff watching Neary, a complete gent out of the ring but animal in it, talk quitely and calmly to his protege preparing him for what was sure to be a tough test.

The calmness of the dressing room lasted about the time it took for Gomez to make his way from the door to his particular corner of the room. Lonsdale belt in hand everyone looked up as he let out a incredibly loud 'COME ON!!!'. Al Maachi matched his battle cry with an equally loud 'COME ON IRISH!!!- and then proceeded to put Gomez' Mexican hat on with little else while rampaging round the changing room like a mad man. With Al Maachi doing vitually naked biceps poses in one corner of the changing room asking bystanders what they thought of his physique and Gomez busy vocally and physically psyching himself up in the other I wondered how long it would be before we were moved.... No chance of that though the other two teams were uplifted by having these two characters in the changing room and it wasn't long before everyone in the room was broadly smiling -ready to go to work.

El Maachi was extremely keen to catch the build up on his personal camera and my friend whom I had brought was placed in charge of filming the build up and fight. I had heard lots from Kev in the build up about Yassine but I had yet to see him in action. As I watched him on the pads I had to admit to been pleasantly suprised. His power and accuracy were spot on and he hit the pads with all the class of a TEAM GB representative.

We got the call to go through to the ring and El Maachi waited for his music before launching into one of the most bizarre and confident ring walks I have ever seen, the crowd were on their feet throughout cheering his entrance as Yassine meandered through the crowd hi-fiving punters like he'd won already. Once in the ring the size disparity between the two fighters was enormace. Ambler is a vary tall chap with a nice style but a very lazy approach- probably having a lot of ambition drummed out of him by a career of tough matchmaking. However those who have watched him will concede that he can move a bit and is certainly more capable then he believes. Having not seen Yas in action yet I was slightly worried about the puzzles posed by Amblers height and reach advantages. The bell rang and within seconds El Maachi had moved brilliantly into punching distance as Ambler-confused by Yas' style barely threw a punch in anger. Over hand right hooks and straight lefts sounded aroud the room like fireworks as El Maachi literally took him apart. The fight continued in this vain with the exception of a brief fight back from Ambler near the start of round two. The ref stopped the fight perfectly in the third-Ambler in trouble and taking punishment for which he had no answer. The crown saluted what can only be described as a mightily impressive performance from someone with talent that far belies his pro record.

On arrival back to the changing room Gomez' warm up was well underway. He had changed into his familiar three quarter length shorts. He was adamant that certain people were desperate to derail his comeback. A firey Gomez let rip into the pads with impressive power as he finalised his perperations. To say that Gomez gets fired up before a fight is an understatement. The call came for him to make his way to the ring but Gomez and trainer Kev Maree took their time before Gomez nodded his head and bolted out of the door.

Certain fighters like El Maachi take their time getting to the ring milking the entrance. Gomez is the opposite he literally marched from the changing room to the ring without one look to the crowd or stopping for his music etc... The whole approach really struck a cord with me and I thought 'thats how you make an entrance'.

Gomez was clearly the home fighter but Long is a tough looking fella and was in good shape. We had seen videos of him and he looked pretty capable at a lower level. Gomez went to work early and moved impressively round the ring before closing distance and engaging long in a fairly prolonged, opening exchange. The difference in power was very apparent Gomez shots were immediately having an effect on his bigger opponent and it was long before Chris started to appear marked up and flustered. Gomez' footwork was impressive and his infighting as always was something to behold as he turned Long off balance time and time again before landing smashing counters. Long would occasionally reply with a few quick shots of his own but he was fighting at a pace he clearly wasn't comfortable with and early on I was thinking a stoppage was likely.

This impressive work ethic continued into the late stages of the fourth at which point Long suddenly landed a hurtful combination of punches. Gomez shook the punches off with ease and landed some cracking shots of his own but that was probably the most sucess Long managed throughout.

Gomez work rate and head movement dropped off in the last two. But he still was well in charge and I think that a championship fight against a good opponent would see Gomez' concentration improve. Ultimately it was a grind out points win but the nature of it was impressive. Gomez was incredibly pleased and back in the bustling changing room full of congratulating fans and fellow fighters like Willie Limmond and Shea Neary Gomez sat quietly with his son as the doctor pinned closed a small gash on the side of his face.

'Love you son number one' he said to his nipper. His son just looked up at him proud as punch. 'Love you too dad!'

It was a very sweet moment and one that I think best defines the real Mike Gomez. An incredibly proud man who will not give up yet despite the naysayers.

It was a great night and one I'll never forget... :good

 

Thanks... I'd love to take more time and write it properly but working today..,. :-(

 

He just gets in the zone. Its great to watch.