Tomorrow Vitali steps into the ring with Juan Carlos Gomez in a scheduled 12 round bout for the WBC championship. Handicappers are favoring Vitali by odds as much as 8 to 1. But some say that Gomez is an experienced, talented, slick southpaw who may have the tools to upset Vitali. Noteworthy is that Gomez is Vitali's former sparring partner, and for this reason he may know Vitali's weaknesses. What do you guys think? Who will win this fight...pick a winner in my poll!
Vitali knocked Gomez out in a sparring session years ago. I just watched Gomez vs. McCall and Virchis, he got hit a lot, held, ran, threw low blows, lost a point for a low blow. Gomez is planning on running like Hell, hoping he will be able to get a decision. One big punch and Gomez will be out. Vitali by knockout somewhere around the mid rounds, could be early, Gomez does not have a very good chin nor does he have good stamina. He does not punch hard, is not that fast. Larry Donald was faster, Vitali had no problem with him, knocking Donald out for the first time in Donald's career. Herbie Hide was faster than Gomez, hit harder also, Vitali knocked him out in the second round for the WBO championship.
Gomez may be cute enough to see the final bell but that's about it. He'll probably use lateral movement and his experience to remain conscious. Or Vitali cuts off that ring comes in behind the jab and lands that right and it's lights out. I think this is going to be a dull fight with Gomez looking to survive instead of looking to win. Vitali by UD or late stoppage.
Vitali said some mean **** to this guy,,,talked about his manger is now with his wife, an not sure there even divorce, an vitali pointed that out in one of there press confrence,,,then vitali said some other funny stuff to him,,,an gomez best response to vitali was after vitali told the pres, keep in mind after the crack about the wife, that he an gomez are good friends, an it will be tuff to fight a friend, then gomez says there not good friends, that he hasn't talked to vitali in years, an there not friends,,,,Yea vitali can push some buttons,,,Gomez is more then like about to enjoy his last fight (from a hospital bed)
Its a damn shame that Gomez didn't just stay at 200 cause he was a great fighter at cruiserweight. Since he blew up to 225 - 230 lbs he has lost alot of speed and sharpness and is now having a harder time dealing with the shots thrown at him by bigger HW's. Kind of reminds me of this guy named Evander. You know Holyfield said he was having some trouble making Cruiserweight after a while and the sad thing is it was just a few years after he won the HW title that the Cruiserweight division expanded to 200 pounds. I wonder if Evander would have retired undefeated around 1999 - 2001 if he had staid at Cruiserweight Klitschko TKO 9 Gomez.
You are obviosuly a true fight fan judging by your knoweldge of Evander, and your classic avatar, but a couple of things I disagree with: 1) it was many years before the crusiser division went up to 200. The time frame doesn't sinc right. 2) Evander would have went up one way of the other. His goal was always to be the HEAVYWEIGHT cahmpion of the world. 3) Being an all time great at heavy is much better than being undefeated at crusier.