Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
ESPN.com is reporting that Frankie Gomez has opted to turn pro and signed a promotional deal with Golden Boy Promotions. He is expected to make his debut on Saturday, April 3rd.
Re: Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
That sucks for USAB and the reason why US does not win medals in the Olympics anymore or I should say one of the reasons.NYboxing wrote:ESPN.com is reporting that Frankie Gomez has opted to turn pro and signed a promotional deal with Golden Boy Promotions. He is expected to make his debut on Saturday, April 3rd.
Re: Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
His coach and I, and several others, tried to talk him out of this in January. Bummer. :(That sucks for USAB and the reason why US does not win medals in the Olympics anymore or I should say one of the reasons.
Re: Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
It is a money thing. USAB was telling the elite boxers that the stipends were going to end in December. They finally worked it out with the USOC to continue the funding through June, but the uncertainty is not a good thing. Further, Frankie was receiving $1,000 per month. Many other countries pay their top boxers signicantly more than that amount. For those who medal in the world championships and other major tournaments they pay even more. Frankie got prize money from the USOC for winning the medal, but they didn't increase the monthly stipend. I'm sure that he will make more money in the short term by turning pro with Golden Boy. Long term, who knows?
If we can't retain our top amateurs, we will not win very many medals. I think USA Boxing is really hoping that the WSB takes off and helps keep a few boxers available to compete in the Olympics.
If we can't retain our top amateurs, we will not win very many medals. I think USA Boxing is really hoping that the WSB takes off and helps keep a few boxers available to compete in the Olympics.
Re: Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
I think its a really sad thing, that Frankie are going to turn pro. I think he would have had very good chances of going to the Olympics in 2012, London and maybe take a medal.! Which would have made his amateur carrier complete and propably have given him a better contract, when he wanted to turn pro afterwards.
About the monthy salery 1000 $, maybe that isnt much, but I am boxing amateur in Denmark, made the 5th place at the Word Championships in Milano, but until now I'm not paid any money from a stipendium or something like that. I work 32 hours pr. week besides training 2 times a day. Until I made 5th place at the World Championships I even had to pay my lost wage from work when I needed to go to trainingcamp or tournaments, my self.
I know things are very different in almost every other country, but this was just to say, that US are, after all, getting some money... Not everyone of us are that lucky ...
About the monthy salery 1000 $, maybe that isnt much, but I am boxing amateur in Denmark, made the 5th place at the Word Championships in Milano, but until now I'm not paid any money from a stipendium or something like that. I work 32 hours pr. week besides training 2 times a day. Until I made 5th place at the World Championships I even had to pay my lost wage from work when I needed to go to trainingcamp or tournaments, my self.
I know things are very different in almost every other country, but this was just to say, that US are, after all, getting some money... Not everyone of us are that lucky ...
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atlanta coach
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 79
- Joined: 16 Dec 2008, 00:54
Re: Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
Keller - thats a great point.. For the love of the sport and an Olympic Dream..
Re: Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
Denmark does not win a lot of medals in boxing and maybe that is part of the problem. Most of the countries that do win medals pay their athletes to train or make sure they have government jobs that allow for training/travel or both. Some boxers like Keller will train whether they get money or not, but many can't or aren't willing to forego money now. Some countries also give their top boxers vehicles, homes, etc. A Mercedes to an amateur might keep him from turning pro.
For Frankie, if he truly is getting a six figure signing bonus to turn pro, he can now afford a few things. It is hard to fault him for taking the money.
For Frankie, if he truly is getting a six figure signing bonus to turn pro, he can now afford a few things. It is hard to fault him for taking the money.
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El Raincoat
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 790
- Joined: 01 Jul 2005, 06:02
Re: Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
Are you thinking of going pro Keller? Well done in the Worlds that was a really good performance.Keller wrote:I think its a really sad thing, that Frankie are going to turn pro. I think he would have had very good chances of going to the Olympics in 2012, London and maybe take a medal.! Which would have made his amateur carrier complete and propably have given him a better contract, when he wanted to turn pro afterwards.
About the monthy salery 1000 $, maybe that isnt much, but I am boxing amateur in Denmark, made the 5th place at the Word Championships in Milano, but until now I'm not paid any money from a stipendium or something like that. I work 32 hours pr. week besides training 2 times a day. Until I made 5th place at the World Championships I even had to pay my lost wage from work when I needed to go to trainingcamp or tournaments, my self.
I know things are very different in almost every other country, but this was just to say, that US are, after all, getting some money... Not everyone of us are that lucky ...
Re: Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
Good for Frankie 
Re: Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
Dennis - I agree with you in some points. I think the lack of money to Danish amateur boxers are a part of the reasons why there are alot of talents who quit when things are getting tough and you have to prefer training before money and things. Of couse Frankie is getting a great contract now, but I think more about completing his amateur carrier before turning pro. Then he might also get a even better contract.
El Raincoat - I am not going to turn pro until after going for my goal - to qualify for the Olympics in 2012 London. :)
El Raincoat - I am not going to turn pro until after going for my goal - to qualify for the Olympics in 2012 London. :)
Re: Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
Too many of the USA's top 141# guys have gone pro in the last year. #1-Frankie Gomez, #2-Jose Benavidez, Michael Finney, Jamal James, and Johnny Garcia. I hope the bloodletting stops so that we have some top guys who stick around for the next 2 years. Actually they really only need to stick around for 1.5 years until the Olympic Trials are done so we get the best available boxers on our Olympic team.
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iamasadlittleboy
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1877
- Joined: 01 Mar 2010, 13:05
Re: Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
Gomez v Benavidez rivalry continues then...this could end up being brilliant...
Re: Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
Gomez and Benavidez will not meet as pros for a long time if ever. Golden Boy and Top Rank respectively are not going to risk their investment on a tough opponent like that for several years and even then it would have to be for some type of title or something.
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locoxelbox
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1124
- Joined: 04 Oct 2004, 12:26
Re: Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
What´s the story on Benavidez and Gomez? How many times did they meet? I know about Gomez but what about Benavidez, any international results?
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El Raincoat
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 790
- Joined: 01 Jul 2005, 06:02
Re: Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
Who is managing and training Gomez in the pro's?
Re: Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
Frankie Gomez, perhaps the most sought-after amateur in the United States, signed a multi-year promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions on Wednesday, company president Oscar De La Hoya told ESPN.com.
Gomez, 18, was a 2009 U.S. national champion at 141 pounds, defeating highly touted Top Rank prospect Jose Benavidez 11-9 in the final. Gomez also received a silver medal at the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Milan, Italy, in September. He lost an 8-2 decision to Cuba's Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo in the gold medal match, but was the only American to reach the finals, quite an accomplishment considering it was Gomez's first open tournament.
Other than being a top amateur like De La Hoya was, Gomez is also from East Los Angeles. He also shares the same birthday -- Feb. 4 -- with his new promoter.
"It's really exciting that we signed him. Now I have to break it to my wife that we will be spending birthdays with him," joked De La Hoya, who won his Olympic gold medal the year Gomez was born.
The 5-foot-8 Gomez is scheduled to make his professional debut on April 3 on the undercard of the Roy Jones-Bernard Hopkins rematch at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. After that, De La Hoya said Gomez would fight roughly once per month with regular appearances on Golden Boy's "Fight Night Club" series at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles.
"I believe a perfect fit for him will be the 'Fight Night Club' shows," De La Hoya said of the series, which begins its 2010 schedule on Thursday night. "We're there once a month and we can also have him fight on whatever other big shows we have. But we want to build him up in Los Angeles."
De La Hoya said he was impressed watching videos of Gomez and when he watched him spar recently.
"I saw him spar about three weeks ago and I haven't seen something like that in a long, long time," De La Hoya said. "This kid was in control. This kid just has it. You can feel it in the air. He has that explosiveness, that ring generalship. I haven't seen it in a long time. I am very happy we signed him.
"He sparred 12 rounds with three different pros, not anybody known, but he just impressed me. It reminded me of myself. I used to spar pros all the time. That's how I made the transition from amateurs to the pros. He is so strong and fast."
Although Gomez fought at 141 pounds in the amateur ranks, just one pound over the professional junior welterweight limit, he may fight in the 135-pound lightweight division as a professional.
"He said he can make 135, so what we discussed was if he can make 135 with no problem, why not shoot for a title at 135 when the time is right and then go up to 140 and 147," De La Hoya said.
Terms of Gomez's deal were not disclosed, but he received a six-figure signing bonus.
"He is the No. 1 amateur in the U.S. and one of the best in the world and as such, he deserved a package in line with what his credentials are," Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com. "Golden Boy is the leading promoter and when we see talent, we have the financial resources to pay for it and we do. He's a very, very talented fighter and I think there are tremendous opportunities for Frankie to make a name for himself as a pro."
Dan Rafael is ESPN.com's boxing writer.
Gomez, 18, was a 2009 U.S. national champion at 141 pounds, defeating highly touted Top Rank prospect Jose Benavidez 11-9 in the final. Gomez also received a silver medal at the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Milan, Italy, in September. He lost an 8-2 decision to Cuba's Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo in the gold medal match, but was the only American to reach the finals, quite an accomplishment considering it was Gomez's first open tournament.
Other than being a top amateur like De La Hoya was, Gomez is also from East Los Angeles. He also shares the same birthday -- Feb. 4 -- with his new promoter.
"It's really exciting that we signed him. Now I have to break it to my wife that we will be spending birthdays with him," joked De La Hoya, who won his Olympic gold medal the year Gomez was born.
The 5-foot-8 Gomez is scheduled to make his professional debut on April 3 on the undercard of the Roy Jones-Bernard Hopkins rematch at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. After that, De La Hoya said Gomez would fight roughly once per month with regular appearances on Golden Boy's "Fight Night Club" series at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles.
"I believe a perfect fit for him will be the 'Fight Night Club' shows," De La Hoya said of the series, which begins its 2010 schedule on Thursday night. "We're there once a month and we can also have him fight on whatever other big shows we have. But we want to build him up in Los Angeles."
De La Hoya said he was impressed watching videos of Gomez and when he watched him spar recently.
"I saw him spar about three weeks ago and I haven't seen something like that in a long, long time," De La Hoya said. "This kid was in control. This kid just has it. You can feel it in the air. He has that explosiveness, that ring generalship. I haven't seen it in a long time. I am very happy we signed him.
"He sparred 12 rounds with three different pros, not anybody known, but he just impressed me. It reminded me of myself. I used to spar pros all the time. That's how I made the transition from amateurs to the pros. He is so strong and fast."
Although Gomez fought at 141 pounds in the amateur ranks, just one pound over the professional junior welterweight limit, he may fight in the 135-pound lightweight division as a professional.
"He said he can make 135, so what we discussed was if he can make 135 with no problem, why not shoot for a title at 135 when the time is right and then go up to 140 and 147," De La Hoya said.
Terms of Gomez's deal were not disclosed, but he received a six-figure signing bonus.
"He is the No. 1 amateur in the U.S. and one of the best in the world and as such, he deserved a package in line with what his credentials are," Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com. "Golden Boy is the leading promoter and when we see talent, we have the financial resources to pay for it and we do. He's a very, very talented fighter and I think there are tremendous opportunities for Frankie to make a name for himself as a pro."
Dan Rafael is ESPN.com's boxing writer.
Re: Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
That's why DLH signed him before anyone else knew how good he can become. It's all about the $ for DLH. He's typical of guys who came through the USAB ranks, go to the Olympics and never look back or give a nickle to the program. Thanks Oscar. 
Holyfield is the one exception. He has given plenty back to amateur boxing. I wish more would be like him.
Holyfield is the one exception. He has given plenty back to amateur boxing. I wish more would be like him.
Re: Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
JMac wrote:That's why DLH signed him before anyone else knew how good he can become. It's all about the $ for DLH. He's typical of guys who came through the USAB ranks, go to the Olympics and never look back or give a nickle to the program. Thanks Oscar.
Holyfield is the one exception. He has given plenty back to amateur boxing. I wish more would be like him.
I agree-
El Raincoat
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 790
- Joined: 01 Jul 2005, 06:02
Re: Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
I don't know how possible this is but could Oscar not sponsor several of the top US amateur's with an agreement that they would sign for him when they have competed at an Olympics.
That way there would be no rush for them to head to the pro's.
That way there would be no rush for them to head to the pro's.
Re: Frankie Gomez decides to turn pro
Someday maybe, but not now. The rules prohibit amateur boxers from accepting money from promoters. It is what Michael King was trying to do, but he was going through the national federation - USA Boxing. If Golden Boy paid money to the boxers using USA Boxing as a conduit, then the boxers could accept the money if they wanted with an agreement that they would have to sign with Golden Boy once they turned pro.