Micheal Gomez Vs Ryan Davies tonight in Blackpool

[Jeff Thomas]

While i'm not a big fan of alternatively licensed boxing- tonight there is a fairly interesting fight on in Blackpool which i'm attending. Micheal Gomez boxes a friend of mine Ryan Davies at light middleweight. Gomez is a long, long way past his best but on paper should still have too much for a young lad whose only been in the ring competively 5-6 times.

I'll keep you posted, but much like Luke Blackledge who came from this form of the sport Ryan Davies appears to be a real talent. I think that a win here would be pretty impressive form- i'll try and get a vid etc...

Just shows, just over a year and a bit ago I accompanied Mike to the ring against Ricky Burns. Now Burns is on top of the world and defending his world title tomorrow night - and Gomez boxes in a nightclub in Blackpool. This is a crazy, crazy sport. Best wishes to both fighters- presuming it all goes ahead.

[Newport Daz]

What is alternatively licensed boxing? Is this the same as White Collar boxing? As I've never been to an alternative/white collar event, what's the difference with "normal" licensed boxing. Are there 3 judges and a ref the same or does the ref score. Will the result effect Gomez's official record?

Thanks.

[demolitiondaley]

What is alternatively licensed boxing? Is this the same as White Collar boxing? As I've never been to an alternative/white collar event, what's the difference with "normal" licensed boxing. Are there 3 judges and a ref the same or does the ref score. Will the result effect Gomez's official record?

Thanks.

Just means not licensed by the BBBofC mate, most people call it unlicensed but they have there own "sanctioning bodies" and licence it themselves nowadays. Anybody could do make there own brand up and issue "licences". Never heard it called "alternatively licensed" before.

[Jeff Thomas]

What is alternatively licensed boxing? Is this the same as White Collar boxing? As I've never been to an alternative/white collar event, what's the difference with "normal" licensed boxing. Are there 3 judges and a ref the same or does the ref score. Will the result effect Gomez's official record?

Thanks.

Just means not licensed by the BBBofC mate, most people call it unlicensed but they have there own "sanctioning bodies" and licence it themselves nowadays. Anybody could do make there own brand up and issue "licences". Never heard it called "alternatively licensed" before.

I've pioneered the phrase howard

[curtis wood]

gutted gomez was one of my favourite fighters ever! he shouldnt be fighting in any form of boxing especially at that weight he will get hurt i used to love watching him fight win lose or draw he always brought the heat if your mate is half decent he will win no probs but really what does it prove?

[Tommy Gunn13]

Shame hes fighting on these type of shows,what kind off cash could he expect to earn Jeff £500???

[whiskey]

Gomez always likes to fight and he's getting paid for it.

His heyday is gone and I suppose he's making the very best of it now to carve out a few quid every month.

[dondada]

Gomez always likes to fight and he's getting paid for it.

His heyday is gone and I suppose he's making the very best of it now to carve out a few quid every month.

True, Gomez - he'd be fighting for free anyway, probably in a pub car park, (old) Curtis Woodhouse style

[Jeff Thomas]

I totally agree, thus my dislike of it, also there a ton of lads who could be bringing people to the amateur sport, risking injury in this game- and for what? I get white collar, but if your good enough do amateur. I think Ryan would win the novices first time of asking but I suppose people do what they feel is right at the time. I'll sit on the fence- best way it seems.

[Jeff Thomas]

Mike is fat and unfit at the moment - really fat and really unfit. He might struggle tonight regardless of how (in)experienced Ryan is. It is sad to see a mate fall from grace but as has been said, what else would he do? He's no qualifications and the work experience he has, away from boxing, is all stuff where jobs are few and far between at the moment and almost exclusively minimum wage to boot. Whilst you can earn a not bad living on minimum wage, Mike will probably be able to earn a similar amount (in a year) or more by featuring on a number of unlicensed bills and it means he won't have to do 12 hours work a day.

Whens the last time you saw him? I heard he was training really well?

[GAV]

Sad to see pure and simple, but needs must.

[curtis wood]

them days have gone ian! thrown a snow ball at a teenager who was giving me some abuse this morning thats about as naughty as i get these days there must be something gomez can do in boxing apart from fight i would have thought his input would be very beneficial to youngsters his story is a good one about never giving up from nothing to a top fighter that can inspire people he needs somebody to help him get a foot in the door and a decent regular income which would keep him out of the ring because with his style of fighting and the weight hes fighting at he will defo get hurt badly there needs to be after care for boxers who struggle when there careers are over they need to be better looked after it seems when its over nobody gives a shit about you in football the pfa pay for courses for the ex players to go on and set you up with coaching badges and try get you a job in football in some capacity is there anything like that in boxing? imo thats the way he should be looking to go not getting beat up in blackpool by the local doorman fighters come back because they are skint if you provide a chance at a regular income i think that will stop most of them coming back risking getting hurt for shit money

[Coco]

If your a ticket seller you can earn a good wage, he prob gets to keep half his ticket money

[1966cantona]

As sumone who saw gomez around a hour ago.

I can tell you he wont be fighting tonite!

[bigped]

As sumone who saw gomez around a hour ago.

I can tell you he wont be fighting tonite!

In the boozer?

[1966cantona]

No not in the boozer just wiv his pregnant missus and 3 kids.

Obvioulsy the money (around £1000) would have been nice before Xmas but he isnt doin too bad and been doing bits of building/roofing work. With him its not the money he earns its the money he saves by not drining/sniffin/gamblin....

He not fighting though cops he is pretty fat - at least 12 stone - and hasnt done any boxin at all for months - he always says to me he deliberatewly stayin away from boxin gyms so he doesnt think bout comebacks.

His son doin alrite in the amateurs though...

[Jeff Thomas]

Give him my best, just spoke to Ryan- apparently they only found out he wasn't fighting this morning

[Londonirish]

If your a ticket seller you can earn a good wage, he prob gets to keep half his ticket money

Yeah your right you can get a 50-50 deal. Brett James who boxed won S-Area title, boxed Micheal Jennings well he boxes unliscence at the mo and makes More Moneynow then what he did when he was a Pro.

[Andypittcov]

I Like gomez,proper warrior, couldn't get over his fight with Arthur phenomenol ruck

[palooka]

I thought that Gomez had bought a few houses in the Moston area. It must be very tempting for him to earn a few quid fighting as he'll still be very tasty out of shape (I know some fat men who can fight some). I don't know Ryan Davies at all but hope that he enjoys it and earns a few a few bob; I'm pretty sure that he knows he would've been up against it v Gomez.

[dondada]

them days have gone ian! thrown a snow ball at a teenager who was giving me some abuse this morning thats about as naughty as i get these days there must be something gomez can do in boxing apart from fight i would have thought his input would be very beneficial to youngsters his story is a good one about never giving up from nothing to a top fighter that can inspire people he needs somebody to help him get a foot in the door and a decent regular income which would keep him out of the ring because with his style of fighting and the weight hes fighting at he will defo get hurt badly there needs to be after care for boxers who struggle when there careers are over they need to be better looked after it seems when its over nobody gives a shit about you in football the pfa pay for courses for the ex players to go on and set you up with coaching badges and try get you a job in football in some capacity is there anything like that in boxing? imo thats the way he should be looking to go not getting beat up in blackpool by the local doorman fighters come back because they are skint if you provide a chance at a regular income i think that will stop most of them coming back risking getting hurt for shit money

Aye, wise words - it's been tried before, more than once. The Board should sort it out really, in my opinion. They should take 10% of every fighter's purse, every time, and put it away for him. Fighters would whinge at the time but at the age of, say, 35, 40 or whatever, it could be released for them.

I know there would be a lot of logistical ball ache but it would be worth it, I think.

[Yes We Can]

them days have gone ian! thrown a snow ball at a teenager who was giving me some abuse this morning thats about as naughty as i get these days there must be something gomez can do in boxing apart from fight i would have thought his input would be very beneficial to youngsters his story is a good one about never giving up from nothing to a top fighter that can inspire people he needs somebody to help him get a foot in the door and a decent regular income which would keep him out of the ring because with his style of fighting and the weight hes fighting at he will defo get hurt badly there needs to be after care for boxers who struggle when there careers are over they need to be better looked after it seems when its over nobody gives a shit about you in football the pfa pay for courses for the ex players to go on and set you up with coaching badges and try get you a job in football in some capacity is there anything like that in boxing? imo thats the way he should be looking to go not getting beat up in blackpool by the local doorman fighters come back because they are skint if you provide a chance at a regular income i think that will stop most of them coming back risking getting hurt for shit money

Aye, wise words - it's been tried before, more than once. The Board should sort it out really, in my opinion. They should take 10% of every fighter's purse, every time, and put it away for him. Fighters would whinge at the time but at the age of, say, 35, 40 or whatever, it could be released for them.

I know there would be a lot of logistical ball ache but it would be worth it, I think.

| like the idea behind that, maybe withold it until 3-5 years after retirement as a safety net especially to fighters of lower level.

[curtis wood]

not wanting to go on about my football days but when i first signed my 1st pro contract at 17 i had a pension set up by the pfa that automatically took a percentage of my wages each month that went into a fund that i can get when im 35 i never got the money in my wages so i never missed it if you know what i mean i think this should be done with all fighters at every level if nothing else it gives you a nice pot of money tax free also whatever you pay into your pension the pfa then make a contribution based on how much you have paid in which can sometimes doulble your lump sum and give you incentive to pay into it i think fighters should be made to do it when i was young i thought i was gunna play for manchester united and score the winning goal in the world cup final so i didnt even give my pension a second thought when i got a bit older and realised my future was away from football i was glad id set the fund up to give me options its the same with fighters some will think of world domination but 95% will not get there and might need a little bit of money to fall back on there must be something the board can set up? the thought of one of my heros (gomez) getting beaten up for 500 quid doesnt sit well with me

[Old bones Ian]

There should be a fund to help boxers get a trade after their fighting career has ended.
Maybe pay towards costs of going to college, and general help in that way.

[Old bones Ian]

Good interview with Gerry Cooney who runs a charity called FIST, they help boxers sort out jobs etc .

http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resour ... 746-1.html

oh and don't type 'Fist' into google on a computer at work, i have and where some of those ladies put their fists is most unhygenic!