Did Michael Gomez have Alex Arthurs number?

[TheLeprechaun]

This was one of the all-time classics in British boxing. We all know the outcome. After seeing Arthur in trouble within the first 20 seconds of the fight it seemed like Arthur was up against a nightmare style. Arthur came out and had a very good second round but was under extreme pressure throughout and fell apart from the third round onwards, taking a decent hiding in the process.

I've heard people say that Arthur took it lightly, was over confident, didn't perform etc. I think Arthur had shown vulnerabilities in the fights leading up to it and had never been in against a nutter like Gomez who only had one mode of fighting. Getting caught repeatedly with left hooks was poor from Arthur but im not sure he had the ability to stop them. I always wonderered what would have happened in a rematch. Gomez was so vulnerable himself but I think Arthur was someone he'd always have gotten up for and produced on the night - he hated Arthur. Going to Scotland also suited Gomez who thrived on the hostility of the fans. I think he had Arthurs number and the best Gomez always beats the best Arthur.

[Steveh583]

Along with Carl Thompson, Gomez is my favourite domestic fighter. However I do think Alex took him lightly thinking he was washed up. There was also a tendency at the time for allegedly fighters to feast on Ghanaians and eastern Europeans rather than actually learn their trade properly. Thus they we found wanting on the big occasion, Kevin Mitchell being a prime example of this. When you look at the fighters Alex went on to beat and what he went on to achieve, you'd have to fancy him to beat Gomez. Although I do think Mike would always give him a hard fight. We have to remember as well that Gomez rarely actually prepared correctly for a fight

[Fray Bentos]

Go along with what Stevie says, he took Gomez lightly and Gomez took him apart.

[jameswilson]

Yeah I think that fight was more to do with Gomez being on his game rather than Alex being off his. Gomez had good head movement, fitness and couldn’t miss with the left hook.

[rpms]

Will always be one of the fights that gives me goosebumps,and the finish always gives me so much satisfaction

[Coco]

Gómez really turned up, Arthur took him lightly and also he was never that good, like Arthur was Euro not world level

[TheLeprechaun]

Along with Carl Thompson, Gomez is my favourite domestic fighter. However I do think Alex took him lightly thinking he was washed up. There was also a tendency at the time for allegedly fighters to feast on Ghanaians and eastern Europeans rather than actually learn their trade properly. Thus they we found wanting on the big occasion, Kevin Mitchell being a prime example of this. When you look at the fighters Alex went on to beat and what he went on to achieve, you'd have to fancy him to beat Gomez. Although I do think Mike would always give him a hard fight. We have to remember as well that Gomez rarely actually prepared correctly for a fight

Arthur went on to beat the following;
Ricky Burns (13-0 at the time)
Stephen Foster (21-1)

He went on to lose to Nicky Cook in a tight fight and then a loss to Nigel Wright was something that he couldn't really come back from. I don't think the wins over Burns and Foster are enough to rate him above Gomez. Burns was green at the time, although it was a good win for Alex. Foster was coming off being exposed and outboxed by Matthews. Foster was the closest thing he fought to Gomez I'd' say but he never really faced the kind of whirlwind intensity that Gomez brought.

It just doesn't sit well with me that people share your view that Arthur was the better man. If we say that Gomez is going to be well prepared and is going to be able to repeat that performance, I see Arthur falling apart again.

It might have been different if Arthur had developed into a better fighter before the first fight as you say. For that to happen he'd have needed tough opponents who gave him scares and made him improve his defense and mentality but it's hard to say. I'm not entirely sure but I think it was the Snarski fight where Arthur looked to have problems and got caught quite a bit.

[bripez]

The ref really didn’t want to stop that one

He didn’t look as cocky walking back as he did walking in

The 3 lads he lost to were all British so he was a domestic level boxer

[Boxerbeetle]

Haven’t watched that back for years, fvcking brilliant stuff

[Londonirish]

Kevin Lear who was serious hand full Beat Gomez only a few fights before Gomez Beat Arthur, Lear oney had 14 fights and Gomez was the only name on his record. Lear so naturally gifted It would of been great to see how far he could of went,

[TheLeprechaun]

Kevin Lear who was serious hand full Beat Gomez only a few fights before Gomez Beat Arthur, Lear oney had 14 fights and Gomez was the only name on his record. Lear so naturally gifted It would of been great to see how far he could of went,

Lear looked class. Injuries did him I think? Wonder what he ended up doing after boxing?

[mickey1975]

Kevin Lear who was serious hand full Beat Gomez only a few fights before Gomez Beat Arthur, Lear oney had 14 fights and Gomez was the only name on his record. Lear so naturally gifted It would of been great to see how far he could of went,

I remember the documentary which you were on when Lear nearly set about a stablemate abroad. George Robshaw said he’s a very hard man.

[ThereByTheGrace]

Dont think arthur took him lightly. He just was badly beaten and gomez had his number.

[rhino222]

Firstly thanks for posting this

One of my all time fave domestic dust ups with both boys showing great heart.

Arthur was a bit limited, a flat track bully i guess. Gomez was only as good as the way he had trained and the focus he had for the match up. He did not live the life between fights, he could have done so much more in his career.

It was a bit of a Wayne Alexander performance from Gomez. Vulnerable at times but devastating when cornered and in trouble.

The iconic camera work of when Arthur looked into the camera and smiled after he had been decked.

All in all a great fight. Gomez was brilliant that night and a match up for anyone. his left hook and left uppercut combo was a joy to behold.

[Steveh583]

Along with Carl Thompson, Gomez is my favourite domestic fighter. However I do think Alex took him lightly thinking he was washed up. There was also a tendency at the time for allegedly fighters to feast on Ghanaians and eastern Europeans rather than actually learn their trade properly. Thus they we found wanting on the big occasion, Kevin Mitchell being a prime example of this. When you look at the fighters Alex went on to beat and what he went on to achieve, you'd have to fancy him to beat Gomez. Although I do think Mike would always give him a hard fight. We have to remember as well that Gomez rarely actually prepared correctly for a fight

Arthur went on to beat the following;
Ricky Burns (13-0 at the time)
Stephen Foster (21-1)

He went on to lose to Nicky Cook in a tight fight and then a loss to Nigel Wright was something that he couldn't really come back from. I don't think the wins over Burns and Foster are enough to rate him above Gomez. Burns was green at the time, although it was a good win for Alex. Foster was coming off being exposed and outboxed by Matthews. Foster was the closest thing he fought to Gomez I'd' say but he never really faced the kind of whirlwind intensity that Gomez brought.

It just doesn't sit well with me that people share your view that Arthur was the better man. If we say that Gomez is going to be well prepared and is going to be able to repeat that performance, I see Arthur falling apart again.

It might have been different if Arthur had developed into a better fighter before the first fight as you say. For that to happen he'd have needed tough opponents who gave him scares and made him improve his defense and mentality but it's hard to say. I'm not entirely sure but I think it was the Snarski fight where Arthur looked to have problems and got caught quite a bit.

limond win was a good win for AA I think. Cracking little fighter. I wouldn't have minded seeing him vs Gomez actually. All told, I think Arthur WAS the better man. Gomez is one of those fighters, a bit like mike Tyson, where people say "if he'd have trained properly he'd have won this...if it wasn't for events outside the ring he'd have done that...' but he didn't. He blew it. And he'd be the first to admit that too. He wouldn't stop drinking til ten days before a fight. I say that as the biggest fan ever as well. On their best nights mike was a phenom...but they were few and far between. I think if they had rematched, a fully focussed Arthur would have outpointed him by keeping him on the end of a long jab.

[Steveh583]

Kevin Lear who was serious hand full Beat Gomez only a few fights before Gomez Beat Arthur, Lear oney had 14 fights and Gomez was the only name on his record. Lear so naturally gifted It would of been great to see how far he could of went,

Lear looked class. Injuries did him I think? Wonder what he ended up doing after boxing?

Shoulders were fucked if I remember rightly

[Londonirish]

Lear looked class. Injuries did him I think? Wonder what he ended up doing after boxing?

Shoulders were fucked if I remember rightly

Yeah your right, such a shame.

[Londonirish]

Kevin Lear who was serious hand full Beat Gomez only a few fights before Gomez Beat Arthur, Lear oney had 14 fights and Gomez was the only name on his record. Lear so naturally gifted It would of been great to see how far he could of went,

I remember the documentary which you were on when Lear nearly set about a stablemate abroad. George Robshaw said he’s a very hard man.

Yeah We was at training camp in Tenerife, out for a meal and both of them got stuck into to it none would back down..

He was and so naturally fit hadn’t trained for a year or so came over and was running Mount Teide like a Stroll in the park. I collapsed halfway through and got picked up by the van Me and running/training didn’t agree.

[ALI]

Arthur had his head in the wrong place, literally. The occassion got to him, as did every left hook Gomez threw. I do think Arthur should have had the beating of Gomez, with better preparation, better discipline and tactics on the night etc, but thats all speculation. Gomez won fair and square and goes down in the books as the better man.

[Noxy]

What a classic! Cheers for posting.

[mickey1975]

Is his son still fighting?

He was with Denzil Browne in Leeds before Denzil got remanded for murder. He’s out now though, so hopefully they can hook up again. Don’t know if Denzil will be at it until his son gets out.

[Londonirish]

Is his son still fighting?

He was with Denzil Browne in Leeds before Denzil got remanded for murder. He’s out now though, so hopefully they can hook up again. Don’t know if Denzil will be at it until his son gets out.

Is his son Locked up?

[Wee Tommy]

I couldn’t imagine Alex taking him lightly. He was very very weight drained for a lot of his fights. Should have been at least a lightweight and more realistically a light welterweight. Gomez came fired up and got the better of it early on. He could really have a fight Gomez when he was up for it.

[Omerta]

I remember watching this fight live it was unbelievable one of the best fights I've ever seen live on TV probably comes second to Benn Vs McClellan , gomez was seen as already on the slide at this point in his career and can only wonder if he had taken things more serious and didn't have all the out of the ring issues going on how far he could of went? Also this was a great era for domestic level boxing especially compared to now, great memories of British boxing from these years early to mid 2000s

[tony1234]

Wonder what happened to Michael Pass ? Much better MC than a lot now especially David Diamante ............Diamante