Life after boxing ....

[80/20]

Just a thought with most (probably the vast majority) boxers hanging up the gloves having made no real life changing money does any body know of any stories on the lives after boxing of the likes of

Micheal Gomez who I remember in his interview after the Khan fight saying he would have to go bqck to shop lifting ...
I always liked to watch Gomez who had an incredible story and always provided good value and entertainment

Does anybody know what Micheal is doing now ...?

How about any other less publicised fighters that have retired over the past decade ...

[spudder56]

Just a thought with most (probably the vast majority) boxers hanging up the gloves having made no real life changing money does any body know of any stories on the lives after boxing of the likes of

Micheal Gomez who I remember in his interview after the Khan fight saying he would have to go bqck to shop lifting ...
I always liked to watch Gomez who had an incredible story and always provided good value and entertainment

Does anybody know what Micheal is doing now ...?

How about any other less publicised fighters that have retired over the past decade ...

I am not sure but I beleive Michael has had a couple of fights on the unlicensed circuit but I dont know what else he is doing but whatever I agree with you he always gave good value and entertainment and always came to fight

[hurlock]

I thought Gomez looked a world beater on his day

[JLP]

I thought Gomez looked a world beater on his day

For sure. He could've been if he'd led his life differently. The people who knew his true potential would see him as a huge underachiever. He really did have the tools to be a contender at world level. Still, he's a two time British champion and that's an achievement in itself.

[stevieb_8006]

I read he was working in a care home or hospital of some sort. I think he also does a bit of work for mike Jennings security firm as well. Doesn't he work a door somewhere as well?

He was class, had a heart the size of a house. If only he'd have had a bit of discipline but saying that, sometimes with these wildmen it's the crazy life that makes them the fighter they r. Tbh I'd just b glad to know he's ok health wise after some of those fights.

A few of his unlicensed fights r on YouTube and they r heartbreaking to watch.

[rhino222]

how much did gomez earn in his career?.. he sold thousands of tickets. anyone any idea?

[JLP]

Stevie, he adopted a bit of a persona and got carried away with it, he's not actually as much of a nutcase as he makes out or at least he wasn't. When he first turned over he was a decent stylist and his foot movement was sublime. The Gomez/sombrero act was a good gimmick and helped him build a profile but I can't help but feel that if he'd been plain old Michael Armstrong he might have done even more than he did. We'll never know.

[JLP]

how much did gomez earn in his career?.. he sold thousands of tickets. anyone any idea?

No idea. I know he was contemplating having a year out after he'd fought Burns and was ready to knock it on the head. He talked about dipping into his savings. I hope he bought a few houses around Moston and has them rented out but I don't know. He's not work-shy, so he should be all right.

[mickey1975]

Stevie, he adopted a bit of a persona and got carried away with it, he's not actually as much of a nutcase as he makes out or at least he wasn't. When he first turned over he was a decent stylist and his foot movement was sublime. The Gomez/sombrero act was a good gimmick and helped him build a profile but I can't help but feel that if he'd been plain old Michael Armstrong he might have done even more than he did. We'll never know.

I have seen him out and about at shows and got the impression he was every much the nutcase he portrayed. He certainly liked a drink. To be fair to him, i never saw him do anything wrong but there was a definate aura around him.

[hurlock]

From what I can remember I'm pretty sure Gomez tried to hammer down his mortgage. Think he had a young family & cost of living as we all no is tough!! I would of thought he'd of lived off his fight money & not earnt fortunes.

[ra2006]

Another legend and all round top bloke is Jon Thaxton who I thought gave us some cracking fights in his time. The latest from him is that he has set up his fitness and mentoring company in Norwich and is really doing well.

[stevieb_8006]

Stevie, he adopted a bit of a persona and got carried away with it, he's not actually as much of a nutcase as he makes out or at least he wasn't. When he first turned over he was a decent stylist and his foot movement was sublime. The Gomez/sombrero act was a good gimmick and helped him build a profile but I can't help but feel that if he'd been plain old Michael Armstrong he might have done even more than he did. We'll never know.

Well u prob know better than me, but I lead a quiet sheltered life. If u've killed someone in a streetfight and died on the operating table thru stab wounds, ur a wild man in my books.

Do u know how he's doing? He was one fighter I always worried about in retirement. He gave so much to the game I'd to think he got not for it.

Incidentally does anyone know if he threw 'that' fight?

[rhino222]

Stevie, he adopted a bit of a persona and got carried away with it, he's not actually as much of a nutcase as he makes out or at least he wasn't. When he first turned over he was a decent stylist and his foot movement was sublime. The Gomez/sombrero act was a good gimmick and helped him build a profile but I can't help but feel that if he'd been plain old Michael Armstrong he might have done even more than he did. We'll never know.

Well u prob know better than me, but I lead a quiet sheltered life. If u've killed someone in a streetfight and died on the operating table thru stab wounds, ur a wild man in my books.

Do u know how he's doing? He was one fighter I always worried about in retirement. He gave so much to the game I'd to think he got not for it.

Incidentally does anyone know if he threw 'that' fight?

mcdonagh?

[JLP]

He didn't throw the McDonagh fight. He simply didn't prepare right. What's more he got caught with a good shot that stood him up. The subsequent delay between the shot and Mike finally hitting the canvas did look a bit strange but if you look at the initial shot that caught him you can see it had a disorientating effect. The guys commentating were clueless and started the controversy by suggesting it was a "no mas". it was nothing of the sort.

[hurlock]

He didn't throw the McDonagh fight. He simply didn't prepare right. What's more he got caught with a good shot that stood him up. The subsequent delay between the shot and Mike finally hitting the canvas did look a bit strange but if you look at the initial shot that caught him you can see it had a disorientating effect. The guys commentating were clueless and started the controversy by suggesting it was a "no mas". it was nothing of the sort.

Nothing to do with a load of money lumped on that round that the bookies pulled the plug!

[jessi]

I heard a movie about Gomez was in the pipe line, I hope it does happen and he plays himself and makes enough money to live a comfy life !
He was a proper little warrior

[mickey1975]

I heard a movie about Gomez was in the pipe line, I hope it does happen and he plays himself and makes enough money to live a comfy life !
He was a proper little warrior

The trailer was out about five years ago!

[JLP]

He didn't throw the McDonagh fight. He simply didn't prepare right. What's more he got caught with a good shot that stood him up. The subsequent delay between the shot and Mike finally hitting the canvas did look a bit strange but if you look at the initial shot that caught him you can see it had a disorientating effect. The guys commentating were clueless and started the controversy by suggesting it was a "no mas". it was nothing of the sort.

Nothing to do with a load of money lumped on that round that the bookies pulled the plug!

If you can get your hands on a copy of Bernard Hopkins vs Joe Lipsey, watch the way Lipsey is stopped. He has a very similar reaction to the one Gomez had when McDonagh initially clipped him. All the stuff with the bookies was just hype and nonsense after the event. The fight was straight.

[80/20]

He didn't throw the McDonagh fight. He simply didn't prepare right. What's more he got caught with a good shot that stood him up. The subsequent delay between the shot and Mike finally hitting the canvas did look a bit strange but if you look at the initial shot that caught him you can see it had a disorientating effect. The guys commentating were clueless and started the controversy by suggesting it was a "no mas". it was nothing of the sort.

Nothing to do with a load of money lumped on that round that the bookies pulled the plug!

If you can get your hands on a copy of Bernard Hopkins vs Joe Lipsey, watch the way Lipsey is stopped. He has a very similar reaction to the one Gomez had when McDonagh initially clipped him. All the stuff with the bookies was just hype and nonsense after the event. The fight was straight.

Maybe Im wrong but I thought I remembered Gomez saying that he quit in that fight as he had just decided he had enough of boxing ?

Seems strange for such a warior ! But as we all know money talks and we all have bills to pay ...

[JLP]

He was stood up by a shot, disorientated, and then dropped by a barrage. He got up during the count, was unsteady and headed back towards his corner. Between Mike, Billy and the ref, the fight got stopped. It was a genuine shot that from Peter McDonagh that was the beginning of the end. Mike did not throw the fight. That's the key point.

[stevieb_8006]

getting back on subject, does any1 know how hes doing now/what hes up to?

I always felt he rushed his shot at johansson. two more warm ups and i think he'd have done him.

[JLP]

getting back on subject, does any1 know how hes doing now/what hes up to?

I always felt he rushed his shot at johansson. two more warm ups and i think he'd have done him.

Just living his life, mate. Grafting, spending time with the family, and having the odd pint.

[bripez]

I don't know Gomez personally and have never met him, but he has always struck me as one of those blokes who isn't quite right.

You know, the ones who you see in the pub who can totally flip in a split second and appear to have no conscience of what they do or the effects of their actions.

[Chambers2]

Life after boxing = everyday life for everyone else

I appreciate it's a massive change in lifestyle for a boxer once they've retired, but I've got to admit I find it difficult to have too much sympathy for them, especially the ones who come out of it financially secure. I've spent week after monotonous soul-destroying week for the last 15 years doing boring ass fulltime jobs to pay the bills and I'm still skint, so I sometimes find it hard listening to them talk about how hard life is after boxing.

[stevieb_8006]

Life after boxing = everyday life for everyone else

I appreciate it's a massive change in lifestyle for a boxer once they've retired, but I've got to admit I find it difficult to have too much sympathy for them, especially the ones who come out of it financially secure. I've spent week after monotonous soul-destroying week for the last 15 years doing boring ass fulltime jobs to pay the bills and I'm still skint, so I sometimes find it hard listening to them talk about how hard life is after boxing.

but it must be hard when u can do things physically that are just incredible, that 95% of the population cant and would never be able to, and then its gone and your joe bloggs all of a sudden. I can see why that would be hard to come to terms with. Like superman 2 when he loses his powers Boxers definitely see themselves as different to every1 else (i dont mean they think they are better or anything, just a different breed). But ultimately you are right, theres no sympathy for the everyman.