Gomez wants Khan...
Posted: 11 Apr 2007, 08:42
Gomez goes gunning for Amir
11/ 4/2007
MICHAEL Gomez is back - and he wants a showdown with Amir Khan.
The former British super-featherweight champion is set to return to the ring on May 6 when he will face serial loser Carl Allen at Altrincham Lesiure Centre.
But Gomez wants to be back in the title mix by the end of the year. And, though he intends to boil back down to his old 9st 4lbs, Gomez says he would leap at a chance to fight rising star Khan.
"I can't see it happening, though because Khan's promoter allegedly is a very clever man," says the 29-year-old Irish-born Mancunian. "Frank won't make the same mistake twice after putting another of his up-and-coming stars, Alex Arthur, in with me in 2003."
On that occasion, Gomez was again on the comeback trail after a damaging defeat by Kevin Lear for the WBU title, but produced the performance of his life to stop Edinburgh ace Arthur in his own backyard.
And he says he would do the same to Bolton lad Khan.
Competitive
Said Gomez: "He is in the papers talking about a fight with British lightweight champion Jon Thaxton, but he hasn't even had a competitive fight yet. He beat Steffy Bull last weekend, a fighter I knocked out in the amateurs in two rounds and who has got worse since then.
"I would be a big name for Khan to fight, and we could put it on in Manchester, the country's fight capital, instead of sending Khan off to fight in Wales or Scotland."
Gomez retired from the ring in the fifth round of his fight for the vacant Irish lightweight title with Peter McDonagh in January of last year.
It was reminiscent of Roberto Duran's famous `no mas' moment against Sugar Ray Leonard, as Gomez simply dropped his hands, turned his back and walked away from McDonagh.
The incident was scrutinised by the Boxing Union of Ireland after dark rumours of a betting coup. But Gomez strongly proclaimed his innocence, and the bookmaker involved said that nothing untoward had happened. Gomez later told M.E.N. Sport that he had simply had enough.
Now he says he is ready to hit the comeback trail, has been working with Stalybridge trainer Bobby Rimmer, and will be promoted in Altrincham by Salford man Steve Wood.
"I feel invigorated as a fighter," said Gomez, who brightened up British boxing in the late 1990s with his aggressive style and sombrero-wearing fans.
"We offered McDonagh my first fight back but he doesn't want it. I even said he could have all the money apart from my £1,000 trainer's fee, but it seems he would rather retire than get in with me again.
"I know this really is my last chance and this time I want to go out on a high, which means fighting for British or Commonwealth titles by the end of the year."
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... _amir.html
11/ 4/2007
MICHAEL Gomez is back - and he wants a showdown with Amir Khan.
The former British super-featherweight champion is set to return to the ring on May 6 when he will face serial loser Carl Allen at Altrincham Lesiure Centre.
But Gomez wants to be back in the title mix by the end of the year. And, though he intends to boil back down to his old 9st 4lbs, Gomez says he would leap at a chance to fight rising star Khan.
"I can't see it happening, though because Khan's promoter allegedly is a very clever man," says the 29-year-old Irish-born Mancunian. "Frank won't make the same mistake twice after putting another of his up-and-coming stars, Alex Arthur, in with me in 2003."
On that occasion, Gomez was again on the comeback trail after a damaging defeat by Kevin Lear for the WBU title, but produced the performance of his life to stop Edinburgh ace Arthur in his own backyard.
And he says he would do the same to Bolton lad Khan.
Competitive
Said Gomez: "He is in the papers talking about a fight with British lightweight champion Jon Thaxton, but he hasn't even had a competitive fight yet. He beat Steffy Bull last weekend, a fighter I knocked out in the amateurs in two rounds and who has got worse since then.
"I would be a big name for Khan to fight, and we could put it on in Manchester, the country's fight capital, instead of sending Khan off to fight in Wales or Scotland."
Gomez retired from the ring in the fifth round of his fight for the vacant Irish lightweight title with Peter McDonagh in January of last year.
It was reminiscent of Roberto Duran's famous `no mas' moment against Sugar Ray Leonard, as Gomez simply dropped his hands, turned his back and walked away from McDonagh.
The incident was scrutinised by the Boxing Union of Ireland after dark rumours of a betting coup. But Gomez strongly proclaimed his innocence, and the bookmaker involved said that nothing untoward had happened. Gomez later told M.E.N. Sport that he had simply had enough.
Now he says he is ready to hit the comeback trail, has been working with Stalybridge trainer Bobby Rimmer, and will be promoted in Altrincham by Salford man Steve Wood.
"I feel invigorated as a fighter," said Gomez, who brightened up British boxing in the late 1990s with his aggressive style and sombrero-wearing fans.
"We offered McDonagh my first fight back but he doesn't want it. I even said he could have all the money apart from my £1,000 trainer's fee, but it seems he would rather retire than get in with me again.
"I know this really is my last chance and this time I want to go out on a high, which means fighting for British or Commonwealth titles by the end of the year."
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... _amir.html
