Frankie Gomez Stops Egidijus Kavaliauskas in Milan

(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – Team USA’s lone remaining competitor, light welterweight Frankie Gomez (Broadway, Calif.) ensured his United States team wouldn’t go home empty-handed with a dominating quarterfinal performance at the 2009 World Championships in Milan, Italy.

Gomez recorded three earlier wins in Milan to advance on to his quarterfinal match-up with Lithuania’s Egidijus Kavaliauskas on Wednesday. The 17-year-old American left nothing to chance in his bout with Kavaliauskas, stopping him in the third round of their contest. After a slow-paced first round, the pace quickened in the second with Gomez taking a 6-2 advantage into the final round. He had moved out to a 12-3 advantage in the third when the referee stopped the bout, giving Gomez the hard-earned victory. Gomez gave his Lithuanian foe three standing eight counts before the referee called a halt to the bout in the final round.

His victory guarantees Gomez at least a bronze medal in his first world championships. He will face Hungary’s Gyula Kate in the semifinals at on Friday, September 11 at 8:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. EST). Kate claimed a bronze medal at the 2003 World Championships and is a two-time Olympian for Hungary.

Wednesday’s U.S. Results
141 lbs: Frankie Gomez, Broadway, Calif./USA stopped Egidijus Kavaliauskas, LTU, RSC-3

Friday’s U.S. Schedule

141 lbs: Frankie Gomez, Broadway, Calif./USA vs. Gyula Kate, HUN