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Watch Out For Juan Carlos Gomez
Matthew Sanderson
11/22/2005 - United Kingdom
After his shocking kayo loss to perceived no-hoper Yanqui Diaz, Juan Carlos Gomez’ route to heavyweight dominion looked lost – for good. Despite that depressing career slump when it seemed the Cuban was trapped in a fog of mediocrity, all has not been lost. A recent improvement in form and major upheaval in the heavyweight mix conspires to hint he can make an impact.
The former WBC cruiserweight champion (41-1, 33 KOs) could end up being a heavyweight titleholder of the same organization.
When Vitali Klitschko decided to retire, he not only gave a mediocre crop of titlists a stronger argument of being the best, but also allowed Gomez a prayer of winning the WBC heavyweight the Ukrainian had been sitting on like a warm egg. Juan Carlos’ quest for Klitschko looked suicidal, given his former stablemate’s massive advantage in size and strength, not to mention his own mediocre recent record. But his chances of stepping up became realistic when he bested Oliver McCall just over a month ago.
Facing his sternest test for a long time, the Cuban peppered the dangerous McCall with combinations, and staved off a late rally to win an exciting decision in Dusseldorf. Proving his skills and his mettle, perhaps the most talented cruiserweight of all time – and the most decorated, with 10 defenses from 1998-’02 – may indeed have what it takes to beat the plodding Hasim Rahman, recently declared WBC champ, who has suffered defeats to nearly every top heavy he has faced.
Fascinatingly, Rahman shares McCall’s distinction as being the only man to have knocked out (and beaten) Lennox Lewis.
Gomez, who has bags of class, just needs to use it.
Indeed, the former world class amateur – holding a win over Antonio Tarver in the unpaid ranks – has a decent enough chance to upset the dull order made up of: John Ruiz, reinstated as WBA champ after James Toney tested positive for banned substances; Chris Byrd, who has yet to win a convincing decision in defense of his IBF belt; Lamon Brewster, the most exciting but crudest of the bunch, representing the WBO; and Rahman, who merely adds to the confusion after being upgraded to WBC king.
Despite the chaos, making his mark won’t be easy. The extra weight (thirty pounds above his peak days) always threatens to dull Gomez’ reflexes, which he needs now more than ever. Also, a few technical errors he could get away with at the then 190-pound class can leave Gomez at the mercy of stronger men. This is what happened against Diaz, who shouldn’t have been able to touch Juan Carlos, but stopped him with rights when his left hand strayed alarmingly low.
The Diaz debacle occurred after his move to America, when it was uncertain just who had the right to promote Gomez – Juan Carlos won injunctions against Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing and Team Freedom – and when he spent more time partying than training. The result has to be one of the most disastrous in the recent history of top-level boxers to have travelled from Europe to the States for a fight (Gomez lived in America for a while).
The skilled Sumbu Kalambay is a precedent, having lost in 88 seconds to Michael Nunn after dominating Mike McCallum, Doug DeWitt, Robbie Sims and Iran Barkley in Europe, during the late ‘80s. The Italian (originally from Zaire) never won another world title, but would be a major force at home again, beating Herol Graham and Steve Collins, and narrowly losing to McCallum, in a magnificently skilled attempt to recapture his old WBA middleweight belt.
But Diaz, recently stopped by Kirk Johnson and Sam Peter, is hardly a Nunn level talent. And Gomez was reduced to fighting journeymen soon after being blown out, until his career was recently resurrected. After failing to impress in America, he got back to basics, returning to the site of his finest performances, Germany, and resuming his career under the Universum banner.
“From now on the German boxing fans can count on me for a long time, because I have decided to stay in Germany for the rest of my boxing career. I took many liberties before. But certainly I’m not the greatest of them all and I can’t take those liberties anymore... It’s true; I left to the US and joined the Team Freedom. But I got no fights offered. Peter Kohl and Peter Hanraths knew about my problems. I’m very glad to be back in Germany,” Gomez stated before the McCall bout.
True to his word, Gomez has improved his lot, and the 32-year-old with the 80” reach is far from done in. His heavyweight record can be read with some optimism now. Not only did he best the ever-dangerous McCall, but Juan Carlos also posted an easy win over Sinan Samil Sam, a man still rated highly by the WBC. This was back in that 2003 event designed to showcase Gomez and his fellow ‘young heavyweights’ Joe Mesi and Dominic Guinn.
Strangely, Gomez received the least credit for his win, but is the only man from the three then prospects to achieve the status of contender. Mesi is unable to fight due to head injuries suffered against Vassiliy Jirov. And Guinn’s aggression worked against him when he finally decided to use it, against counter punching master James Toney (who took Jirov’s IBF cruiserweight title in 2003) of all people.
With Rahman ordered to face Toney, and the very beatable Oleg Maskaev to face the winner, an intriguing possibility opens up.
Should Toney beat Rahman, which is well within the portly, three-weight champ’s capabilities, a fight between former cruiserweight kings could be made viable. It’s rumoured that the flat-footed Toney wanted nothing to do with the rangy and mobile Gomez in their cruiserweight days, but a heavyweight tussle would be another matter. For that, Gomez would likely have to go to America, since Toney has fought abroad only once in a 17-year, 76 fight career (the second defense of his IBF middle belt being against Francesco Dell’Aquila in Monaco).
Gomez’ skills are still intact, and when the next opportunity arrives he should be ready. Which is more than can be said as recently as six weeks ago.
Matthew Sanderson
11/22/2005 - United Kingdom
After his shocking kayo loss to perceived no-hoper Yanqui Diaz, Juan Carlos Gomez’ route to heavyweight dominion looked lost – for good. Despite that depressing career slump when it seemed the Cuban was trapped in a fog of mediocrity, all has not been lost. A recent improvement in form and major upheaval in the heavyweight mix conspires to hint he can make an impact.
The former WBC cruiserweight champion (41-1, 33 KOs) could end up being a heavyweight titleholder of the same organization.
When Vitali Klitschko decided to retire, he not only gave a mediocre crop of titlists a stronger argument of being the best, but also allowed Gomez a prayer of winning the WBC heavyweight the Ukrainian had been sitting on like a warm egg. Juan Carlos’ quest for Klitschko looked suicidal, given his former stablemate’s massive advantage in size and strength, not to mention his own mediocre recent record. But his chances of stepping up became realistic when he bested Oliver McCall just over a month ago.
Facing his sternest test for a long time, the Cuban peppered the dangerous McCall with combinations, and staved off a late rally to win an exciting decision in Dusseldorf. Proving his skills and his mettle, perhaps the most talented cruiserweight of all time – and the most decorated, with 10 defenses from 1998-’02 – may indeed have what it takes to beat the plodding Hasim Rahman, recently declared WBC champ, who has suffered defeats to nearly every top heavy he has faced.
Fascinatingly, Rahman shares McCall’s distinction as being the only man to have knocked out (and beaten) Lennox Lewis.
Gomez, who has bags of class, just needs to use it.
Indeed, the former world class amateur – holding a win over Antonio Tarver in the unpaid ranks – has a decent enough chance to upset the dull order made up of: John Ruiz, reinstated as WBA champ after James Toney tested positive for banned substances; Chris Byrd, who has yet to win a convincing decision in defense of his IBF belt; Lamon Brewster, the most exciting but crudest of the bunch, representing the WBO; and Rahman, who merely adds to the confusion after being upgraded to WBC king.
Despite the chaos, making his mark won’t be easy. The extra weight (thirty pounds above his peak days) always threatens to dull Gomez’ reflexes, which he needs now more than ever. Also, a few technical errors he could get away with at the then 190-pound class can leave Gomez at the mercy of stronger men. This is what happened against Diaz, who shouldn’t have been able to touch Juan Carlos, but stopped him with rights when his left hand strayed alarmingly low.
The Diaz debacle occurred after his move to America, when it was uncertain just who had the right to promote Gomez – Juan Carlos won injunctions against Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing and Team Freedom – and when he spent more time partying than training. The result has to be one of the most disastrous in the recent history of top-level boxers to have travelled from Europe to the States for a fight (Gomez lived in America for a while).
The skilled Sumbu Kalambay is a precedent, having lost in 88 seconds to Michael Nunn after dominating Mike McCallum, Doug DeWitt, Robbie Sims and Iran Barkley in Europe, during the late ‘80s. The Italian (originally from Zaire) never won another world title, but would be a major force at home again, beating Herol Graham and Steve Collins, and narrowly losing to McCallum, in a magnificently skilled attempt to recapture his old WBA middleweight belt.
But Diaz, recently stopped by Kirk Johnson and Sam Peter, is hardly a Nunn level talent. And Gomez was reduced to fighting journeymen soon after being blown out, until his career was recently resurrected. After failing to impress in America, he got back to basics, returning to the site of his finest performances, Germany, and resuming his career under the Universum banner.
“From now on the German boxing fans can count on me for a long time, because I have decided to stay in Germany for the rest of my boxing career. I took many liberties before. But certainly I’m not the greatest of them all and I can’t take those liberties anymore... It’s true; I left to the US and joined the Team Freedom. But I got no fights offered. Peter Kohl and Peter Hanraths knew about my problems. I’m very glad to be back in Germany,” Gomez stated before the McCall bout.
True to his word, Gomez has improved his lot, and the 32-year-old with the 80” reach is far from done in. His heavyweight record can be read with some optimism now. Not only did he best the ever-dangerous McCall, but Juan Carlos also posted an easy win over Sinan Samil Sam, a man still rated highly by the WBC. This was back in that 2003 event designed to showcase Gomez and his fellow ‘young heavyweights’ Joe Mesi and Dominic Guinn.
Strangely, Gomez received the least credit for his win, but is the only man from the three then prospects to achieve the status of contender. Mesi is unable to fight due to head injuries suffered against Vassiliy Jirov. And Guinn’s aggression worked against him when he finally decided to use it, against counter punching master James Toney (who took Jirov’s IBF cruiserweight title in 2003) of all people.
With Rahman ordered to face Toney, and the very beatable Oleg Maskaev to face the winner, an intriguing possibility opens up.
Should Toney beat Rahman, which is well within the portly, three-weight champ’s capabilities, a fight between former cruiserweight kings could be made viable. It’s rumoured that the flat-footed Toney wanted nothing to do with the rangy and mobile Gomez in their cruiserweight days, but a heavyweight tussle would be another matter. For that, Gomez would likely have to go to America, since Toney has fought abroad only once in a 17-year, 76 fight career (the second defense of his IBF middle belt being against Francesco Dell’Aquila in Monaco).
Gomez’ skills are still intact, and when the next opportunity arrives he should be ready. Which is more than can be said as recently as six weeks ago.
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