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Juan Carlos Gomez might be one of the most enigmatic heavyweights of the last decade. Gomez, a Cuban Olympic champion and former W.B.C. cruiserweight champion, is one of the most technically skilled boxers to grace the division in recent times. Yet during the last few years, Gomez has lacked the necessary focus a professional boxer must have to be successful. La Pantera Negra's career bottomed out after a knockout defeat verses fellow Cuban Yanqui Diaz on August 13th, 2004.
Now, back with his original promotional representative Universum and coming of a year of successful activity highlighted by a victory against Oliver McCall in October, Juan Carlos Gomez (40-1, 33 KOs) is prepared to throw his name back into the current heavyweight mix.
Recently the personable Cuban took time to speak with ********* from his home in Santa Monica. Due to the length of the interview, where Juan Carlos gives us his opinion on broad array of topics ranging from the loss to Diaz, the state of the heavyweight division, and the ability of Cuban boxers, ********* will present the interview in two parts.
Enjoy part one of our one on one interview with Juan Carlos Gomez
In our previous conversations, you have made mention to a change in your attitude towards boxing. You have hinted towards a more serious mindset.
While I was living in Europe, when I was younger, I became the WBC Cruiserweight Champion when I was twenty-three years old. I enjoyed my youth, sometimes I would start training for a fight two weeks before it would take place and I my performance would be fine.
I really enjoyed those days, but as time goes by, one matures and experiences different things. I fought with my fellow Cuban Yanqui Diaz and lost. That loss was a valuable lesson. Also, as a heavyweight, I must now prepare myself better than ever.
Boxing fans in the United States seemed to have interest in your campaign as a heavyweight, only to be shocked by your loss to Diaz.
It was a messed up situation. I was ill prepared both physically and mentally. The problems with my promoter at the time, Sugar Ray Leonard Promotions, were incredible. After fighting Sinan Samil Sam in 2003, almost a year had gone by without me fighting. I was in California and I had not been training. I got out of my contract with Sugar Ray Leonard and returned with Universum. I started training for a few weeks and was informed that I was to fight an Italian with only six or eight fights. I was ready to fight anyone, I was in need of money, having not fought in over a year. These are not justifications for my loss, as I do not make excuses for things that happen to me.
A week before the fight the contract was changed and they told me I would be fighting with a Cuban. I told them I would not fight another Cuban, I had always said that. When push came to shove, I ended fighting Yanqui. For an extra sum of money I told them I would go ahead and fight Yanqui or anyone else.
I was doing okay in the fight, but he surprised me with that big right hand. He hurt me and I could not recuperate, I remember being very dizzy. The referee did the right thing by stopping the fight.
With the heavyweight division being wide open, ripe for the taking, do you view this as your final opportunity to accomplish the goal of becoming a world champion?
Time is not forgiving. I am thirty-two years old and this is my time to take advantage of the opportunity in the division. It is now or never for me. That is why I have had a complete change in attitude. I am concentrated on boxing. My goal is to become world champion.
Due to your current ranking within the W.B.C., Hasim Rahman would seem to be a world champion who you might get the opportunity to fight.
Who?
Hasim Rahman, the current W.B.C. World Champion.
I do not know much about Rahman. He first came to my attention when he upset Lennox Lewis years ago. Since then, I have not followed his career much. I know he is a strong fighter. The heavyweight division is very, very weak. The one champion which catches my eye right now is Lamon Brewster. As for Rahman, after the knockout he received in the rematch with Lewis, I do not think he has been right since that fight.
[IMG]http://www.*********.com/1photos/jcgomez.jpg[/IMG]
Now, back with his original promotional representative Universum and coming of a year of successful activity highlighted by a victory against Oliver McCall in October, Juan Carlos Gomez (40-1, 33 KOs) is prepared to throw his name back into the current heavyweight mix.
Recently the personable Cuban took time to speak with ********* from his home in Santa Monica. Due to the length of the interview, where Juan Carlos gives us his opinion on broad array of topics ranging from the loss to Diaz, the state of the heavyweight division, and the ability of Cuban boxers, ********* will present the interview in two parts.
Enjoy part one of our one on one interview with Juan Carlos Gomez
In our previous conversations, you have made mention to a change in your attitude towards boxing. You have hinted towards a more serious mindset.
While I was living in Europe, when I was younger, I became the WBC Cruiserweight Champion when I was twenty-three years old. I enjoyed my youth, sometimes I would start training for a fight two weeks before it would take place and I my performance would be fine.
I really enjoyed those days, but as time goes by, one matures and experiences different things. I fought with my fellow Cuban Yanqui Diaz and lost. That loss was a valuable lesson. Also, as a heavyweight, I must now prepare myself better than ever.
Boxing fans in the United States seemed to have interest in your campaign as a heavyweight, only to be shocked by your loss to Diaz.
It was a messed up situation. I was ill prepared both physically and mentally. The problems with my promoter at the time, Sugar Ray Leonard Promotions, were incredible. After fighting Sinan Samil Sam in 2003, almost a year had gone by without me fighting. I was in California and I had not been training. I got out of my contract with Sugar Ray Leonard and returned with Universum. I started training for a few weeks and was informed that I was to fight an Italian with only six or eight fights. I was ready to fight anyone, I was in need of money, having not fought in over a year. These are not justifications for my loss, as I do not make excuses for things that happen to me.
A week before the fight the contract was changed and they told me I would be fighting with a Cuban. I told them I would not fight another Cuban, I had always said that. When push came to shove, I ended fighting Yanqui. For an extra sum of money I told them I would go ahead and fight Yanqui or anyone else.
I was doing okay in the fight, but he surprised me with that big right hand. He hurt me and I could not recuperate, I remember being very dizzy. The referee did the right thing by stopping the fight.
With the heavyweight division being wide open, ripe for the taking, do you view this as your final opportunity to accomplish the goal of becoming a world champion?
Time is not forgiving. I am thirty-two years old and this is my time to take advantage of the opportunity in the division. It is now or never for me. That is why I have had a complete change in attitude. I am concentrated on boxing. My goal is to become world champion.
Due to your current ranking within the W.B.C., Hasim Rahman would seem to be a world champion who you might get the opportunity to fight.
Who?
Hasim Rahman, the current W.B.C. World Champion.
I do not know much about Rahman. He first came to my attention when he upset Lennox Lewis years ago. Since then, I have not followed his career much. I know he is a strong fighter. The heavyweight division is very, very weak. The one champion which catches my eye right now is Lamon Brewster. As for Rahman, after the knockout he received in the rematch with Lewis, I do not think he has been right since that fight.
[IMG]http://www.*********.com/1photos/jcgomez.jpg[/IMG]
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