GOMEZ YET ANOTHER TO BLOW FIGHT OF HIS LIFE!
Pittsburgh, PA– Maybe it’s asking too much, but even in this splintered world of championship boxing, you’d think that a heavyweight challenging for a title would come with everything he has and leave it all in the ring for a chance to reach the pinnacle of the sport. Yet, there stood Juan Carlos Gomez (44-2, 35 KOs) Saturday evening, whose game plan failed almost as miserably as his exit strategy against the inartistic but imposing WBC titlist Vitali Klitschko (37-2, 36 KOs). Like Sam Peter, Corrie Sanders and Kirk “Double D’s” Johnson before him, and similar to WBO-IBF champ Wladmir Klitschko’s (52-3, 46 KOs) recent challengers Hasim Rahman, Tony Thompson and Sultan Ibragimov, Gomez carried into the ring questionable physical and mental fitness, an absence of passion and almost no strategy.
WHO’S MORE TO BLAME, BROTHERS OR THE FOES? Sure, like his brother, Vitali should be called to the carpet about his inarguable passivity, especially for a giant heavyweight. He paws, he clinches, he chips away at his overmatched opponent until he removes from his foe virtually all traces of danger, and only then does he go in for the kill – not exactly compelling theater in a combat sport. But then, look at his shiftless opposition: Gomez, declaring to be in the best shape in some time, tipped the scales at a soft 230 pounds. His high, outstretched right hand initially caused Vitali problems, until the ring-smart titlist figured out that an up-jab and a left hook around that guard opened things up. As if that one technique would win him at least 7 rounds, Gomez had no other answers for Vitali, who methodically chopped him to pieces until Gomez amateurishly twice turned his back on the champ, leading to the stoppage. Sadly, for the Klitsckos’ challengers the question is now not just about their skill, but also their will.
THE KLITSCHKO PLAN: STEP ONE, WBA TITLE
Only one of the major alphabets, the WBA title, remains out of the Klitschko’s hands. Though Vitali might have to wait two fights while the WBA wastes everyone’s time with “champion” Nickolay Valuev vs. “champion in recess” Ruslan Chagaev and undeserving Oleg Maskaev vs. the winner, he should plan to snatch that belt as soon as he can. After that, the retreads, including those three (with the possible exception of Chagaev), Peter, and John Ruiz should be shut out of the heavyweight picture, since they have underperformed long enough and overstayed their welcome.
STEP TWO: BRING ON THE YOUNG GUNS
Of the current crop of contenders, only four should matter for now (in order of their chances against the Klitschkos):
1. Alexander Dimitrenko (29-0, 19 KOs), #1 WBO contender, #3 WBC, #4 IBF: One of the few men, at 6’7”, who possesses the height and stature to compete physically with the Klitschkos, he’s also shown he can fight, most recently stopping a very good Luan Krasniqi.
2. David Haye (22-1, 21 KOs), #2 WBO: You say Wladimir’s next opponent has a shaky chin and can’t compete as a blown-up cruiserweight? I say you may be right, but he also is most likely to let it all hang out and engage in a firefight, one of the ways to beat Wlad. He’s an underdog, to be sure, but he’ll go down swinging if he does, and it’ll be fun to watch.
3. Chris Arreola (26-0, 23 KOs), #2 WBC, #2 IBF, #3 WBO: Arreola’s one tough hombre; his rugged, aggressive style could mow down Wladmir in particular if he can penetrate his guard or survive the onslaught. However, Arreola needs to get in shape – he wasn’t in top shape 20 pounds ago.
4. Alexander Povetkin (16-0, 12 KOs), #1 IBF, #4 WBO: At first glance, he seems to present the perfect style matchup for a Klitschko: slow, smaller, hittable and without much of a punch. Yet, he’s a sound boxer who won against Eddie Chambers for one reason and one only – he wanted it more.
Brian Gorman
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