Hamburg – For a very long time cruiserweight world champion Juan Carlos Gomez had the intention to make a move to the heavyweight division. After having defended his WBC title 10 times successfully he made things concrete.
Last Wednesday the 28-year-old Cuban vacated his championship belt of the World Boxing Council and will now campaign exclusively in the heavyweight division.
The second chapter of his career will begin on March 16. On the undercard of the WBO championship between Wladimir Klitschko and Francois Botha in Stuttgart the undefeated Gomez will step into the ring against American Ken Murphy, 21-5 (16 KOs).
“I have no doubt that Juan will be successful at heavyweight”, his coach Michael Timm said. “He proved it with his last fight in Las Vegas six months ago.”
On August 4 Gomez fought against American Alfred Cole, outclassed him from the beginning before forcing the stoppage in round 5. It was already the fourth time that Gomez fought a heavyweight after the Cuban already easily knocked out Ron Bo Carter, Guy Sonnenberg and Patrick Robinson in 1997, in fights he partially just jumped in on short notice.
After the Cole fight Gomez decided to defend his title once more, worked his way down to the cruiserweight limit again and stopped Italian challenger Pietro Aurino in round 6 in November.
“It’s clear that we have to reconstruct our training schedule and we have to do intensive power lifting”, Michael Timm said. Gomez weighed 208 pounds for his fight against Cole in August. For a long time the excile Cuban had trouble making the cruiserweight limit of 190 lb. After his fight in Stuttgart Gomez will begin his intensive power lifting program and on long terms wants bring his weight up to 220 lb.
Promoter Klaus-Peter Kohl is convinced of the great prospects of his charge.
“Talent wise Gomez is one of the best boxers in the world. But to become WBC heavyweight champion he has to work very hard. He has everything required for that move – skills, speed and power. I fully support the decision of Gomez. Evander Holyfield has been a cruiserweight contender as well and he was able to become heavyweight world champion. Juan has the same chances." “It was always my aim to fight in the heavyweight division”, Gomez explained. “And I will prove that I can be as successful as I was at cruiserweight.”
Gomez was holding the WBC 190lb. crown since 1998 and defended it 10 times. He’s undefeated in 33 contests and scored 28 knockouts.
“In my heart I will always remain cruiserweight champion”, Gomez said a bit melancholic despite of his well thought decision.
