13.01.05 – WBU World Super-Featherweight Champion Michael Gomez will face Argentinian tough-guy Javier Osvaldo Alvarez on Friday 11 February at the M.E.N Arena. The Manchester favourite is relishing the prospect of headlining the show in his home city and is promising the public a vintage performance against Alvarez. “I’m raring to go and Alvarez is going to be knocked spark out,” stormed Gomez
“The Gomez of old is back! I’m an exciting fighter in my own right and I give the fans what they want drama, excitement and knockout’s so the fans won’t go away disappointed,”
“This is the first time that I’ve headlined the M.E.N Arena and I’m going to make it a special one for the fans. Ricky Hatton’s done a tremendous job there and it will be strange without him top of the bill but I will fill his spot nicely,”
Alverez, from Buenos Aires, has won WBO Latino and South American titles in a 36-fight career with 31 wins and 15 KO’s.
In 2002 Alvarez was involved in a real war with countryman Jorge Barrios – who floored Brazilian puncher Acelino Freitas twice in their fight last year – but was stopped in the eleventh round.
He added, “I’ve seen off plenty of tough South American fighters in my career so Alvarez will be no different. He’s a tough fella who’s mixed it with a good class of opponent. His fight with Barrios stands out the most as he gave him a real hard fight. Barrios later went on to give Freitas a scare by dropping him twice,”
“I want to stop Alvarez early and make a real statement. If I can do that then I know I’ve go the power to step up to world level.”
Featuring as chief-support on the card is Salford’s Stephen Foster Jnr in a WBU World Featherweight title challenge and Preston’s Michael Jenning’s in an English Welterweight title defence. This will be the first time that amateur boxing takes place on a professional show in England and further details will be announced shortly.
Tickets for UNITED IN THE CITY, priced at £30, £40, £60, £100 and £150, are available from the M.E.N Arena Box Office on Tel: 0870 190 8000 or Keith Prowse Ticketing on 0870 906 3839.