19.10.07 – By James Slater: Tonight, at the Doncaster Dome, in the north of England, British super-featherweight boxing champion Carl “Ingemar” Johanneson of Leeds met challenger Michael Gomez of Manchester in a highly anticipated domestic clash.
After six quite brutal rounds, the 29 year-old Johanneson finally got the win at two minutes and fifty seconds of round number six, as referee Mickey Vann called a halt to the proceedings. Gomez, upon bravely rising from a hurtful knockdown, had nothing left and as the champion went for the finish and jarred him with more hard shots Vann had no alternative but to rescue the 30 year-old.
The fight started off as most felt it would. At the bell both men locked horns at ring centre and let loose with hard punches. Gomez had success with hard uppercuts to Johanneson’s chin and head, which drew blood form Carl’s nose. The champion fired back, but looked slower. Gomez’ round.
In the second, Gomez, who looked noticeably bigger, ploughed forward again. He went to the body in this session, but took plenty of sharp counters back. The war was on! Both men scored with good shots in an even round.
Round three, and Carl was looking extremely sharp now. After having taken a very aggressive start from Gomez the champion was now into his groove and looking more composed. Johanneson was catching Gomez with eye-catching bursts of punches upstairs, yet Gomez would not take a step backwards. Both men fired away to body and head, but the champion’s output was the more damaging now.
Round four, and Carl’s jab and right hands were scoring with authority. He was catching Gomez with quite a number of hard shots. The challenger stuck to his game-plan of pressuring Johanneson, however, and again refused to give ground. Carl broke through and really hurt Gomez at the end of the round, as he landed a blistering combination to the head. Gomez attempted to
fire back, landing a left of his own, but Johanneson was in charge now. A great fight was well and truly underway.
By the fifth, Gomez was still swinging with all his might and attacking with everything – this despite his being cut badly over the right eye. A savage war – as advertised – was now being fought. Towards the end of the round the punches were really bouncing off the challenger’s head, yet he defiantly banged his gloves together and refused to admit he’d been hurt. Gomez
bravely took all Johanneson could dish out. Carl, now also cut, at the side of his right eye, won yet another round.
Then came the final round, the sixth. With Gomez clearly showing the signs of battle and fatigue, yet still giving it all he had, Johanneson teed off in search of the finish. With the champion picking him off, a final right hand in an accurate and hurtful combo sent Gomez down. Showing guts, as always, Michael got up, but was immediately under more fire. A quick look
was all it took from Vann and as Gomez ate more punches the referee dived in and called a halt to the proceedings. Gomez was furious and jumped out of the ring as soon as Vann made his call, but the official really had no choice – Gomez was a beaten man.
The time was two minutes and fifty seconds of round six, and Johanneson improved to 27-3(19) while winning the super-featherweight Lonsdale belt outright. Gomez dipped to 34-7(24). The fight was a candidate for British fight of the year.