19.10.07 – Juan Carlos Gomez clearly decisioned World Boxing Council International Champion Oliver McCall in front of a sold-out crowd in Berlin’s Estrel Convention Center tonight. It was a major step for “The Black Panther” on his way to a shot on the World heavyweight title. Gomez dominated McCall for 9 rounds before he got caught by some massive blows of “The Atomic Bull” who almost stopped the Cuban in the 10th. But Gomez recovered to take home the fight with 116-112, 118-110 and 118-110 on the scorecards.
Gomez: “That was one of the toughest fights of my life. McCall proved that he is a great champion. After nine rounds I thought that I might be the first one to knock down McCall, but than he came back to me and nearly had me down. But with Allah’s help I managed this critical situation. Now I am going to win the World Championship – it’s showtime!”
On the undercard Cuban Olympic gold medallists Yuriorkis Gamboa and Odlanier Solis impressed the audience once more with spectacular tko-victories. Gamboa stopped Samuel Kebede from Ethiopia after three knock-downs and 2:11 minutes in round 2. Solis was even faster by tko-ing Jeremy Bates after only 18 seconds in the 2nd round. Bates had been on the canvas in the 1st round.
German heavyweight prospect had to go the distance for the first time in his 10th professional fight when he clearly decisioned US-veteran “T-Rex” Corey Sanders.
Italian “Volcano” Domenico Spada “erupted” in his bout against arena’s Alpaslan Agüzüm for the vacant WBC international middleweight championship when he knocked out his opponent after 1:56 minutes in the 1st round.
Sinan Samil Sam won the vacant WBC Mediterranean heavyweight championship by decisioning Croatia’s Ivica Perkovic.
Former World Light Heavyweight Champion Silvio Branco beat Brazil’s Peter Venancio for the vacant WBC international light heavyweight championship. Branco won by unanimous decision after 9 of 12 rounds after the fight had been stopped because of a cut suffered from an unintentional head-butt.
arena-Ceo Ahmet Öner: “This was a biggest and best show arena has done so far. It doesn’t get much better than that. Our young boxers once more proofed that they got what it takes to make their way to the top of the world. And Juan Carlos Gomez is ready for the World Championship after beating a very strong Oliver McCall. I am proud of my fighters and my young company. Now the whole world knows that arena is taking over.”