by James Slater – Tonight in Hessen, Germany, 36-year-old Juan Carlos Gomez won every round in a keep-busy eight-rounder against Turkey’s Oezcan Cetinkaya. Having what was his third fight since losing to WBC heavyweight king Vitali Klitschko last March, the former WBC cruiserweight champion did as he pleased against the 32-year-old, wining every minute of every round. No official scores were announced on the Eurosport broadcast I viewed, but the fight was so dreadfully boring, I didn’t care!
Gomez, looking soft at a fraction above 242-pounds, was too lazy to go for the finish, while Cetinkaya was happy enough to merely survive to the final bell, which he did. Gomez came forward in each session, landing his right jab and occasionally letting go with both hands in bursts. The Cuban still has some hand speed, but he had no test at all tonight, and as such it’s impossible to know how much he has left.
Each round was pretty much the same tonight, and there were certainly no highlights. Nothing more than a one-sided workout for “The Black Panther,” tonight’s bout was one that would’ve been booed mercilessly had it taken place in the U.S. Amazingly, the crowd in Germany cheered both men at the conclusion of the eight-rounds!
At least Gomez, who improved to 47-2(36) is keeping busy. Scheduled to box again, on June 26th, in Atlanta, where he will meet Raphael Zumbano, Gomez can perhaps be excused for his dull showing because of how he didn’t want to put the next fight in any jeopardy. Hopefully, the June 26th fight will be a lot more exciting, and hopefully we will see the former long-reigning cruiser champ put under more pressure.
A short while ago, Gomez launched a scathing attack on his fellow heavyweight contenders, saying the were all hopeless. Gomez, who surely could have scored a quick stoppage tonight, had he been so inclined to make the effort, did nothing to separate himself from the heavyweight pack against Cetinyaka – who, for the record fell to 17-7-1(11). And to be fair, the Turk is a reasonably durable type, having been halted just twice as a pro.
On tonight’s under-card, another Cuban, 28-year-old Damian Norris, returned to action for the first time in two years. Now a fulltime cruiserweight, Norris also won a dreadfully boring fight, as he won on points over six-rounds against Albania’s Nysret Sopay; who was actually making his pro debut. Winning ever round as he pleased and scoring a knockdown early in the bout, Norris moves on to what he hopes will be a shot at one of the 200-pound belts. He is now 13-5(7).