By James Slater – It looks all but certain that unbeaten Julio Cesar Chavez Junior will clash with fellow Mexican Alfonso Gomez on December 4th. Originally set to face WBC 154-pound king Miguel Cotto, young Chavez saw that fight go out of the window (for now at least) when the Puerto Rican star decided to sit out the rest of 2010 because of lingering affects of shoulder surgery.
For a time it looked as though Chavez Jnr. Might face Pawel Wolak next (who was all set to face Chavez even before Cotto), but now former “Contender” star Gomez appears to be the frontrunner..
Gomez, five years older than Chavez at age 29 and currently 22-4-2(11), certainly wants the fight badly. Even though he is far happier and more effective as a 147-pounder, Gomez is willing to move up to 154 for this big chance. Convinced for some time now that he has the beating of Chavez Jnr, Gomez wants to prove it.
Coming off his biggest win to date – the March pounding of former lightweight king Jose Luis Castillo – Gomez has to be given at least a shot at doing what he feels he will. Currently awaiting confirmation from the Chavez side (by the time you read this the fight may be a go), Gomez is no doubt keeping himself ticking over in the gym.
Chavez, now with ace trainer Freddie Roach, has boxed as high as 160-pounds before, and with him being the taller of the two men, with a longer reach, he has to fancy his chances big time. Chavez Jnr, 41-0-1(30) is also a harder puncher than Gomez. Indeed, when you add up all the statistics, it really does look as though Gomez has some hard night ahead of him.
Styles makes fights, though, and Gomez, a fast worker who has a good chin, good hand speed and serious heart, will be up for this fight like no other. And though he looked a more polished fighter last time out, against John Duddy in June, Chavez Jnr has struggled in a number of fights. Can Gomez, with an ever-coming forward approach, break Chavez’ heart and win on points?
A Gomez stoppage looks doubtful, but an upset points win cannot be written off. Could Chavez, deflated that the huge fight with Cotto has fallen through, take Gomez lightly and fail to be at his best mentally? That’s a real possibility. Certainly, of the two men I’d say Gomez will be more focused and motivated to win.
Gomez has overcome size and weight disadvantages before, most famously when he out-pointed the then unbeaten Peter Manfredo Junior on 2004’s “Contender” show. And the only time Gomez has been stopped was when he went up against Cotto in 2008. A definite underdog once again, the man from Guadalajara has to rise above the odds in September. Can he do it?
While a points win for Chavez Jnr. has to be the logical pick, something tells me Gomez will defy this logic.