Golden Boy Boxing Signs Former World Champ Morel, Amateur Star Gomez

Coming off of his stirring February win over Gerry Penalosa, interim WBO Bantamweight Champion and former Flyweight World Champion Eric Morel will continue his career resurgence with Golden Boy Promotions, with whom he signed an exclusive promotional contract today.

“I feel better than ever and I’m enjoying boxing more than ever before,” said the 35-year-old known as “Little Hands of Steel.” “I’ve got a lot to offer this sport and I can’t wait to see where Golden Boy leads me in the coming years.”

“Boxing fans know how good Eric Morel is and the amazing thing to me is that he’s been able to maintain that excellence for so many years,” said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar de la Hoya. “He was a terror at flyweight and now he’s doing the same thing at 118 pounds. We’ve got some big plans for Eric.”

A 14-year pro who has been one of boxing’s most consistent performers, San Juan, Puerto Rico native and Madison, Wisconsin resident Eric Morel (42-2, 21 KO’s) continues the storied tradition of greatness practiced by fighters from the island of Puerto Rico.

As the WBA Flyweight Champion for three years, Morel defended his crown five times and before pursuing championship gold at 115 and 118 pounds. Owner of a seven-fight winning streak that includes victories over Heriberto Ruiz, Ricardo Vargas and Gerry Penalosa, Morel is looking forward to a world title win and a long reign atop the bantamweight division.

Morel’s first fight under the Golden Boy Promotions banner will be announced shortly.

Home to some of the greatest fighters to ever put on gloves, New York City still produces top-notch talent and Golden Boy Promotions is pleased to announce that one of the Big Apple’s finest prospects, Two-Time Junior Olympic National Champion Eddie Gomez, has signed an exclusive promotional deal that kicks off with his professional debut on November 5 in Puerto Rico.

“It’s an honor to be on the Golden Boy team and around such great fighters like Oscar de la Hoya, Bernard Hopkins and Sugar Shane Mosley,” said Gomez, a native of the Bronx. “Ever since I started boxing, I dreamed of fighting on big shows and winning world titles and now I’ll have the chance to do that. I can’t wait.”

“Eddie Gomez is part of the new breed of fighter coming into this sport and we’re very excited about having him with Golden Boy,” said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “He can do it all in the ring, he’s exciting, charismatic and fans are going to love him.”

The youngest of nine children, the 18-year-old Gomez has boxing in his blood, as his father Eddie Sr. boxed in his native Honduras. An honors student at JFK High School, Gomez hit the Dean’s List in amateur boxing as well, earning a 2010 New York Daily News Golden Gloves title that he added to his two Junior Olympic National Championships.

Now ready to take the next step in his boxing journey, the junior middleweight will enter a professional ring for the first time on November 5 against an opponent to be determined in Cataño, Puerto Rico.