Ringside Boxing Report: Carl Johanneson vs. Michael Gomez

Click for larger image © Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Frank Maloney Promotions put on a battle of super feathers last night at The Dome in Doncaster, England as reigning British Champion Carl Johanneson met former titlist Michael Gomez in one of the most anticipated domestic clashes of the year.

It was a rowdy atmosphere as Michael “The Predator’ Gomez walked to the ring with trainer Bobby Rimmer amidst a sea of his supporters, many wearing sombrero hats. Throwing his own sombrero to the floor – he tears off his top and springs in to the ring, punching the air he is like a bottle of pop waiting to explode.

While Carl ‘Ingemar’ Johanneson is waiting to make his entrance, Gomez is pacing around the ring – never keeping still for one second – he has been ready for weeks and waiting to be unleashed on his opponent.

Johanneson enters the ring to the sounds of “We Are the Champions’ by Queen. He looks focussed as he walks beside promoter Frank Maloney, who also will quite ably perform the duties of trainer and lead Johanneson’s corner during this fight.

As the two combatants meet in the middle of the ring for their instruction off referee Mickey Vann, their heads immediately rub as they stare each other out. Gomez has always described he and Johanneson as “cornered rats’ and now it was time for the rats to come out of their cages!

I doubt anyone expected this fight to go the distance and as both boxers came out for the opening round, it looked as though it could be a short contest!

Gomez throws some solid body punches and uppercuts while Johanneson does well to cover up, but Gomez is leaving his face unprotected as Johanneson lands shots which snap the Mancunian’s head back.

Midway through the round, Gomez looks the better of the two as Johanneson tucks up to defend his body and there is blood around his nose.

Gomez continues to land some great uppercuts and Johannesons’ head rocks back.

A great start for Michael Gomez and it’s every bit as exciting a fight as everyone had imagined it would be, and it’s only round one!

In the opening half of the second frame, the pressure is all from Gomez as Johanneson hasn’t managed to settle into the fight yet. Then, in the closing seconds of the round, Johanneson lands a left, followed by a right that hits the mark.

While the bell signals the end of the round, Gomez stands up to Johanneson as if to say “that didn’t hurt’.

Maybe it was that little bit of success at the end of round two that fueled Johanneson – because he came out better in round three, beginning to settle down he started to land more quality shots. It’s a real slugfest and both fighters are toe-to-toe. Is it going to be a case of who wants it more?

Round four and Gomez is taking more and more punches from Johanneson, but he keeps coming back for more. His face is bloody and he’s taking punch after punch but bravely digs in, walking through the shots as if he wants more of it, like a scene out of Rocky!

Former multi-weight world title challenger Michael Brodie of Manchester is ringside and keeps popping over to the corner in between rounds to give support to Gomez.

Round five and Gomez comes out fighting – backing Johanneson up on the ropes – and the crowd are on their feet as they roar their support, “Gomez, Gomez, Gomez” they cheer and stamp their feet.

Midway through the frame, Johanneson is cut above the eye. Gomez lands a bodyshot and Johanneson grimaces. Gomez continues to walk though the punches and gestures to Johanneson to “come on – give me some more’ And he does! Referee Vann takes a closer look as Gomez soaks up punch after punch ,but the bell signals the end of an exciting round five.

With 30 seconds of round six to go, having taken yet another barrage of shots, Gomez dropped his hands and Johanneson landed a peach of a right that sent Gomez landing on the canvas.

Moments after the eight count, Mickey Vann stopped the fight, feeling that Gomez could not take anymore. Michael Gomez angrily leaves the ring whilst Johanneson celebrates.

Afterward, Johanneson told Ed Robinson that he’d stuck to the plan. “He hit me with some good shots,” said Johanneson.

Gomez said afterward that he thought it was…”a really bad stoppage…I’m a warrior…I don’t think he should have stopped it”.

I went back after the fight and spoke to Gomez while he was getting stitched up. “I’m alright, luv,” he said as he and trainer Bobby Rimmer plan another comeback after this disappointment.

Click for larger image © Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing