Mexiko City, August 27th 2007 – Once more arena Box-Promotion brought off a big coup when CEO Ahmet Öner won the purse bid for the next WBC International Heavyweight Championship between defending champion Oliver McCall and challenger Juan Carlos Gomez. With 550,000 US-Dollar arena launched the highest bid ever made for a bout for the WBC International Champion title. McCall who won the title in a bloody encounter against Sinan Samil Sam on June 16th in Ankara will earn $385,000 when he faces Sinan’s stable mate Gomez who gains $165,000.
It is the second time that Gomez and McCall clash. The Cuban “Black Panther” decisioned the “Atomic Bull” in October 2005 but was tested positive on cocaine after the fight which was declared a no contest. Gomez believes that he was screwed by his former promoter and swears that he never consumed cocaine. Sounds like unfinished business…
Ahmet Öner: “McCall has ten days to accept the fight. We will see whether he’s got the guts to step into the ring with Juan again. If he doesn’t fight the title will be vacated.”
Former WBC Cruiserweight Champion Gomez is enthused by the chance: “That’s great! If I beat McCall I will be very close to fulfilling my great dream: To become World Heavyweight Champion!”
In fact by beating McCall Gomez can become no. 1 contender of the WBC Champion who might at that point of time very well be Vitali Klitschko. Assumed Klitschko beats Jameel McCline on September 22nd in Munich to gain a title shot against reigning champion Oleg Maskaev or challenger Samuel Peter and wins the title afterwards.
Gomez would love to face Vitali: “I always said that I wanted to step into the ring with one of the Klitschkos. If it was for the championship against Vitali it would be so much better.” And manager Ahmet Öner rejoices: “The world is waiting for Juan Carlos Gomez vs. Vitali Klitschko. I am sure that this fight would fill every venue in Germany or the USA. Everybody wants to see it! But first of all Juan has to beat McCall, of course.”