17.06.08 – by James Slater: Tough but shop-worn Michael Gomez has what will almost certainly be the final fight in his excitement-filled boxing career when he faces hotshot Amir Khan in Birmingham this coming Saturday night. As such, the fearless warrior known as “Predator” is promising to give his all against the unbeaten super prospect..
Speaking in an article on PA Sport recently, the 30-year-old (Gomez will celebrate his 31st birthday the day of the fight!) with the 35-8(24) record said he is well aware this is his last shot at the big time in boxing.
“People have been saying I’m finished for the last ten years and every fight’s my last chance,” Gomez said. “But this fight really is my last chance to set myself up life and become known in every household in Britain. I’ve been stabbed and died and been on a murder charge, but boxing’s kept me on the straight and narrow and I’ve got a beautiful wife and three kids. The prospect of making money for them is all the motivation I need.”
Gomez has certainly lived a quite astonishing and event-filled life already. With regards to his comment on his having “died,” Gomez is referring to how he was pronounced clinically dead – only to pull through and make a name for himself as a boxer. Reportedly, a movie on his life story is to be released in British cinemas this November.
In his boxing career, one superb wins stands out above all others – Gomez’s smashing 5th round TKO win over “Amazing” Alex Arthur. Gomez will be hoping he can shock Khan the way he did Arthur back in October of 2003.
“I used to go into fights not really bothered and just thinking about partying afterwards,” Gomez admitted. “If this fight [against Khan] was a routine fight I would probably lose. But a big fight like this is what I need and I will shock everybody. I went in there with Alex Arthur, who was an unbeaten prospect, and I destroyed him. It is all down to frame of mind. There is nothing more you can ask for than the chance to prove the whole world wrong.”
Will Gomez “prove the whole world wrong,” and beat Amir Khan on Saturday? In a word – NO! Sorry, but brave as he is, colourful as he is and determined as he is, Michael Gomez, as worn and faded as he is, will be lucky to last six rounds against the much bigger and younger Khan. A well deserved final payday is all Gomez can realistically look forward to. And then the release of his movie, of course!