20.03.09 – all photos by Pavel Terekhov — click here to view Klitschko-Gomez weigh-in gallery — At today’s weigh-in Stuttgart, Germany, WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (35-2, 35 KOs) weighed in at 249.1. His challenger, Juan Carlos Gomez (44-1, 35 KOs) weighed in at a bulky 230.4.
The fight is being shown live at 6 p.m. EDT on ESPN CLASSIC in the United States and live on RTL Television in Germany.
Gomez Trainer Cuellar: Klitschko has no chance to win:
This man stands for a history of upsets: trainer Orlando Cuellar lead “Road Warrior” Glen Johnson to numerous spectacular wins including Johnson’s sensational 9th round ko over former pound-for-pound-king Roy Jones jr. “I remember that Glen was the 7:1 underdog at that fight”, states Cuellar. “I didn’t care and we kicked Roy’s ass. The odds may be similar this time – and again I couldn’t care less. Let the fans and so called experts say and think whatever they want. We will give our answer in the ring. And Klitschko doesn’t stand a chance..”
Besides Johnson Cuellar also coached former welterweight king Ricardo Mayorga to his upset win over Fernando Vargas in 2008. “Mayorga was the underdog as well”, adds Cuellar. “He had lost against Trinidad and De La Hoya. Nobody gave him a chance. But they called me and together we pulled it off. They didn’t call me for the next fight – and he lost again to Shane Mosley. You can call me the ‘spoiler’. I come to spoil the big boys’ parties. You could also see me as the ‘X-Factor’. I can make fighters win bouts that they are supposed to lose. I have proven it and I will do it again. The good thing is that most people haven’t recognized it yet. After Gomez beat Klitschko the mask will fall and everybody will know who I am and what I do.”
At yesterday’s press conference reigning and defending WBC champion Vitali Klitschko said that Gomez and his team would be ‘dreamers’. “He thinks we’re dreaming”, says the ‘spoiler’. “I say he has no idea what will be coming at him. We will send him to sleep. Vitali is a great champ and has done great things for the sport of boxing. His only problem is that Juan Carlos Gomez and Orlando Cuellar have been hired to get rid of him. And that is exactly what we will do. Dr. Ironfist, your time’s up. And your little brother will be next!”
The main reason for Cuellar’s confidence is superior technique and strategy. “Juan is the fastest heavyweight in the world today. And he has never shown his full capacity, speed and power. We have a special chemistry as we are both from Cuba. When he called me and asked me whether I would help him in this fight I told him I only come to win. I don’t come to lose. And here I am. Enough said!“