by James Slater – Boxing on the under-card of the huge Pacquiao-Cotto fight, Mexican rivals Alfonso Gomez and Jesus Soto Karass put on an entertaining fight that was unfortunately cut short due to an accidental headbutt. 27-year-old Karass caught the 29-year-old “Contender” star with a butt in the 3rd round, and a nasty cut was opened at the side of Gomez’ right eye.
The battle continued for a further three rounds, before a time-out was called for so the doctor could check the cut, the blood pouring down the face of Gomez. “I can’t see shit,” Gomez replied when asked if the cut was bothering him, and the fight was over..
A clear and deserved winner on points after the six rounds, Gomez won by scores of 58-54, 57-55 and 57-55 again. Gomez is now 21-4-2(10). Karass is now 24-4-3(16).
A good little fight while it lasted, the Mexican grudge match got off to a lively start, and both men looked to unload in the opening three minutes. Karass, the taller man, had an advantage in reach but Gomez was landing the better jabs and he was so much faster.
Docked two points for low blows in the fight – in round three and again in round four – Karrass fell behind on the cards. The cut aside, Gomez appeared to be in control. Quicker and more dynamic as well as more imaginative than his rival, the 29-year-old did more work and landed with more clean shots.
Karrass did land some hard punches to the body at times, and in the last two rounds of the fight he looked like he might have been getting stronger, whereas Gomez wasn’t quite as sprightly as he had been in the first 4-rounds of action.
Neither guy was really hurt in the fight, and a distance fight did look likely had the early stoppage not come. Gomez, who knew he’d won even before the official verdict had been announced, was all smiles in mid-ring. Though some will say he quit, Gomez has proven his heart and guts many times before now. He has also bled before in fights, so in no way had be panicked last night.
A decent win overall, Gomez has now won three in a row since being stopped by Miguel Cotto back in April of 2008. Karass who has never been stopped, lost for the first time since his points defeat to Yuri Foreman back in 2005. No doubt he will ask Gomez for a rematch. Not a bad idea at all.