Former world cruiserweight champion and world heavyweight title contender Juan Carlos Gomez is clearly not in the shape of his lifetime these days but slowly on the way back to his old physique. For tomorrow’s (Friday, April 9th) fight against Alexander Kahl in Schwerin (live on Eurosport from 9.00pm German time) Gomez weighed in at 110,0 kg / 242.5 lbs. Although it is still a long way from the „Black Panda“ (as German BILD Zeitung wrote) back to the „Black Panther“ Gomez has lost 13 lbs. since his last fight only two weeks ago in Hamburg.
„Lots of people think I am not serious in trying to get back to the top of the world“, Gomez said in Schwerin. „But I am ready to prove them all wrong. The Black Panther is back. I promise my fans a great fight and I still dream of becoming the first Cuban heavyweight champion of the world. It’s Showtime!“
His opponent Alexander Kahl from Stuttgart weighed in at 247 lbs. and showed self confidence as well: „I haven’t come here to just collect my purse and lose the fight. Of course, I respect Juan for all he has achieved but anything can happen in the ring. I am well prepared and I will do my best to pull the upset.“ Kahl is known for a solid punch, his record contains of 15 wins including 13 stoppages with 4 defeats and one draw.
In the co-feature on Eurosport hard-hitting German heavyweight Konstantin „Sandman“ Airich (13-2-2, 11 kos / 223 lbs.) faces Russian veteran Alexey Varakin (28-17-3, 16 kos / 218 lbs.). Instead of a stare-down the two contenders shook hands at the weigh-in. „May the best man win“, said Airich. „And may I be that best man!”
German light heavyweight prospect Robert Woge (1-0, 1 ko / 174 lbs.) returns only two weeks after his pro-debut. His opponent Armen Azizian (9-9, 1 ko / 182 lbs.) weighed in slightly over the limit. Still Woge is convinced that he will be victorious: „I call myself the Butcher because when I’m done with my opponents they look like minced meat.“