Khan Taking Gomez Very Seriously

By:  | Posted: Monday, June 16th, 2008 at 1:37 am.

 

AMIR Khan’s next job might turn out to be a bit more of a test than it looks. The rising lightweight prospect meets the hardened British veteran Michael Gomez next Saturday night in a bout that could see Khan asked a few more questions about his long-term potential.

 

Gomez, 30, might be a long way past his best but he has promised to bring it to Khan in their scheduled 12-rounder at Birmingham’s 17,000-capacity National Indoor Arena.

 

Khan, who will be defending his Commonwealth title for the second time and seeking his 18th win in a row, starts a huge favourite, as he has done for almost all his fights. But Khan’s new trainer, Dean Powell, tells me the bout is an “important stage in his development”.

 

Powell is referring to style rather than quality of opponent. Gomez is probably a step down in class but is expected to exert all-out pressure on Khan, something the Bolton youngster has still to face since turning pro a year after winning an Olympic silver medal as a 17-year-old in Athens in 2004.

 

“I think we all know the sort of fight we’re gonna get from Michael Gomez,” Powell said. ”No disrespect, but I don’t think it needs me to answer you that question. [But] Amir will deal with Michael Gomez in the way that he’s dealt with everybody else.

 

“Whatever Michael Gomez does, Amir Khan will be able to adapt to it and cope with the situation. I think Michael Gomez will bring something new to the table which Amir Khan has never [seen] before.”

 

Khan, who is ranked No.2 by the WBO and No.4 by the WBC, has no choice but to pass the test. Huge plans are in the pipeline for the 21-year-old, including a possible showdown with triple world champ Nate Campbell before the end of the year. Khan’s promoter, Frank Warren, spoke to Campbell in the States last week about the prospect of making the fight.

 

But everything will go up in smoke if Gomez pulls off an upset in what is the last in Khan’s six-fight deal with ITV, the British terrestrial network that has covered the youngster’s entire career so far.

 

Powell knows Gomez well in his capacity as Warren’s matchmaker. “He [Gomez] was very coy at the first press conference but that was seven weeks ago,” Powell said. “It’s gonna change now. Coming up to fight week, his antics will start coming into it now, I’m sure of that. I feel that will be good preparation for Amir when he does go on to the next level.

“He [Gomez] is gonna come in, he’s gonna try and hit him [Khan] with his head, with his elbows. He’s gonna try and rough him up, he’s gonna rush at him. That’s what he’s gonna get from a Mexican, or a Puerto Rican or an American.

 

“But as far as Saturday night is concerned, that is our world title fight. Amir Khan is not looking beyond Michael Gomez. He hasn’t underestimated Michael Gomez in any way.

 

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Michael Gomez. I’ve made a lot of his fights for him. I’ve known him a long time.”

 

Powell will know exactly what a motivated Gomez is capable of. Just under five years ago, the Manchester fighter regained the British super featherweight title by outgunning current WBO champ Alex Arthur in five rounds in front of the Scot’s home crowd in Edinburgh.

 

But Gomez is on the way down. He has been stopped three times since, including by Carl Johanneson in a British title fight last October, and lost eight of his 43 bouts in total.

 

The big thing working against Gomez is that he is not a natural lightweight. In his 13-year career, he has only once weighed above 135 pounds, and that was in his last fight against former Khan opponent Baz Carey. The thinking is that Gomez will blow himself out trying to overwhelm Khan in the early rounds, then tire and get overpowered and stopped before halfway.

 

“It’s another learning curve,” Powell said. “I think it’s a different style that’s gonna be brought to the table and it’s something that Amir Khan’s got to learn to cope with. What we’ve tried to do is to match him with a variety of styles and I think Michael Gomez fits that bill.”

 

Powell has been training Khan in Bolton since early May after the surprise announcement that the fighter had split with longtime coach Oliver Harrison. Before Powell’s appointment, speculation deepened that Khan was about to team up with a high-profile American trainer, with Roger Mayweather, Freddie Roach and James “Buddy” McGirt all mentioned.

 

Asked if he expected his tenure in Khan’s corner to last more than one fight, Powell insisted: “At the moment, the only thing I’m looking to is next Saturday. I’m not looking beyond next Saturday because that would be a foolish thing to do. That [Khan's future trainer] will be a decision that will be taken by Amir and his team after the fight. It’s been a pleasure to train with him. He’s been an absolute gentleman, his family have treated me [well].

 

“Whatever happens after next weekend, it’s been a great experience.”

CATEGORIES:Boxing