Press Release: Two years ago Juan Carlos Gomez decisioned Oliver McCall in Düsseldorf, Germany but the Cuban tested positive for cocaine and the result became a no-contest. This Friday, Gomez and McCall clash again in Berlin’s Estrel Convention Center. Although there were some disagreements within the last days, “The Black Panther” and “The Atomic Bull” spoke gently at the press conference at Berlin’s Potsdamer Platz.
McCall: “Our first fight was like a war without knowing you enemy. I didn’t know Gomez and wasn’t prepared for the fight. But I won’t make the same mistake again. I will not underestimate Juan Carlos Gomez this time. He’s a great champion. I did a lot of video studies and I know how to beat him. This is a redemption fight to me. It’s the first time I get the chance to face somebody I have lost to in a re-match. Also I see the fight as redemption for my [nervous] breakdown loss against Lennox Lewis in 1997. I never fully compensated that loss. As I said before, Gomez is a great champion. I don’t know how this fight will end. Of course, I will try to knock him out. Still I say, may the best man win!”
Gomez: "I am well prepared for the fight. I believe that it will be a great battle. Oliver McCall is a great fighter and I thank him for his words. We may talk like friends right now. But we won’t be friends when we step into the ring. By the time we enter the ring ‘It’s showtime’. This is most probably the last chance for me to earn a shot at the world heavyweight Championship. I know that and I will not blow this chance. McCall might be punching harder than me but I am definitely the better boxer. I will outbox him. I don’t know whether I got what it takes to knock him out but I will definitely beat McCall.”
The winner of the bout between WBC #2 (McCall) and #4 (Gomez) hopes for a shot at the WBC title [after Sam Peter and Vitali Klitschko have their shots at Oleg Maskaev] . Both men were in complete agreement regarding their most favourite opponents for a title shot.
McCall: “Both Klitschkos are great boxers. I would love to step into the ring with one of them to proof that I am the best fighter of my generation.”
Gomez: “I want to get into the ring with the Kltischkos as well – because I can earn lots of money in fights with them!”
The undercard of Gomez vs. McCall features Cuban heavyweight Odlanier Solis who ialso wants to be undisputed champion of the world one day: “Of course, it must be my goal to win all the titles. But first of all I have to proceed my way to the top in the world rankings to earn my shots at the championships.”
Also on the card in Berlin: former European heavyweight champion Sinan Samil Sam (who faces Croatia’s Ivica Perkovic), middleweight Alpaslan Agüzüm (who steps into the ring with Italian “Volcano” Domenico Spada) and former WBA light heavyweighttitlist “Il Barbaro” Silvio Branco (who faces Peter Venancio).
Only very few tickets for the show are available on ticket-hotline +49-30-6831 6831, at CTS eventim or on www.ticketonline.com.
