By Sam Gregory: For the first time on ESPN a heavyweight title fight with Vitali Klitschko defending his WBC heavyweight title against Cuban southpaw Juan Carlos Gomez who currently makes his home in Germany where tonight’s fight will be coming from via satellite feed. 37 year old Vitali Klitschko who’s record going into this fight is 36 wins with 2 loses, 35 of the wins coming by way of KO is coming off a 9th round KO over top ten contender Samuel Peter last October. Klitschko’s fight last October was his first after a four year ring hiatus.
The 35 year old Cuban southpaw who only has one lose on his professional record, 44-1 with 35 KO’s, said he knows what he’s up against going into this fight. According to an online source Gomez revealed that he was used as a sparring partner by the Klitschko’s when they were preparing for a southpaw opponent. Gomez said, “Vitali’s technique isn’t that good. But he can crack. He can crack with either hand. You just can’t stay in front of him.”
For tonight’s heavyweight fight from Stuttgart, Germany Klitschko weighed in at 249 pound, Gomez weighed 230 pounds.
The betting odds for tonight’s fight have Klitschko as a clear favorite to win listed at 1/10 for an outright victory. Dr Ironfist is also paying out between 20/1 and 10/1 for picking a specific round that he’ll win. The over and under is 7.5 rounds.
The first round at best can be considered a feeling out round; it was three minutes of pawing where Klitschko wasn’t able to get off one clean jab. Gomez actually threw more punches but didn’t land anything of significance.
Round 2 Klitschko landed a couple solid left hands. His jab still wasn’t working which lead to Gomez being able to grab hold and clinch. Klitschko still wasn’t able to extend his jab.
Round 3 Klitschko doing a better job at controlling the range of his punches. Gomez has been aggressive, moving forward and throwing punches but not being affective at all.
Round four Klitschko landed a couple solid right hands to the crowd’s approval. Klitschko also landed a couple solid jabs which can be seen on Gomez’ face; Klitschko clearly had control of this entire round.
Gomez’ right eye clearly swollen in between rounds 4 and 5; being worked on by his cornermen.
Round five Klitschko was controlling the range better as his jab was working on Gomez’ swollen eye. Gomez took a lot of abuse in this round.
After round 5 Klitschko won all but the first round of the fight according to unofficial ringside score card.
In the sixth round Gomez’ feet got tangled up and he feel. Gomez did a lot of tying up this round, he was behind and it showed. At the end of this round Klitschko had a cut on the top of his head at the hair line. The cut was probably caused by a head-butt.
Round seven Klitschko landed some very solid right hands, one of which drops Gomez. He beats the count and doesn’t clinch. He survives the round taking abuse from Klitschko’s right hand.
Round eight Gomez’ eye is closed, he’s way behind in the fight; Klitschko is taking his time and measuring his punches looking to tee off. Gomez eating a lot of shots and looks hurt but makes it through the round.
Round nine Gomez gets hurt by steady hard punches but referee deducts a point from Klitschko. (ref said point deduction for intentional head-butt) When the fight resumes Klitschko unloads with devastating punches and ends the fight.
The fight ends in 1:49 of the ninth round with Vitali Klitschko winning by TKO.
Klitschko improves his record to 37 wins, 36 by KO with 2 defeats. Gomez falls to 44 wins with 2 loses; 35 of his wins by KO.