Gomez demands crack at Klitschko
by Mark Doyle, 13 October 2008
Juan Carlos Gomez has issued a public message to Vitali Klitschko, urging the giant Ukrainian to grant him a world title shot.
Klitschko, after four years out of the ring, reclaimed the WBC heavyweight belt with a commanding victory over Samuel Peter in Berlin on Saturday night.
Gomez, who has been beaten just once in his career, is now the mandatory challenger but the Cuban is worried that Klitschko will do his utmost to avoid him.
“Congratulations, Vitali! You did a good job against the living sandbag,” he is quoted as saying by eastsideboxing.com.
”I am happy for you but for myself even more. I will enjoy taking the title from you and finally becoming heavyweight champion of the world.
”Although I already heard that you are trying to sneak out of the fight. Don’t run away, Vitali. Come and fight me like a man!”
Gomez added: “I understand that you prefer to step in the ring with guys who cannot fight. But I am your official challenger. You can’t run away forever.
”You know that I am the man who will beat you. You know how good I am!”
Gomez, a former cruiserweight world champion, established himself as the WBC's number one contender by outpointing Vladimir Virchis in Hamburg, Germany last month.