Newz Forum: BOXING: Gomez faces stern test

BBC Sports
Michael Gomez will make the first defence of his WBU super featherweight title against Uganda's Justin Juuko in Widnes on 22 May.


Gomez was due to have fought Bouziane Oudji but the Frenchman withdrew because of an injury.

Juuko is a former Commonwealth champion who has previously been in the ring with current world champions Diego Corrales and Carlos Hernandez.

"Juuko is dangerous and one of the toughest out there," said Gomez.

The 26-year-old Gomez (30-5, 20KOs), currently ranked number five by the WBO and WBA, is chasing WBO champion Corrales and will be looking to send a message by stopping Juuko.

Corrales stopped Juuko (39-7-1, 28 KOs) in the 10th round when they met in 2000, while Hernandez won a 10-round decision when they met in 2001.

Gomez won the vacant WBU belt by stopping Ghana's Ben Odamattey inside three rounds in April.



© BBC MMIV

[Edited on 13-5-2004 by Ocelot]