Ringside Report Looks Back at Boxer Max Gomez
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By Daniel Sisneros
Colorado’s Max Gomez was a regional star in the amateurs who many felt would be a “can’t miss” as a Pro.
Gomez turned professional on March 7, 1989 at Bally’s in Las Vegas, Nevada, opening his career with a 3rd round technical knockout over Phoenix, Arizona’s Jesse Ortiz.
He won his next fight, and then tasted his first defeat against unbeaten former Puerto Rican amateur standout – Luis Rolon (4-0, 3 ko) on the undercard of Julio Cesar Chavez/Meldrick Taylor #1 at the Las Vegas Hilton. Gomez dropped a very close majority decision to Rolon in 4 rds.
He was considered a worthy prospect, and this was cemented when he travled up to Detroit, Michigan and handed unbeaten Kronk Gym star Theotrice Chambers (5-0, 5 ko) his first defeat by unanimous decision. 3 fights later, Gomez would find his self in the ring facing former Olympic Gold medalist, and undefeated world ranked contender (and future World Champion) Kennedy “The King” McKinney (18-0-1, 12 ko), it was another hard fought battle, with Gomez getting the short end of the stick in an 8 round split decision loss. This showing just raised his stock and he got his first shot at a title belt, facing Rudy Zavala for the USBA Jr. Featherweight Title at the Forum in Inglewood, CA. That battle ended in a 12 round 3 way split Draw.
In later bouts, Gomez challenged for the USBA, NABF, and NABO Jr. Featherweight Titles and lost via decisions all 3 times. March 16, 1996 – 7 years after his professional debut, Max got a shot at the vacant WBU Jr. Featherweight Title. This was his night, as he defeated Anton Gilmore (19-1-2, 5 ko) to win his first Title Belt. He lost the title to Frankie Toledo in his first defense, it was a very close decision loss that ended in scores of 115-113 by all 3 judges. Two fights later, he defeated Felipe Garcia (13-16-1, 8 ko) to pick up the IBC Jr. Featherweight World Title.
In his next fight, he went after the IBA Featherweight title, dropping another hard fought split decision to “Diamond” David Santos (28-1, 19 ko) in Albuquerque, NM. He continued his campaign, squaring off against pretty high level competiion and picking up the WBC Fecarbox Jr. Lightweight Title along the way.
Max fought his last professional fight on May 11, 2002 with a solid 8 round unanimous decision victory over Colorado rival Heriberto Velazquez in Colorado Springs, CO.
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