Michael Gomez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Gomez
Statistics
Real name	Michael Armstrong
Nickname(s)	The Predator The Irish Mexican The Mancunian Mexican The Manchester Mexican
Rated at	Featherweight Super-featherweight Lightweight
Height	5 ft 5+1/2 in
Reach	68 in
Born	(1977-06-21) 21 June 1977 (age 48) Longford, Ireland
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	48
Wins	38
Wins by KO	25
Losses	10

Michael Gomez (born Michael Armstrong on 21 June 1977) is a retired professional boxer from Ireland who competed from 1995 to 2009. He was born into an Irish Traveller family in Longford, Ireland. He spent his early years in Dublin before his family moved to Manchester, England, when he was nine. In the boxing world, he was known by exciting nicknames like "The Predator" and "The Irish Mexican."

Gomez fought in several weight classes, including lightweight, but he is best known for his time as a featherweight and super-featherweight. He won many regional titles during his career. Most notably, he held the British super-featherweight title twice between 1999 and 2004. He also won the WBU super-featherweight title in 2004.

Gomez had an exciting and sometimes unpredictable career. He was known for his tough and aggressive fighting style. After some early losses, he went on a winning streak that lasted for nearly four years. A major highlight of his career was a famous fight in 2003 against Alex Arthur. Gomez won by knockout in the fifth round, earning the British and WBA Inter-Continental super-featherweight titles.

In 2008, Gomez fought in a high-profile match against the rising star Amir Khan. Although Gomez knocked Khan down early in the fight, Khan recovered and won in the fifth round. Gomez chose his last name to honor his childhood hero, boxer Wilfredo Gómez.

Early Life and Background

Michael Armstrong was born in Longford, Ireland, to an Irish Traveller family. When he was a baby, his family moved to Ballymun, a neighborhood in Dublin. At age nine, they moved again to Manchester, England.

Gomez training with his coach, Bobby Rimmer.

Life in England brought challenges for the family. Michael's father's eyesight grew worse, and his younger sister, Louise, sadly passed away when she was a baby. Michael spent some of his childhood living in children's homes.

He started boxing training at the age of nine at a local boys' club. He also played football, but he was so competitive on the field that he decided to focus only on boxing. It was during his time in a children's home that he met his future wife, Alison.

Professional Boxing Career

Starting Out as a Pro

Armstrong began his professional boxing career in June 1995. He had to choose a new last name because another boxer was already using "Michael Armstrong." He picked "Gomez" to honor his hero, the Puerto Rican boxer Wilfredo Gómez. This new name, along with his brawling style, earned him the nickname "the Irish Mexican."

Gomez embraced this persona. He would enter the ring to Mexican Mariachi music, and his fans often wore sombrero hats and waved Irish flags. He wore boxing shorts in the colors of the flag of Ireland and sometimes had a shamrock shaved into his hair.

His first professional fight was a win. However, his early career had some ups and downs, with a few losses. But from September 1997, Gomez started a long winning streak. In February 1999, he won his first title, the British Central Area featherweight championship.

Moving to Super-Featherweight

Gomez focuses on bodywork training with Bobby Rimmer.

Later in 1999, Gomez moved up to the super-featherweight division. He immediately won the British super-featherweight title by knocking out Gary Thornhill. He then won the WBO Inter-Continental super-featherweight title. The year 1999 was a huge success for Gomez. He won four titles and was named "Young Boxer of the Year" by the British Boxing Writers' Club.

He continued to win in 2000, successfully defending his British title three times.

Important Fights and a New Trainer

In February 2001, Gomez lost a fight to Hungarian boxer László Bognár. Five months later, they had a rematch, and Gomez won with a powerful knockout in the third round.

In June 2002, Gomez faced an undefeated boxer named Kevin Lear. Lear's sharp jabs kept Gomez at a distance. After the eighth round, Gomez's trainer stopped the fight, giving Lear the victory. This loss led Gomez to part ways with his longtime trainer, Brian Hughes. He then joined a new gym to train alongside other famous boxers like Ricky Hatton.

The Famous Alex Arthur Fight

Gomez sparring while wearing protective headgear.

One of the biggest fights of Gomez's career was against Alex Arthur in October 2003. The fight was for the British and WBA Inter-Continental super-featherweight titles and took place in Arthur's hometown of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Almost everyone expected Arthur to win. He was a rising star, and many thought Gomez was past his prime. Arthur was very confident before the fight, saying he saw "about 20 ways to beat him."

However, Gomez came to the fight in amazing shape. He was aggressive and determined. The first few rounds were fast-paced. By the third round, Gomez started to take control, cutting Arthur and dominating the action. In the fifth round, Gomez knocked Arthur down three times. The referee stopped the fight, giving Gomez a stunning victory by TKO (technical knockout).

The match was called one of the best fights in Britain in years. Boxing promoter Frank Warren said it was the greatest fight in the UK since 1995.

Winning a World Title

In March 2004, Gomez defeated Ben Odamattey to win the WBU super-featherweight world title. He defended this title twice with knockout wins.

In February 2005, he fought Javier Osvaldo Alvarez from Argentina. After a tough fight, Alvarez won in the sixth round, and Gomez lost his WBU title.

A Strange Loss and a Brief Retirement

In January 2006, Gomez fought Peter McDonagh for the Irish lightweight title. The fight ended in a very unusual way in the fifth round. Gomez suddenly stopped fighting and was knocked down. He got up but walked to his corner, and the referee stopped the fight.

Gomez later explained that he had decided during the fight that it was time to retire from boxing.

Return to the Ring

Gomez training on the pads with his coach.

After 15 months away, Gomez missed boxing and decided to make a comeback. He returned in May 2007 with a win. He was now training at a new gym and fighting as a super-featherweight again.

In October 2007, he fought Carl Johanneson for the British super-featherweight title. It was a tough, back-and-forth battle. Johanneson knocked Gomez down in the sixth round, and the referee stopped the fight, though Gomez felt he could have continued.

The Amir Khan Fight

On his 31st birthday, 21 June 2008, Gomez faced Amir Khan for the Commonwealth lightweight title. Khan was a young, fast, and highly-rated boxer.

The fight was explosive from the start. Khan knocked Gomez down in the first round. But in the second round, Gomez surprised everyone by knocking Khan down with a powerful left hook. Khan managed to get up and recover. The fight continued with both boxers landing heavy punches. In the fifth round, Khan knocked Gomez down again, and the referee stopped the fight.

Even though he lost, Gomez showed he could still compete with the best. Before the fight, he said it was his "last chance to set myself up for life." He also spoke about how boxing had given him focus and helped him through difficult times. Gomez lives in Manchester with his wife, Alison, and their three children.

Professional boxing record