TONIGHT’S fight between Michael Gomez Jr and Reece Bellotti is OFF.
The pair were due to step into the ring on the Jack Catterall vs Regis Prograis undercard at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester.
Both the British and Commonwealth super featherweight belts were supposed to be on the line.
However, Gomez Jr was taken ill in the changing rooms shortly before the first bell.
And following a doctor’s assessment, he was ruled out of the bout.
The fight was expected to start at approximately 9pm on DAZN.
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However, the news of the shock withdrawal came from Matchroom Boxing’s X account at 7.50pm.
A statement said: “Matchroom Boxing has been informed by the British Boxing Board of Control that tonight’s scheduled British & Commonwealth Super Featherweight Title bout between Reece Bellotti and Michael Gomez is off.
“Michael Gomez Jr as taken ill in the changing rooms, where he was inspected by doctors and ruled out of the contest.
“We wish Michael a speedy recovery.”
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Bellotti, though, was furious and accused Gomez of “swallowing” the fight.
He raged on live TV: “He swallowed it. You f***ing know he swallowed it.
“He has one million per cent swallowed it.
“Bell [Tony Bellew] you can back what I’m saying here – if you’re in that changing room there is nothing out there that will f***ing stop you from fighting. Fact.
“He has gone behind his team and swallowed the fight. 100 per cent fact.
“In my last fight against Levi Giles, my hand was mashed up.
“I got told by my physio, ‘Don’t take the fight, your hand is mashed.’
“I said, ‘I signed the fight, I’m fighting him, I’ll do him with one f***ing hand. I don’t give a s***.’
“The boys could have gone behind my back, the doctor would have bowled in and I would have said, ‘Nah I’m sweet doctor, don’t worry about it.’
“I am not swallowing a fight in a changing room ever.
“He has swallowed the fight.
‘YOU MELTED. FACT.’
“He sold 1,000-plus tickets now he’s got to tell all his mates, ‘Oh sorry my team pulled me out.’
“You sound like a p***y. You melted. Fact.”
DAZN were forced to apologise for his expletive-laden rant.
Bellotti, 33, was ordered to defend his two belts by the BBBoC – three months on from his victory over Levi Giles at the Copper Box in London.
The Bomber from Hertfordshire secured a unanimous decision that night to move his record to 19-5.
But he was set for a tough task clinging on to his titles against Gomez Jr.
The Lancashire man, 29, has won his last 12 pro fights – dating back to August 2019.
That included his most recent victory over Kane Baker in April where he survived an early cut above his eye in Manchester to secure his English super featherweight belt and move to 21-1 in his pro boxing career.
Bellotti vs Gomez Jr was supposed to be the main supporting act of the night – and tipped by many to be the best contest on the card.
Ricky Hatton’s son Campbell is also a warm-up act before Catterall and Prograis take centre stage at around 11pm.
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The super lightweight contenders were originally scheduled to meet in August, but the fight was delayed due to Catterall suffering an injury.
Brit Catterall will be desperate to secure a world-title shot in 2025 with a win over former world champ Prograis.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
