Gomez turned down Arthur rematch

05 January 2009 – By Mark Doyle

Michael Gomez has revealed that he turned down a rematch with Alex Arthur last month.

The Longford-born Mancunian infamously stopped the previously undefeated Arthur in the fifth-round of a barnstorming British super-featherweight title fight in October, 2003.

Now 31, Gomez, despite a spirited effort against Amir Khan last year, is in the twilight of his career and unwilling to share a ring with Arthur again unless the money is right.

“Sports Network boss Frank Warren offered me 20 grand to fight Arthur in December at lightweight, the Irish Mexican is quoted as saying by the Daily Record.

“But I told him that fighting Arthur at this stage in my career would be a really tough fight for me – so tough I’d want to be paid more than 20 grand.

“However, if I was offered more money I might still fight Arthur at his new weight of lightweight in 2009.”

Arthur, who lost his WBO super-featherweight title to Nicky Cook last September, is certainly desperate for another crack at Gomez.

“I’d like to fight him at lightweight as he’s the only guy to stop me in my pro career and revenge would be sweet, he admitted.

I also think an Arthur v Gomez rematch would be a sell-out anywhere in Scotland or Britain.”