April 15: Reece Bellotti vs Michael Gomez Jr
Reece Bellotti can take a step closer to winning the prestigious Lord Lonsdale Challenge Belt outright when he defends it against Michael Gomez Jr in an eagerly anticipated 130 lbs grudge match at Co-op Live in Manchester this Saturday – shown live worldwide on DAZN.
The Watford favourite (19-5, 14 KOs) was originally set to defend his British and Commonwealth Titles against Gomez Jr on the Catterall vs. Prograis bill last October, but the Mancunian dramatically pulled out of their fight on medical grounds shortly after arriving at the arena on fight night.
‘Bomber’ Bellotti was left furious at the decision to call their fight off at the last minute but says he used that anger to fuel a second gruelling camp as he prepares for another step in his brilliant resurgence in the Super-Featherweight division.
“We went to the venue and everything was normal,” recalled Bellotti. “The whole build-up was normal. Set ourselves up in the changing room. We came back out, and they come up to us and said, ‘it’s off’. I thought it was a joke.
“I was absolutely fuming. Obviously everyone can see how I lost my head and just went mad in the DAZN interview. I’ve never heard of any fighter out there pull-out at that moment of time, where you’re literally about to get wrapped up to fight. I was fuming.
“I’m hopeful that he won’t do the same again and we will actually fight, and I’ll win. Whatever I bring, he won’t be ready for it. The track has been hell on earth this camp. I’ve spilt blood, sweat and tears for this fight. It’s another step closer to winning the British Title outright, which will propel me onto bigger shows and get more interest in me.
“There’s a lot of Frank Warren fighters that are the same weight – so it could be a Saudi 5 vs. 5 card later in the year maybe. Loads of doors could open for me. A win on February 15th is definitely going to push me closer to that.”
A mainstay of British boxing since his professional debut at the famous York Hall back in 2015, Bellotti insists that he still has plenty left to give the sport – and the 34-year-old ‘Bomber’ is fuelled by the desire to make his two children proud of his achievements.
“I’ve always loved boxing,” said Bellotti. “I’ve always been told the second you run out of love for the sport, you get out the sport. Now it’s like where my kids are old enough to understand about the sport, I want them to see that their dad is a British Champion. Now they understand these things and it’s a good thing for me.
“My fighting style has changed a bit over the years. I used to just be crash, bang, wallop and just go out and have a tear-up the best I can, always looking for knockouts – which I always do regardless as a fighter. Now I’ve got a little bit more brain about me, I’m a little bit older. I’ve got a lot more greys. We’ve learnt a lot from the mistakes I’ve made over the years. I’ve been beaten a few times and I’m a more well-rounded fighter now,” Bellotti concluded.
Bellotti vs. Gomez Jr is part of a huge night of boxing in Manchester, Chorley’s Jack Catterall (30-1, 13 KOs) takes on undefeated American Arnold Barboza Jr (31-0, 11 KOs) for the interim WBO Super-Lightweight World Title, Pat McCormack (6-0, 4 KOs) steps up as he defends his WBA Intercontinental Welterweight Title against Liverpool’s former British, Commonwealth and European Champion Robbie Davies Jr (24-5, 15 KOs).
It’s a Manchester vs. Liverpool showdown as former World Title challengers Zelfa Barrett (31-2, 17 KOs) and Jazza Dickens (34-5, 14 KOs) clash for the WBA International Super-Featherweight Title, Manchester Light-Heavyweight Conner Tudsbury makes his professional debut against Belgium’s Sadaam Moamed Da Silva Caetano, Oldham’s Aqib Fiaz (12-1, 1 KO) returns at Lightweight against Malta’s Lydon Chircop (7-2, 4 KOs) over six rounds, Manchester Super-Welterweight powerhouse William Crolla (6-0, 5 KOs) faces Spain’s Ayoub Zakari (5-7-1) over six rounds.
Manchester Featherweight Alfie Middlemiss (1-0) kicks off the Before The Bell action in a four round fight with Middlesborough’s Caine Singh (1-5-2).