March 11, 2000

Lübeck, March 11

Gomez knocks out challenger Siluvangi in the second round

Hamburg based Cuban Juan Carlos Gomez joined his Swedish stable mate Krajnc in defending his world title with a second round knockout on a double header event at Hansehalle Lübeck.

With a left counterpunch Gomez dropped his French challenger Joseph Siluvangi midway through round two. The 30-year-old African born Siluvangi dropped on his back with his feet stretched into the air. He raised at the count of eight but was too dazed to continue. After two minutes and 35 seconds into the round referee Larry O'Connell called a halt to the bout.

"I was satisfied with my performance. I improved my punching power", the 26-year-old Gomez commented. "I showed that the work with my new trainer Torsten Schmitz is very successful."

"My next great aim is to make a unification fight against WBA champion Fabrice Tiozzo. I want my manager to give me that chance this year."

"Afterwards I want to move up to the heavyweight division. I wouldn't have to make so much weight anymore then. I'm a very big cruiserweight and I know that I would be able to carry the additional weight comfortably."

On May 6, however, Juan Carlos Gomez first has to make a mandatory defense against the former world champion in two weight classes James "Lights Out" Toney.

"I already watched Toney on video. He's a very strong fighter who faced many top rated opponents in his career. For the fight against him I will prepare particularly intensively."

Gomez improved his unbeaten record to 30-0 with 25 knockouts. Siluvangi dropped to 22-2-1 with 9 knockouts. For Gomez it was the seventh successful defense of his WBC cruiserweight world title. Boxing experts rank him unanimously as best of his weight class.

Krajnc defends world title with a spectacular knockout

Armand Krajnc defended his WBO middleweight world title with a spectacular second round knockout over American Jonathan Corn.

The 26-year-old Swede Krajnc knocked his challenger, the #10 of the WBO rankings, unconscious after one minute and 29 seconds of the second round with a series of hooks to the chin. The 26-year-old man from Shawano in Wisconsin dropped to the canvas in a neutral corner and slipped through the ropes.

"Many Swedish fans came here and I'm very happy that I was able to give them a great show", Krajnc commented after his successful first title defense. "My left hand is my best weapon. My other advantage is that I'm very tall for my weight class."

"However, I'm not completely satisfied with my performance. I have to become more mobile and use my jab."

"I want to defend my title three or four times and then go on to win another world title belt. My dream is to fight in my home country of Sweden. I could sell out every arena", Krajnc explains his future plans.

An interested observer at ringside was WBO light heavyweight world champion Dariusz Michalczewski. "In the past Armand was sloppy and lazy in training. But since he won a world title he has become a completely different athlete", the German complimented his stable mate.

Krajnc scored his 23rd consecutive win, 16 of them by knockout. The American who was stopped for the first time in his career suffered his third defeat in 33 contests.