Top Rank Brings Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, Alfonso Gomez To Anaheim

LOS ANGELES-On paper or visually it doesn’t look like a fair fight when Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Alfonso Gomez stood side by side on the podium.

But if you know boxing or any sports, nothing is decided on paper.

Chavez (41-0-1, 30 KOs) and Gomez (22-4-2, 11 KOs) met along with their friends from Top Rank at the historic Millennium Biltmore Hotel to announce their mega fight card called “In Harms Way that takes place Dec. 4, at the Honda Center in Anaheim. It will be televised on pay-per-view.

The fight between Gomez and Chavez almost happened more than a year ago but for some reason it was postponed. That was fortuitous for the son of Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. He was not ready for Gomez at that time.

Gomez, from Guadalajara, is an eager beaver who trains hard, has the heart of a lion and always surprises people. Wins over the late great Arturo Gatti and another solid fighter Peter Manfredo Jr. showed that if you underestimate Gomez in the slightest he’ll take your heart away.

“He was my favorite fighter in the Contender, said Chavez who was living in Riverside when that show appeared. “He is a brave fighter.

Chavez doesn’t mean that in jest, he knows that Gomez fears no one.

“I’m going to win this fight, said Gomez who presented a rap song about the coming

ring encounter.

Both of these fighters have good company in December. Nonito Donaire (24-1, 16 KOs) is moving back up to bantamweight to box it out with former bantamweight world champion Volod Sydorenko (22-2-2, 7 KOs) of the Ukraine.

“It’s been years since I fought in California, says Donaire, who lives in Northern California near the Bay Area. “I can’t remember the last time I fought here.

It’s also the first time Top Rank has staged a fight card in California since Antonio Margarito was suspended in 2009.

“We still feel that California treated him (Margarito) unfairly, said Bob Arum, president of Top Rank. “Now we’ve returned where there are so many Mexican boxing fans in California.

WBC lightweight titleholder Humberto “Zorrito Soto (53-7-2, 32 KOs) defends the title against Urbano Antillon (28-1, 20 KOs) who now makes Big Bear his home when in training.

“When I found out I couldn’t sleep I was so excited, said Antillon who especially likes fighting for the green WBC belt. “I’ve been waiting for this a long time.

Soto and Antillon hugged and chatted a bit. They’re both friendly guys outside the ring, but it should be a war while it lasts.

“Antillon is a good person and this fight is going to be sensational, Soto said.

More than a few are picking it to be a possible Fight of the Year candidate.

Waiting in the wing for the eventual winner will be Brandon Rios of Oxnard. His last knockout win has catapulted him to the top of Top Rank’s hot list, but fans in California have known about his talent for years.

“I’m just ready to get it on, said Rios (25-0-1, 18 KOs) who fights Noe Bolanos (21-5-1, 13 KOs) in a 10 round bout.

Arum said this will be the last major boxing card of 2010 “and one of the best boxing cards all year.

Tickets go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m.