Gomez Jnr vs Baker Predictions: Manchester’s Michael follows in father’s footsteps

Michael Gomez Jnr returns to the building his father helped make famous on Saturday April 13 as he takes on Kane Baker. The Manchester AO Arena plays host to this English super featherweight title clash, with DAZN screening the bout. Here are my Gomez Jnr vs Baker predictions ahead of this domestic dust-up.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown. But often the true heft of those jewels are only felt when they are passed from father to son. Boxing is littered with boxing progeny left aching under the weight of a parent’s achievement. 

Would Conor Benn ever have Icarus’ed himself at the altar of an ill-advised move to middleweight were it not for father Nigel’s ageless struggle with Chris Eubank? Would Marvis Frazier have been allowed to stumble into the Mike Tyson whirlwind had the ‘Iron’ one not held title belts that ‘Smokin’ Joe once wore so elegantly? Now it is the turn of Michael Gomez Jnr, whose father’s name once reverberated around the cavernous Manchester Arena in which his son now fights.

Gomez Snr was a beloved warrior in these parts. The Irish-born puncher earned the nickname ‘The Mancunian Mexican’, with his exciting style essentially seeing him adopted by two new homelands. The Arena in which his son now wages war hosted eight of the elder Gomez’s fights. Paving the way for Ricky Hatton to become the darling of the building, he was the hero Manchester needed. No pressure then, Junior.

Far from a soft touch for the big name, Gomez is in a proper fight here. Baker has been in with quality men like Conor Benn, Aqib Fiaz, Sam Maxwell and Gary Cully. Most recently, he has hit the headlines for a pair of proper tear-ups with Jordan Flynn. The first saw him drop a narrow points decision while the second brought about a draw on the referee’s scorecard. 

This bout matches two boxers who find the very concept of taking a backward step grossly insulting. This will be trench warfare from start to finish featuring two fighters keen to impress on a big stage. But for all their forward momentum, neither boxer is noted for their power. Gomez has stopped just five of his 20 victims while Baker has finished one from 19. 

This should make a pick straightforward. Surely one would lean towards the favourite, in this case Gomez, on points? After all, he has only stopped a quarter of his foes. Baker is an exciting fighter and at 18/5 he could be worth a flutter to spring the upset. But either way, you’d surely not be looking for a stoppage from two men who have only managed six such wins from their 39 victories?

However, that is exactly where I’m going here. Statistics only tell part of the story and there is a reason that “styles make fights'' is as cliche as a Rocky-theme ring walk. These two men fight in such a way that a stoppage becomes far more likely than if they were facing others. Each man will leave themselves open. They will both take punches in order to land their own shots. This sort of fight invites a stoppage in a way most of their professional contests have not.

I believe Gomez will take that stoppage. Baker is game but has been outgunned before. A 19-10-2 record speaks to a man who doesn’t back down but who is familiar with bitter defeat. I think Gomez will become the 11th opponent to beat Baker and the fourth to stop him inside the distance. If you agree, a rather meaty 4/1 is on offer for a Gomez win inside the distance. This one is going to be a tear-up and I don’t think we’ll hear the final bell, contrary to the reputations of these men.

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