Sport
Boxing

Gomez will not bend for Geller

Michael Gomez insists he is not 'spooked' by Peter McDonagh's use of Uri Geller ahead of their Irish lightweight title fight in Dublin on Saturday night.

Journeyman McDonagh has brought in spoon-bending Geller to get him ready for the clash with former WBU super-featherweight champion Gomez at the National Stadium.

But Gomez, who lost his WBU belt last February when he was stopped in six rounds by Javier Alvarez, said: "I'm not spooked by that."

"He can help strengthen his mind but not his body and after all I've been through in my life there's nobody more mentally strong than me."

Dublin-born Gomez will be having the first fight of his career on Irish soil and has moved up a division with his sights set on a showdown with Graham Earl.

Gomez is the main support to unbeaten Dublin super-bantamweight Bernard Dunne, who takes on former European champion Noel Wilders in a 10-round clash.

And he continued: "I am totally focused on McDonagh but when I beat him I want the Earl fight.

"I'm not making excuses but I believe I lost my WBU title at the scales.

"Alvarez didn't beat me, it was making the weight and that's why I have moved up to lightweight."

He added: "And I'm really looking forward to fighting in Dublin and I would love to keep fighting there because the show is sold out and I had trouble getting tickets myself.

"I know McDonagh will give me a good fight and I'm glad to see that he's taking it seriously, bringing in Uri Geller - but there's only so much he can do for him.

"I'm feeling very confident and strong and I expect to win and then we'll see if Earl is prepared to fight me."

The Dublin bill also features former IBO champion Brian Magee in a tune-up fight with Belorussian Daniil Prakapsou before his proposed March 31 clash with British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion Carl Froch.

 
 
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