There are several heavyweight contests on the McCall/Gomez card, only a few of which could affect the Heavyweight Top 100 Ratings. Starting with the headline event, fighter records are (overall record, rated record).
Main event:
#18 Oliver McCall (51-8-0, 27-7-0) vs. #35 Juan Carlos Gomez (42-1-0, 7-1-0): Had the decision in their October 2005 bout stood, Gomez would be in the top 25 while McCall would be just outside it. Instead, the result was changed to No Contest after Gomez tested positive for cocaine.
The two meet again tonight, and it's unclear how much has changed since then. 42-year-old McCall looks like he's in great shape, perhaps artificially, but extra muscle won't help him if he's outboxed like last time. Since that in-the-ring defeat, McCall has feasted on a steady diet of lesser boxers, culminating in a close but unanimous decision over Sinan Samil Sam that put him back on track. But the rematch with Gomez has always been looming.
Gomez, for his part, has been less active, in part from appealing the test result and concommitant ban. He's had just three fights since then, the only rated opponent being Dennis Bahktov whom he decisioned in June. The ex-cruiserweight weighed in at 228.
Ratings upshot: If Gomez can control the fight again and win, he'll move into the top 25, probably near the top 15; likewise, with a win McCall would move back into the top 15 for the first time since his win over Henry Akinwande in 2001 and subsequent inactive time due to arrest and yearlong imprisonment.
Undercard bouts of interest:
#52 Sinan Samil Sam (27-4-0; 12-4-0) vs. Ivica Perkovic (14-8-0; 0-0-0): Sam has lost to both of the topcard fighters, McCall in 2007 and Gomez in 2003. Ratings upshot: As Perkovic is unrated, it carries no benefit for Sam in the ratings system. An upset win by Perkovic would, however, launch him into the ratings system near the top 50, with a clean slate record of 1-0-0.
#46 Odlanier Solis Fonte (4-0-0, 3-0-0) vs. #462 Jeremy Bates (21-14-1, 3-12-0): Fonte has been fighting every few months and this should be no more than another tuneup for him. Ratings upshot: Almost no tangible ratings benefit for Fonte; Bates would be near top 100 with upset.
#57 Steffen Kretschmann (9-0-0, 1-0-0) vs. #359 Corey Sanders (23-11-0, 7-6-0): Kretschmann, who made the ratings with his 1st round KO of Edgar Kalnars, takes on the huge but ineffective Sanders. Ratings upshot: Little if any benefit for Krets; upset would move Sanders close to top 100.
#312 Goran Gogic (17-3-2, 2-3-1) vs. #320 Ozcan Cetinkaya (10-3-0, 1-3-0): Gogic is coming off a win over Cisse Salif, while Cetinkaya hasn't beaten a rated opponent since 2003. Ratings upshot: The winner might make the top 300.
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