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Vitali Klitschko (#4 SportsRatings) takes on Juan Carlos Gomez (#7) in less than an hour (6pm Eastern time). SportsRatings will liveblog the fight and score each round.
Klitschko (36-2), in only his second fight in four years, would gain points for a victory but still might be shy of #3 Nicolay Valuev's rating. The two would be in a virtual dead heat if Klitschko won. Of course, most experts consider Klitscho far superior to Valuev, but his long period of inactivity eroded his score. Klitschko holds the WBC belt while his brother, #1 SportsRatings heavyweight Wladimir, holds the IBF and WBO titles.
Gomez (45-1), a former cruiserweight champ, gives up size but brings some skills into the ring. The speed differential between the two won't be great, and Gomez has shown toughness as well. Gomez is 2 years younger and has a small reach advantage. But the Cuban is 4 inches shorter and upwards of 20 lbs. lighter than the Ukrainian. Gomez will have his work cut out for him.
Should Gomez prevail he would move up to #4 and Klitschko fall to around ninth. A loss would drop Gomez out of the top ten but he would remain in the top 25.
Klitschko is coming off an easy October win over #8 Samuel Peter (Peter's second loss), while a month before than Gomez won a clash between top ten fighters with Vladimir Virchis, handing him his second defeat.
Oddsmakers have made Klitschko a decided favorite in the bout, which is being held in Stuttgart, Germany.
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