REECE Bellotti is still the British and Commonwealth super-featherweight champion after finishing off Michael Gomez Jr in 10 rounds.
Officially announced as one second into the 10th, Gomez Jr’s head trainer, Michael Jennings, himself a quality former fighter, decided his man had taken enough punishment. The loser hit the deck twice and was beaten to almost every punch.
Gomez Jr started off quickly, stalking the champion, who took full advantage of the lengthy torso on offer. Bellotti’s whipping shots were landing harder with greater accuracy.
Bellotti continued his role as the boss man into round three, shooting shots upstairs and down. Gomez Jr’s jab came out of hiding, but it was often slow to return to its user.
Bellotti hurt his man in the fourth round, forcing Gomez Jr to retreat to the ropes and take a breather. Things went from bad to worse for Gomez Jr, who took a knee at the close of the fifth from a cracking body shot that left him down for a count and struggling badly between rounds.
The drama continued in the sixth as Bellotti suffered a cut to the right eye from a head clash, mostly orchestrated by his own lunges. Complaining about low blows to referee Mark Lyson, the Manchester man beat his chest in defiance, displaying the same kind of spirit his father showed many times.
Gomez Jr was down again in the eighth, sagging against the ropes as Bellotti raked away at the body. Gomez Jr gave it a go in the ninth, but his evening was about to come to a close. Trainer Michael Jennings called over the referee to end it.
Reece Bellotti will look north at European title opportunities as he elevates to 20-5 (15 KOs). Michael Gomez Jr’s level is somewhat below that. He slips to 21-2 (6 KOs).
