The 40-year-old, who held the WBC championship from 1998 to 2002, campaigned at heavyweight upon relinquishing his green belt, culminating in a failed world title challenge against Vitali Klitschko in 2009.
Since then, Gomez has beaten every fighter he has faced in both divisions and goes into this weekend’s clash against unbeaten Goran Delic at the Ahmat Arena in good shape as the Cuban plots another reign as king at his preferred weight.
“I feel great at the moment. I am in excellent shape, and the whole world will see that tomorrow night,” Gomez told World Boxing News on the eve of his contest.
“Delic is undefeated, but it is the same as with every fighter who steps into the ring, and you have to respect them – but you cannot be scared of them.
“To me, his unbeaten record just this adds to the thrill. Beating a previously unbeaten guy and turning a “0” into a “1” makes me feel good. I love it!”
‘The Black Panther’ has his sights set on sharing the ring with the likes of Marco Huck and Krzysztof Wlodarczyk if he can keep up this momentum he has gathered, with Gomez unfazed by the prospect of colliding with any of the current world champions.
“I think I am good to go against any of them,” said Gomez. “Whenever a world champion wants to step up and fight me instead of taxi drivers or tomato cans – here I am!
“The Black Panther is back. It’s Showtime, and any one of them can get it. My biggest dream is to regain my WBC world championship. I never lost that belt in the ring, so I feel I should still be considered world champion.
“If I have to beat Wlodarczyk to take back what’s mine, that is what I will do. But I would take on the other guys, too. A fight against Marco Huck would surely be huge in Germany. And I’m ready for that. Whoever it is – all that matters to me is to become world champion again.
On how Sunday’s bout with Delic will end, Gomez added: “We’ll see. I’m prepared to go all the way and fight for ten hard rounds. But if it ends early then, that is what it is.
“You cannot force a KO – it comes when it’s supposed to come.”
