Khan slams no-show Gomez as a 'scared idiot' with no respect

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Amir Khan branded Michael Gomez an "idiot" and accused him of running scared
after the Manchester fighter failed to show up for a press conference ahead of
Saturday's Commonwealth title fight in Birmingham.

Khan said he had hoped to share the platform with Gomez, who has a history of
confrontational behaviour in head-to-head press conferences and had claimed he
intended to get under the Bolton man's skin.

Khan said: "He's scared. I was looking forward to seeing him and he's not
turned up but his stupid games don't bother me.

Old big head: Amir Khan with a picture of Michael Gomez

"You know what an idiot Michael Gomez can be. I'll let my fists do the talking
on Saturday night."

Promoter Frank Warren, who announced a 10,000 sell-out at the National Indoor
Arena for the return of big-time boxing to the city, accused Gomez of showing a
lack of respect.

Warren said: "It's very disappointing. We had a message saying he was coming
and then he changed his mind.

"It's not about selling tickets. It's about showing respect to the media and
your opponent."

Khan insists he is in the shape of his life for his clash with the former
British super-featherweight champion, whose patchy form in recent years has not
convinced his new team to take the fight lightly.

Khan's new trainer Dean Powell said Gomez's stunning 2003 knockout win over
previously unbeaten Alex Arthur proved the Manchester man has what it takes to
triumph against the odds.

Powell said: "Gomez is going to bring a special kind of intensity to the
fight. We all know how Michael Gomez likes to fight and we are fully prepared
for what he's going to bring.

"Amir certainly doesn't need to get involved in World War Three with Gomez.
But Gomez is going to have a big shock if he thinks he can shove Amir around the
way he shoved Alex Arthur around."