Former WBC cruiserweight champion and current WBC #2 heavyweight contender Juan Carlos Gomez (43-1, 35 KOs)just moments ago sat down with Fightnews.com. Gomez, who had been reported as "missing" in Germany spoke about his current location, the mandated WBC heavyweight title eliminator with Vladimir Virchis, and the surprise announcement of his new trainer.

Where have you been? Are you okay?

First of all I want everyone to know that I'm okay and that I'm here in Los Angeles, CA. I also want to wish everyone a Happy New Year. Feliz Año Nuevo! I left Germany to come here because I terminated my promotional agreement with Arena Box-Promotion.

So what's your next move?

Before we move on to that I want to ask Arena Box CEO Ahmet Ohner a question? Why are you looking for me now? I warned you several times to honor our written and signed agreement. You violated our signed contract more times than I can count. I can't afford to waste anymore time at this stage of my career with Arena Box-Promotion. I'm going to leave it at that because myself and my manager Jesse Rodriguez don't want to go into any more detail because of possible legal disputes on the whole issue. As far as me being lost. I'm not lost. (smiling) I'm on the heels of realizing my life long dream of becoming heavyweight champion of the world.

Are you still going to fight Vladimir Virchis?

My manager Jesse Rodriguez and I are carefully weighing our options on that fight. There has to be some guarantees for me to take that fight. Everyone in boxing knows what happened in my last Universum promoted event (Gomez tested positive for an illegal substance after his 2005 WBC title eliminator with Oliver McCall). The first being that a WBC representative must be present for the pre and post drug screening which didn't happen the first time around. I also want the WBC only to appoint the referee and the judges for the fight.

Don't you feel you're taking a big risk if you don't take this fight?

Honestly I don't. Samuel Peter and Oleg Maskaev are scheduled to fight March 8th. The winner is scheduled to fight Vitali Klitschko who knows when. Maybe at the end of this year. I would have to stay active anyway. I would hope that WBC President Jose Sulaiman will not drop me from my number two ranking as long as I stay active which I will for sure. Please keep in mind that I'm not saying that I'm not taking the fight. I just want those things I mentioned above to happen in order for me to take the fight. I think it's only fair.

I also understand that you hired on a new trainer. Is this familiar face sitting next to you him?

That's right. Freddie Roach is my new trainer. I know he is the missing piece for me on my road to winning the heavyweight championship of the world. I've given him my word that I will give him my 100% effort at all times. Everything is now in order and it will be just a matter of time before I'm champion.

So how did this all come about Freddie?

(Freddie Roach) Basically his manager contacted me by phone and set up the meeting and we took it from there. What impresses me most about Gomez is his skill level, which is very important because the heavyweight division is wide open. As long as he is disciplined he can become heavyweight champion of the world without a doubt.

Anything you want to say in closing Juan?

I just want the public to know that Juan Carlos Gomez is a hungry and a determined fighter. I won't stop until I'm crowned heavyweight champion of the world.