Gomez, the 32-year-old cruiserweight with a 17-7-1 record in the pro ranks after more than 300 bouts as an amateur, will return to action after a lengthy layoff on Saturday night in Ogden against 31-year-old Colorado heavyweight Jose Beltran (4-7).

The fight is part of a six-bout card at the Eccles Conference Center, 2415 Washington Blvd., which also includes Ogden's Billy Zumbrun, Justo Sanchez and Stanley Robinson and Salt Lake City's Chris Fernandez and J.C. Villastrego.

The night of boxing billed as "Lions vs. Tigers I" will be presented by Bob Oleson's C.A.M. Boxing Inc., but Gomez will have a stake in it, too. He's hoping the event is successful enough to produce several return engagements. That will mean he can fight in Utah rather than in Idaho's casinos, where he believes he never gets a fair shake.

"I've been cheated a lot when I've fought out of town," he said. "We're trying to build boxing in Utah back up so the Utah guys can get some advantages, too."

That's why Gomez has personally sold more than 200 tickets and is doing what he can to promote the event, even while training two or three times a day to ensure he's ready for Beltran, who is just barely a heavyweight at about 205 pounds. Gomez is just under the 200-pound limit for cruiserweights, weighing in at around 198.

"We couldn't get another cruiserweight, so we went with him," said Gomez, who hopes to fight nine to 10 times this year. "I need to get some work, to get some rust out of me, and to start the year off right."

Gomez last fought Oct. 7 at Coeur d'Alene Casino in Idaho and battled to a 10-round draw with New York's Derrick Brown for the Pacific Northwest Cruiserweight title.

"I clearly won the fight," said Gomez, who was 5-2-1 last year. "I've been to Idaho four times, and three times they've cheated me."

The fighter recently moved to a home in West Jordan, but still trains 15 to 20 youngsters weekly in the City Center Boxing Club at the Sorensen Multicultural Center in Glendale. Gomez and some others involved in boxing are working toward opening a gym in the old part of Midvale, but have faced some setbacks.

His truck was broken into recently, and the thieves made off with more than 10 pairs of youth boxing gloves and other boxing equipment.

To donate cash, boxing gloves or other equipment that will benefit underprivileged youth in the area, call Gomez at (801) 577-3091.

drew@sltrib.com

Boxing night in Ogden

When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Eccles Conference Center, 2415 Washington Blvd., Ogden

What: Six professional boxing bouts

Who: Utah boxers Gary Gomez, Chris Fernandez, Stanley Robinson and Billy Zumbrun are among those on the card

Admission: $20 general admission, $30 ringside