Proving a verbal contract
I loaned a friend 11000 dollars two years ago. He made some payments at first, then it got to where I would recieve a payment every few months. Now he doesnt pay me at all. When I called him and told him I wanted payment and said I was thinking of taking legal action if he didnt pay, he told me go ahead and that he would say it was a gift. All payments were cash and I have no record accept for the check I wrote for 11000 dollars two years ago. He still owes me 9000 so small claims is out of the question. Do I have any chance of winning the case if he says it was a gift?