Fighting May 1, the boxer AND musician is ready to rock!
Alfonso S. Gomez is used to sweat-soaked adrenaline, fists pumping, and constant action in front of a large audience. Whether it’s in the boxing ring or on a concert stage, the welterweight is comfortable in both 
venues. And that’s a good thing since he’s got two big dates coming up! This Sunday, he’ll be playing with Hy3rid in the Guitar Center’s 2009 final round of “Battle of the Bands” and on May 1, Gomez will step onto the canvas once again for his first fight in over a year.
The Southern California resident took a break from boxing after his April 2008 fight against Miguel Cotto. He broke his hand before that bout, but now is back to prove himself in the ring. Next month, Gomez will face “The Butcher,” also known as Juan Manuel Buendia (14-2-1). Both 28 years old, the two foes will be squaring off in ten rounds at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Claiming victories over Arturo Gatti, Ben Tackie, Peter Manfredo Jr., Jesse Feliciano and others, Gomez (18-4-2) was an L.A. fan favorite before his recent layoff. And what about that dreaded “ring rust”? Nope. He’s confident that he’s stayed in shape during the short hiatus and is now training hard in La Habra with his father and trainer, Alfonso Gomez Sr.
A “Contender” no more, his upcoming matchup will be a fresh start for the Guadalajara-born boxer. Gomez is grateful for the opportunities the reality-TV show afforded him, but he is also looking forward to the next chapter in his career. In February, he asked to be released from his “Tournament of Contenders” contract; this May bout will be a test on many levels for him.
And he’s been pulling double duty with gym workouts and band practice. The talented young man is a member of Hy3rid (pronounced hybrid), described as “a fusion of rock en Español and hip hop.”
During a break from the group’s rehearsals, I spoke with the busy boxer about his two passions–boxing and music. In this one-on-one chat with the personable Gomez, he addresses his comeback, his love of songwriting, and which promoter he’s hoping to impress!
Question: Hey, Alfonso. So what do you know about your May 1st opponent, Juan Manuel Buendia?
Answer: I’ve seen tapes; he’s fast. He throws about 120 punches each round, he’s in good shape. He’s fought two guys I fought (Luciano Perez and Jose Antonio Ojeda). We’re both Mexican fighters, we’re both the same age. And he’s had a year layoff, the same thing as me. It’s a strong, exciting matchup!
Q: What are you hoping to accomplish in your fight?
A: I want to prove myself again. Outside of the Tournament of Contenders, I have no promoter. So I will show Top Rank what I have. It’s a brand new Gomez (he laughs).
Q: Is Top Rank and Bob Arum your first choice?
A: Not to say I wouldn’t take other offers…but Top Rank is a brand who knows how to promote, especially Latino boxers. They’re the best option. I’d love to be part of them. I want to go with the best and he’s the best promoter.
Q: If you get past Buendia, what are your future plans?
A: Our contract weight is 147. But my goal is to fight at 140. It’s a challenge, but I plan to get to 140 in the future.
Q: As a boxer and a musician, anything similar when facing competition with other bands?
A: I’m a person who’s more than just a boxer. Hy3rid is just like me–we’re kind of the underdogs! The band that went on before us (in previous semi-finals) had already won all the challenges. It raised the competition. We only had four songs; I’m so glad we won. We’re the underdog that prevails!
Q: You’re play keyboards and you’re a rapper…
A: I don’t like that word “rapper.” I’m a lyricist or call me a “linguistical artist” (laughs).
Q: Tell me about some of your favorite songs you’ve written.
A: I wrote “Pistola en Mano.” It’s about this guy, it’s about poverty and escaping. I also wrote a new song, “Ya Me Canse,” which means “I’m tired.” It’s about being tired of a relationship. I love writing. Words pop up in my head. Good punchlines just come to me and they make people laugh. It’s crazy, words have so many different dimensions. There’s rhyming, thinking of original things, comparisons, similarities. The word play–it challenges you. It’s never-ending!
Q: What makes Hy3rid’s music stand out from other bands?
A: It’s a good genre. We’re different–we’re not copycats. And this year we’re gonna continue performing a lot.
Q: Are you going to put the band’s name on your boxing trunks again?
A: I’m gonna try and put that on my trunks. My brothers promote the band through MySpace, through fliers and going around town. But because of my training, I don’t have time to do that so I can promote in this way.
Q: What’s it like working with your brothers? (Younger siblings Robb and Zeuz are also his bandmates).
A: It’s good. We pretty much started this together in 2000–nine years ago–when we lived in Tustin. We’d take all of our clothes out of the closet and we’d record in there!
Q: That’s pretty funny. You’ve come a long way! Did you really record in a closet?
A: Yes! We put a mike in there, ran the cable under the door and hooked it up. Then Zeuz would take it and produce it! It was a learning process until we reached the next level. After the “Contender,” I got some money and I invested it in professional mikes and booths. Then slowly but surely we got a bass player, a guitarist, a pianist. It just kept growing.
Q: So what’s your game plan for Sunday’s concert?
A: It’s like a first fight, and I’m gonna try to do even better. How much can we improve? We’ll see on Sunday! We have a brand new piano player. (Alfonso and his brother Robb usually play keyboards and sing). It’s better, it gives us another chance to face the crowd.
Q: And finally, what would you like to say to your fans?
A: Thanks for always asking about me. The fans keep supporting me in boxing. It’s a beautiful sport like no other. In basketball it’s a done deal if you’re injured, you’re replaced. In boxing, it’s just two guys.
Q: Thanks, Alfonso, great talking with you. I’ll see you Sunday!
A: Thank you!
After our interview, Alfonso heads back into rehearsals with Hy3rid, making a seamless transition going from boxer to musician. When he’s performing, call him by his stage name of “Diablo” as he rocks his tight rhymes. The band, including his two brothers Robb and Zeuz, also features guitarist Piere, bassist Gus, drummer Ponja, and new keyboardist Daniel.
Wrapping up with Alfonso, I chat a bit with Gomez’ brother, Robb, who has spent countless hours in both training camp and the recording studio with his brother. “I was an amateur boxer so I’ve been sparring with him.” How’s that going? “I have to put pressure on him and that exposes myself more.” He then admits with a laugh, “Yeah, my neck’s a little sore from all the sparring.”
Switching to the subject of music, I ask Robb about the band’s last two concerts which propelled them to the grand finale, “I think we rocked it! Everyone’s been totally supportive. When we sang “Musica en tu Piel” all the girls went crazy, pushing to get up front until the security guard stopped them. So then they made a mosh pit; the reaction was great! It proves our fans are there. Our music is what’s hitting right now.”
Signed by Little Men Big Heart Recordz, the band has received a ton of accolades from the L.A. music scene and has been sponsored by many supporters, including Suciaz Entertainment and Maniaco Gear. On Sunday night, Hy3rid will perform six songs and will go toe-to-toe against tough competition–some of the best bands will be vying for the title. Robb is enthusiastic about this weekend, “We have a new keyboardist, Daniel, who was in a Mariachi band for 15 years. He took a break and was searching for something different. He is so excited about our concert.”
A longtime fan of their sound, Jose Gramajo tells me, “Sunday is only the beginning for them–they’re gonna win. They have a beat that no other band has. They’re bad–they’re the best!”
Before signing off with Team Gomez, Robb adds one more shout-out, “This is what Alfonso always says: Keep supporting Hy3rid, keep supporting Team Gomez, and ¡Viva Mexico!
For information regarding Sunday’s concert tickets: www.hy3rid.com
Photos courtesy of Robb Gomez and www.myspace.com/alfonsosgomez: Training at the gym; Playing with the band