Keep Your Eye on Frankie Gomez!

Team “Pitbull” ready for September 18th

As an amateur star hailing from Los Angeles, Frankie Gomez has traveled the world while collecting many first-place trophies, championship belts and gold medals as he competed in the highly competitive and elite amateur ranks around the globe.

After signing with Golden Boy Promotions this past February, the 18-year-old has handled the transition from amateur to pros…well, just like a pro! The 18-year-old lays claim to a perfect 5-0 record–with five knockouts to match–since his April debut in Las Vegas. Look for the tenacious slugger (nicknamed “Pitbull”) to square off against Cesar Holguin next Saturday, September 18 on the undercard of the Shane Mosley-Sergio Mora “200: Celebrate and Dominate” HBO PPV fight taking place at the Staples Center in downtown L.A.

At this week’s media workout in Montebello featuring “The Latin Snake” Mora, Frankie and fellow undercard fighters Daniel Ponce de Leon and Kaliesha West, I had a chance to catch up with Team Gomez as they count down the days ’til Frankie’s next battle. I’ve known his trainer, Ronnie Rivota, for a few years now and I’ve watched Gomez’s quick ascension as the talented teen punches and pounds his way toward a rapid succession of victories.

After spending some time with the team, I’m relieved to report that all the fame and fortune that comes with being touted as “The Next Superstar” in the sweet science has not changed the young man’s humble personality. In fact, his camp makes sure things stay loose, casual, friendly and fun while their junior welterweight trains and continues to make a name for himself. But make no mistake about it–when the gloves are on, Team Pitbull is all business.

Watching head trainer and co-manager Rivota and his prized pupil do some mitt work in the ring, I chat with team members Hector Ibarra, Tony Gomez and George Ibarra. Their eyes are all on the pugilistic protégé inside the ropes. With heavy hands, speedy reflexes and natural instincts, Frankie goes to work with some fierce attacks that Coach Rivota is forced to absorb. “Beautiful body work,” we all comment in unison as the young warrior continues his assault.

After showcasing his skills on the heavy bag and speed bag, the cameras catch the 2009 U.S. National Champion’s every move. And while his team says the kid doesn’t really court the limelight like others would naturally gravitate toward, the reserved teenager is getting used to the growing requests for autographs and interviews. And the SoCal resident is already a crowd fave at Golden Boy’s “Fight Night Club” cards held at Club Nokia.

“Yeah, I’m getting used to it,” the junior welterweight, who trains out of the Solid Rock Gym, tells me while fans request his signature on boxing gloves after his workout is complete.

And what about the seemingly seamless transition from an amateur to pro? “What do you like best about being a professional fighter?” I ask the rising star, who had almost 130 bouts as an amateur standout.

“No headgear…the money…no shirt…and smaller gloves!” admits Gomez. “I think I like pros better!”

And speaking of those paychecks that come along with the ride, the next question is, “Did you buy anything special with your very first check as a pro?”

“I gave my mom some money,” the teenager answers, just a bit shyly.

“Do you have a big family?” After hearing Frankie’s reply, I confirm, “Four brothers and sisters?”

He laughs. “Four brothers AND four sisters!” he counts of his eight siblings.

And finally, what does the former Junior Olympic Champion think about his own upcoming bout and also of the main event between Mosley and Mora?

“It’s gonna be a great fight; I am ready.” His team says they remember his opponent Cesar Holguin (9-3) from the Colorado amateurs are certainly not underestimating the opposition. The hometown hero will be fighting in his own backyard and he appreciates all of his friends and fans showing up, “I have a lot of support from East L.A.!” He remains close to his neighborhood; his trainer said they will be in the Mexican Independence Day Parade in East L.A. being held this weekend.

And of the “Sugar” Shane and “Latin Snake” showdown? “It’s gonna be a good fight…but I’m gonna have to say Mora!” Frankie explains. “He’s known me since I was ten; and I’ve trained with him.”

The 5′ 8″ dynamo is proud of his heritage and his team told me earlier that while Frankie’s favorite fighters are Oscar De La Hoya, Mike Tyson and Fernando Vargas, there is one boxer he and his camp would love to fight someday–the Pacman. Although everyone and their grandmas would also love to fight this guy named Manny Pacquiao!

But for this high-profile prospect, it has a little something to do with his Latino pride. “Yeah! If I could, I would…You could say that,” he says of someday taking on the Filipino sensation. “And the reason I would want to fight him is because he beat all the Mexican fighters!”

The Mexican-American teen has been fighting for more than half his life now. His trainer Rivota says he’s known the boy since he was just five years old. “What’s the best thing about working with Ronnie?” I ask the unbeaten boxer. Frankie looks at his coach and says, “Ummm…I don’t know; ask him!” as the laughter echoes from Team Gomez.

Along with the genial Rivota, co-trainer and co-manager Hector Ibarra, Tony Gomez, and George Ibarra round out “Pitbull’s” corner. The guys joke around a lot and remain in a jovial mood during breaks in the action. Ronnie is proud, but not surprised, of the way Frankie has calmly handled the increasing glare of the boxing spotlight, with the media eager for a new megastar in the ring just like the promising Gomez.

“He wants to just be ‘Frankie,;” his trainer says of Gomez remaining humble in regards to the worldwide interest heaped upon the new Golden Boy signee. “I’ve always told him to not pay attention to all the lights and cameras.”

Rivota adds with a chuckle about performing on a larger platform, “It’s like an alley fight in E.L.A.; whether he’s fighting in front of one person or 10,000 we still have to win!”

The coach adds, “I like to say, ‘The difference between Ronnie Rivota and everyone else is winning!'” as the loyal Crimson Tide football fan further paraphrases quotes from Bear Bryant, the longtime head coach of University of Alabama. He agrees that Frankie’s made the adjustment from amateurs to pros with relative ease, but the trainer also knows how tough his young fighter really is. And the two are so close that Rivota and his wife Michele even named their newborn after the 18-year-old. Jocelyn Frankie Rivota, born on August 29, is Gomez’s tiny namesake. Ronnie was taking the boxer to meet the baby girl after their Wednesday workout.

“There were some complications with the pregnancy,” Ronnie confides. “so we wanted to name the baby after a fighter!” And who better than their own Frankie Gomez? “Well, I guess you really couldn’t call her ‘Pitbull,’ could you?” I tease.

“You know what? I actually wanted Frankie’s nickname to be ‘Frankenstein’ Gomez, the Monster from East L.A.’!” Rivota says with a big grin. “Then in the boxing world, I could be called ‘Dr. Frankenstein–the creator of monsters!'”

He’s got that right; Gomez has been a monster in the ring with his string of devastating knockouts. And through the media workout, Frankie kept a somewhat serious and stoic demeanor. “Yeah, it’s close to fight time,” says his coach. “Two weeks before the fight he really gets his game face on!”

“So when does he smile?” I comment as Frankie suddenly obliges us with a small grin.

“When he gets to eat!” cracks his team.

It’s been a busy few months for the team, with Frankie fighting almost once a month. “We like that; we want to keep him busy!” says Hector Ibarra. He, his brother George and Tony Gomez are all an integral part of the team. The enthusiastic co-manager speaks of the recent upgrade to pro fights. “The transition hasn’t been difficult,” he says candidly about what’s transpired since the bidding war between top promoters over then-amateur Gomez began, with the team going with Golden Boy. “There have been high expectations and it’s really been a learning experience in the business aspect,” Ibarra observes.

And coincidently, the fighter and his promoter Oscar De La Hoya both share a February 4 birthday as well as their loyalty to the City of East L.A. “It’s safe to say Oscar De La Hoya knows his stuff,” co-trainer Ibarra from the LAPD PAL program states. “And Mr. De La Hoya was impressed with his speed and power after seeing him spar; Frankie is a solid kid!”

Going from child fighter to adult pro can sometimes be a rocky road. But Hector says Gomez has been ready for this for a while. “Frankie possesses exceptional talent for his age,” he points out. “In Italy, he beat the Russian champ there when he was just 17 years old! And this was with the point style-based system of the amateurs. He’s got speed, he’s got accuracy and he’s now able to sit on his punches.”

Any predictions for the September 18th fight? “A victory, a knockout!” says Hector. “He’s bigger and better. Frankie will never be described as ‘frail’! He’s solid muscle; he delivers his punches with leverage. When my brother’s in the ring with him with the donut (padded gear) on, he bruises him up!”

I turn to Hector’s burly brother George (a former Cantwell football star who weighs over 200 pounds) who nods in agreement of Gomez’s brute force and power on the canvas.

While he’s weighing in at 140 these days, I remind Rivota of those early days during Gomez’s youth boxing career. “Hey, we have that calendar and the photos you gave us when Frankie was first getting noticed as the ‘Pitbull’!” I suddenly recall. Some of the pictures are of a really young Frankie, who was a 119-pound amateur champion at the time, with a row of belts and gleaming trophies already lined up behind him. “Oh, do you still have the calendar? That was the very first item we made,” Rivota says with a hearty laugh. However, with that amateur book now closed forever, the Gomez camp keeps their eye and focus on continuing to build a successful professional career.

As they continue to train, Frankie and Team Gomez will shoot for their sixth pro victory next weekend during Mexico’s Bicentennial Independence Day weekend.

On September 18th, look for the fightin’ pride of East L.A. to continue to shine as he takes a swing at superstardom.

Ticket info: www.ticketmaster.com

Photos by Michele Chong