- Photo by Marlene Marquez
“Contender” Star Also Blasts JCC Jr. in New Q&A!
Alfonso Gomez (22-4-2, 11 KOs) is back and will be facing Calvin Green (21-5-1, 13 KOs) THIS Saturday night at the live boxing event at Morongo Casino, Resort and Spa in Cabazon, California. This desert showdown is promoted by Top Rank and II Feathers Promotions, airing on Fox Sports. Gomez vs. Green will be the main event with the featured co-main of Michael “Lil Warrior” Franco vs. Rafael “The Dominican Man” Lora in a stacked undercard.
After his March 2010 victory over former champ Jose Luis Castillo, the “Contender” favorite is back in the ring.
Well, then again he never really left.
Gomez is one of the busiest boxers you will ever meet. Not just for the countless hours he puts in at the gym but also for the time he spends as a thriving songwriter, rapper, Hy3rid bandmate, website guru, family man and businessman. Always clever, always humorous, Gomez is also one of the most charismatic personalities out there. Fans flock to the Mexican warrior and he remains the most popular fighter from the “Contender” cast, a true “People’s Champ.”
And as a prizefighter and WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Champion, Alfonso seems to always stay fit and ready, never swaying from the discipline he’s accustomed to in the sweet science. You won’t find bloated photos of this guy online; his work ethic stems from his hardscrabble childhood in Guadalajara as he has stayed true to his roots.
Now it’s time to step under the bright lights on the canvas once again as he squares off against Texas fighter Calvin Green, who fought Gomez’s “Contender” co-star Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora. Green’s last four bouts were fought in the 153-161 range so a catchweight of 150 could occur in Saturday’s matchup. This welterweight battle is scheduled for ten rounds and Gomez, for one, is extremely happy to be back in the ring.
You may remember the much-touted bout that was to occur between Alfonso and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on the “In Harm’s Way” card last December at the Honda Center in Anaheim. While Gomez was training for the fight, the Top Rank fighter was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his left elbow. Hard-hitting Pawel Wolak was pegged as the replacement fighter stepping in for Alfonso, but then Chavez Jr. came down with the flu.
Alfonso voices his opinions in the Chavez drama that unfolded–and puts the famed son of a living legend on blast, even going so far as to suggest that Junior is not a “real” Mexican with cojones. You won’t want to miss out on hearing what the tough-talking Gomez has to say in our no-holds barred interview!
But it’s not just talk for the Southern California fighter. While he’s not known as a “one-punch” knockout artist, the hardworking Gomez is a smart boxer who knows how to win. As a young, ambitious amateur he climbed up the ranks and as a professional prizefighter has laced up against several tough hombres including Miguel Cotto, Arturo Gatti, Jose Luis Castillo Jesus Soto Karass, Ishe Smith, Peter Manfredo Jr., among others. Gomez has got the “cojones” that he says Chavez Jr. lacks; he’s been in a few scraps and many a bloody war.
Now he’ll let his fists do the talking this weekend at the sprawling Morongo Casino located near Palm Springs.
Listen in as the likable Gomez sounds off on tons of topics, including his true–and unedited–thoughts about the big JCC Jr. bout that never happened, his “Bailando Shuffle” craze he started with the boxers, and why he’s gonna be “WINNING” like Charlie Sheen!
Michele Chong: Hi Alfonso! You’ll be fighting Calvin Green on May 21. This is your first bout since your victory over Jose Luis Castillo. Tell me your thoughts about getting back in the ring…
Alfonso Gomez: I’m extremely excited to be back in the ring. My body and mind are so eager to get down and prove to myself that I still got the tools and motivation to follow the quest to be a world champ.
MC: Your scheduled fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. didn’t happen. How is your elbow now?
AG: That fight was more of a publicity stunt to get Junior credibility that he was going to fight someone who was going to beat him. At the end of the day he pulled out because of the FLU!!!… And I had to pull out because I actually had a legitimate reason with a tear in a ligament on my left elbow. My elbow is excellent now by the way. And thats why I’m so happy for next week since I’ve had my good rest–and no injuries whatsoever.
MC: Glad to hear you’re back 101%. Alfonso, do you think the Chavez Jr. fight will ever be rescheduled?
AG: NO! Besides him being overprotected and just being a “money cow,” he’s campaigning at middleweight and I plan to make notice at welterweight. Let him continue fooling people at that weight! As for me, I’m gonna continue proving that I’m a REAL Mexican with cojones at welterweight.
MC: (Laughs) Okay, we’ll change the subject. So your father Alfonso Gomez Sr. is still training you?
AG: Yes, I’m training in Maywood and at the Azteca Boxing Club. I go three days to one and three days to the other one. My dad is my main trainer, but I’m also working with Mario Morales who is awesome too!
MC: In regards to your upcoming clash at Morongo, tell me what you know about Calvin Green (who fought your “Contender” co-star Sergio Mora last) in this 10-round bout.
AG: Yes, he did fight Mora last year and looked good against him until the fight was stopped. I can’t comment on him, but if I put myself in Calvin’s shoes and he sees this as an 
opportunity to get his name out there and potential bigger fights and bigger paydays. So as for me, I’m training hard because I feel Calvin will come out with everything trying to capture this opportunity. I WONT’ LET IT HAPPEN! It’s a 10-round fight–and my first main event in a loooong while.
MC: Alfonso, during your career and your 22 victories, which win stands out the most for you–and why?
AG: I’ve had the privilege to be in some amazing fights and cards with such little experience. I was “fed to the lions” soon, but I ended up feeding from them. (Laughs) Obviously fighting Manfredo in front of millions of people on television is a big highlight of my career. And after that show, retiring Arturo Gatti and Jose Luis Castillo was a huge night and accomplishment for me. Also, capturing my first WBC Continental belt against a young, solid, hungry, strong, fighter like Soto-Karass was great because I did the impossible by leaving a lot of people with their mouths wide open in awe–and I shut them at the same time. Now how is that possible? (Laughs)
MC: (Laughs) Now what did you think about the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley fight?
AG: Manny is always fun to watch and exciting, but “Shame” Mosley made the fight BOOOORRING!!! (He stretches out the word for added emphasis.)
MC: Any predictions for your own fight on May 21?
AG: I’ll just quote Charlie Sheen: “Wiiinnnniinggg!!!”
MC: Away from the ring, you’re a very busy musician and writer with Hy3rid (with your brothers Robb and Dr. Zeuz), you just started your own website, businessman, family man and more! Tell me about the recent “Kick it With the Band” competition and everything else that’s new with you?
AG: Well, I’m sure it’s no secret that boxers have a lot of down time since we train, rest, train, rest, train, rest, and after a fight….rest, rest, rest, rest! (Laughs) So for me, I hate doing nothing. So all my downtime I use it to acquire new and fun skills in writing music, producing music, developing websites, graphic art designing, and most importantly keeping a close contact and communication with friends and fans through my social network www.goboxme.com and through the beauty of Facebook and the rest of the social networks!
MC: How did you get the idea for your GoBoxMe.com?
AG: I’m sure you’ve noticed, I’m no your typical boxer! (Laughs) That’s because I’m not your typical human being–I’m an “alien”! (Chuckles) But I like being different in all aspects of my life. So when I had a website it always pissed me off that it was the same as all boxers’ websites–just info about who I was and the only interaction I had with my fan base was through the old school forums with text only. So I decided to create a social network for boxers and boxing fans with more ways to interact. It just started a couple months ago but I’m sure eventually we’ll have many boxers creating their profiles and updating news about themselves by themselves, especially the four, six and eight round fighters who are looking to get exposed and aren’t given the chance by the editors and interviewers to show case their talents…NOW THEY CAN DO IT THEMSELVES.
Also, a lot of fans can upload the boxing content they desire rather than the one that is fed to them by “boxing sites” that are paid to only showcase certain fighters. Also, in the last few weeks I’ve managed to broadcast fights for FREE through streams which is something that many people appreciate since not everyone in the world has Telefutura, or Azteca, or HBO, etc. Here at GoBoxMe.com you can upload videos, blogs, images, anything boxing is valid…IF IT’S BOXING, IT’S HERE: GoBoxMe.com
MC: Nice plug, Alfonso. (Laughs)
MC: So you also hosted a cool event this year, your “Boxing Superstars Meet & Greet” at Pico Rivera with tons of your boxing pals, including Giovani Segura. Now I saw that video of you dancing “Bailando Shuffle” with Giovani! (Laughs) You look like a pretty good dancer, Alfonso. How often does dancing fit into your workout routine? You should go on “Dancing With the Stars” like Floyd Mayweather, Evander Holyfield and Sugar Ray Leonard!
AG: (Cracks up) Actually, I never get to dance. I’m always so busy with boxing, or music, or goboxme.com, or just being with friends. But the last time I went to a club was years ago… Sad but true! “Shuffle Dancing” is something I saw on YouTube a few months back and I totally loved it. So in my spare time I would try and practice it. I never thought I was good at it, just something that comes easy to me. But I’ve heard so many good comments that I’m actually practicing some moves so I can make a full video of me shuffle dancing in the near future–maybe at a club. I can kill two birds with one stone. (Laughs) I wish–and hope–I get invited to “Dancing With The Stars.” I’D WIN THE WHOLE COMPETITION or at least get “fan favorite”!
MC: Speaking of being a fan fave, any message for your loyal boxing fans and fans of Hy3rid?
AG: I love you all! I cannot stress enough how appreciative I am and how lucky I feel so have loyal fans in my boxing career as well as in the music one. You can always visit www.Hy3rid.com to find out more about our talent also “LIKE” my Facebook page and comment. It seems I’m one of the few international boxers who take the time to write back and establish a closer relationship with y’all.
MC: Thanks again, Alfonso! Always fun to catch up with you and see you on May 21!
AG: Thank you, Michele! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…and will keep saying it forever…You are the best. You not only interview but you create tight relationships with the fighters and break the walls of formality that stand between an editor and a boxer. I don’t feel this is an interview at all…I’m just talking with friend who I love and respect. Blessings to you and Steve.
MC: Wow! Thank you, Alfonso. I don’t know what to say except the “check’s in the mail”! 
(Laughs) But seriously, thanks for your time and I appreciate your comments! And I know your fans are happy you’re coming back on May 21.
This Saturday you can see Gomez back in the ring–and in his own backyard in SoCal. Now after a 14-month hiatus from the ring, Alfonso Gomez has plans to shine inside the ropes, shaking off any ring rust while showcasing his “cojones” on the canvas!
Live Boxing at Morongo
Top Rank and II Feathers Promotions
Saturday, May 21
5:00 First Bell
Tickets 35.00 and up
For more info: www.ticketmaster.com
Photos by Michele Chong/ Ring Photos by Marlene Marquez