Alfonso Gomez will be the first to tell you that his September 17th bout against WBC junior middleweight champion Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez may be his last crack at a world title. The Gomez-Alvarez clash serves as a key attraction to the Floyd Mayweather-Victor Ortiz pay-per-view from the MGM Grand and is also an interesting clash featuring one of the sport?s rising stars against a seasoned veteran with everything to gain but much to lose. Gomez gained some notoriety from his involvement on the inaugural season of NBC?s The Contender series and has shown in the show?s aftermath that his desire as a professional extends much further than just some exposure or a taste of fame. Highlights of Gomez?s recent years have included a battering of the late Arturo Gatti, a 5th round TKO loss to Miguel Cotto in April of 2008, and a recent streak of five straight wins, including scalps over the likes of Jesus Soto Karass and former lightweight king Jose Luis Castillo.
Gomez is the proverbial underdog heading into his bout with the talented Alvarez but it?s always been a role he has played well throughout his life. A recent conversation with the 30-year old revealed much about his true feelings towards Alvarez?s ability as a fighter, the path the young champion has taken to get to this point in his career, and why he feels he has been rushed as a fighter.
Other highlights during my interview with Gomez include his reaction to seeing a late 2010 fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. fall apart because of an injury, his take on Juan Manuel Marquez?s apparent disdain towards Alvarez, the actions of the WBC in stripping champions Sergio Martinez and Timothy Bradley, his training camp in Southern California with champions Miguel Vazquez and Giovani Segura, and more.
In his own words, this is what Gomez shared?
Anticipating a great challenge? ?I really feel this is going to be the best fight on September 17th. It?s a great challenge and this is the moment I have been waiting for all my life. Being in this position, I think I?ve earned it and I?m not going to lose that day.?
Win or perish? ?I?ve burned all my bridges but it?s going to push me even more, knowing that there is no retreat from here. I have to go all the way in. Either I win or I perish, pretty much. So I?m training real hard for it and it?s a great opportunity. I feel blessed and I think I had the chance with Miguel Cotto but I couldn?t deliver what I know I?m capable of. I think it?s a great chance to re-vindicate myself from that fight.?
Real thoughts towards Saul Alvarez? ?I think he?s a good fighter. I?ve mentioned before that there?s no way that a couch potato or somebody watching T.V. would be a world champion, especially at 21 years old and so popular. So I think he has put the work in to become who he is. Yet, at the same time the road has been a little bit paved for him because of the great impact he has on the media in Mexico. So now is a great opportunity to teach him a lesson, because after every loss there is a lesson.?
