Alfonso Gomez?s shot at WBC 154-pound titleholder Saul Alvarez on Saturday could not have come at a better time for the welterweight fringe contender and his management.
The scrappy 30-year-old veteran was ready to make a serious career move late last year after impressive back-to-back victories over rugged Jesus Soto Karass and former lightweight champ Jose Luis Castillo.
Gomez, who was soundly defeated by Miguel Cotto in his only shot at a major belt back in 2008, thought his springboard back into title contention would come against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. last December.
However, an elbow injury suffered during training forced Gomez to withdraw from the 156-pound catchweight bout against Chavez that was to headline a Dec. 4 pay-per-view card. His manager, Gary Gittelsohn, knew the opportunity to fight the son of the Mexican legend was gone forever.
?Chavez Jr. fight was one we?d been chasing for a long time, but the longer he held out the less of an advantage we had because he kept growing and getting heavier,? Gittelsohn told RingTV.com at last week?s media workout for Gomez at the Azteca Boxing Club in Bell, Calif. ?That fight in December was the last chance to get him to come in under middleweight.?
