Former “Contender” Star Gomez Sets Sights On Chavez Jr

Alfonso S. Gomez’s career momentum continues to build with a unanimous decision win against veteran Ben Tackie Oct. 16. The 10-round welterweight bout headlined a Contender special event live on ESPN from the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. “I hope that I proved myself more with this win, and that this fight will turn the non-believers into true believers,” Gomez said.

Gomez (18-3-2, 8 KO’s), based in Los Angeles and originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, is now unbeaten in his last six bouts. He has stopped three of his last four opponents, including former world champion Arturo Gatti, who retired after being knocked out by Gomez on HBO in July.

Although Gomez would like to have been the first fighter to knock out Ben Tackie as well, that was not to be. However, he stuck to the game plan developed by his father and career-long trainer, Alfonso Gomez, Sr., which focused on using boxing skills to maintain distance and withstand the onslaught from Tackie.

“We knew Tackie would start slow, then pick up from round five on and try to outmuscle and out-hustle me,” Gomez said. “He telegraphs when he’s going to throw the right hand, so I was ready for it each time and would either roll with it or block it. Then, once he put more pressure, I turned my focus to moving more and staying on the outside.”

There was only one glitch in the plan: Gomez suffered a broken left hand in round two. He was diagnosed with a metacarpal fracture, and will have orthopedic surgery this week performed by the same surgeons, Dr. Norman Zemel and Dr. Neal Elattrache, who have done hand surgery on Oscar De La Hoya. He is anticipated to make a full recovery.

“My hand was really hurting but I still had to use it and push through,” Gomez said. “Despite the injury, I was able to keep my output about the same and still maintain a high volume of punches.”

According to Gomez’s manager Gary Gittelsohn, this win should further increase his standing within the sport, leading to more lucrative match-ups with bigger names.

“Alfonso continues to develop as a world-class boxer with this brilliant performance against rugged Ben Tackie. Now he joins the ranks of an elite group of fighters to defeat this former world contender,” Gittelsohn said. “Even after the injury, Alfonso executed the right adjustments and showed the skills characteristic of a future world champion.”

In particular, the win brings the possibility of a match-up with fellow Mexican fighter Jesus Cesar Chavez Jr., son of Gomez’s idol Jesus Cesar Chavez, that much closer to reality.

“It would be a big fight in terms of names. We are both prospects, and I think fans want to see two prospects go at it and find out who’s really got the goods,” Gomez said. “We’ve called each other out, and now people want to see it happen.”

“I’m glad that I’m starting to break into the mainstream, getting matches against veterans and beating them,” Gomez continued. “Hopefully next year I can score two big wins – against Chavez, Jr., and then maybe Zab Judah . Obviously the competition in the welterweight division is stiff, but I think I deserve the opportunity to face “name’ fighters.”

For more information, please visit www.alfonsosgomez.com.