Contender star Alfonso Gomez (16-3-2) is coming off of an impressive 7th round TKO over UK's Martin Concepcion.  The fight was part of the UK vs USA Contender challenge series, and with the win Gomez put the USA ahead of England 2 to 1.  With the series being over, and the results still unknown to the boxing fans, Gomez sets his sights on legend, Arturo Gatti.  The Alfonso Gomez vs Arturo Gatti fight is scheduled to take place on July 14th, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  Boxingtalk caught up with Alfonso and got his thoughts on what is no doubt going to be the biggest fight of his career.

BC – What's the latest Alfonso?

AG – Hi Brad, everything is good.  I am very happy about my victory over Concepcion, and I am really looking forward to upcoming fight against the legendary Arturo Gatti.

BC – Before we get to Arturo Gatti, let's touch on your fight against Concepcion in the UK vs USA Contender challenge.

AG – I was really, really happy with my performance.  Last year I had some good fights but I didn't have any real spectacular performances like I wanted.  Coming into this year, I said that I wanted to promise the viewers that I wanted to change how they viewed me.  I worked on my jab, and my skills, and it worked.

BC – You're coming off some wars against Jesse Felciano, I am guessing that you are gratified that you put together a convincing, dominating win against Concepcion.

AG – Yes it was definitely a great improvement.  I have improved on my defense, and I started using more jabs.  More than anything, I tried to control myself in the ring this time.  In the past I would always want to brawl, so I am trying to control myself more now.  Inside the ring I feel boring, like I am not doing enough, but if I am winning the fight, I will just keep doing what I am doing.

BC – Concepcion can crack a little bit, did he hurt you at all?

AG – Yes a little bit, he got me with a left hook that wobbled me a little bit.  I worked on my leg work so that my legs wouldn't give out, so that helped.  He did wobble me a little bit.

BC – Were you able to watch Freddie Curiel's fight?  That was an exciting finish.

AG – Yes, we were watching the fight back in the locker-room.  I have clips on my website, we were watching that fight, and we were upset by how it was going, and then bang that big left hand came, and we all jumped up, and were excited as a team. 

BC – You must have been pleasantly surprised by how the UK fans greeted you when you made your ring entrance.

AG – Definitely, I was in the locker room hearing the reactions to the other American fighters by the UK fans, and they got booed, so when I came out and they were cheering me it was a real treat.  I got a little bit more cheers than Concepcion did, and he's from there.

BC – Ok, let's talk about this huge fight coming up against Arturo Gatti.

AG – I look at this as being my second big break in my boxing career, the first being selected to be on the Contender, and now this fight against Gatti.  This fight will be the one that will erase the peoples thoughts that think the Contender fighters are pretenders.  I feel that I can beat Gatti, I really looked up to him growing up.  Gatti has been in wars, and the way he never gives up.  I think this could be fight of the year, and I am not going let this slip through my hands, I will train real hard for this one.

BC – Both of you guys don't know what backing up means, so that means one thing (laughs).

AG – (Laughs), yes it means a war.

BC – You have come a long way  since the days prior to the Contender days.  Tell the fans how your life is about now.

AG – Right now my life is on the edge.  I have to beat Gatti in order to step up to the next level, the big paydays, and the big names.  If I lose to Gatti, people will keep saying that the Contenders are pretenders.  I am more than ready to take this fight, I have been waiting a long time for this to come.  This fight gives me inspiration to work very hard, it wakes me up in the morning, and it's a dream come true for me.

BC – It's no secret that your relationship with your dad is very close and he trains you.  Will you bring in additional people to get you ready for Gatti?

AG – Well as I step up in competition, I will step up in training as well but I will still have my dad as my trainer.  Nobody will replace him, however we have been talking to the Contender people about bringing in someone additional to supplement what I already have.  We will prove in this fight that my dad is a legitimate trainer, and he does know what he's doing, and I will prove that I am ready for the big names.

BC – What are your thoughts about Peter Manfredo's fight against Calzaghe, and the stoppage?

AG – Well here in the United States we are used to seeing more of a reason to stop a fight.  We are used to Mickey Ward vs Gatti fights, and that's what we are used to.  Watching Peter's fight getting stopped for no reason, just some constant patting on his gloves was definitely to me a premature stop.  To judge the Contender or Peter Manfredo Jr saying that he was not ready for Calzaghe is wrong, he didn't even get a chance in that fight.

BC – How much influence has Sugar Ray Leonard been for you?

AG – For a legend to give me advice, and that he cares for me shows a lot of class from Sugar Ray.  Ray has been there for me, and I am honored to be associated with him.  For my fight against Gatti, Ray has recommended some people for us to bring in to help me get ready. It has been a real honor to work with Sugar Ray Leonard.

BC – Do you have any closing thoughts for the fans?

AG – I want to thank Boxingtalk for the support, and believing in me.  I want to thank all of my fans for being there for me.  I want to invite all my fans to visit my website www.alfonsogomez.com to read more about me.

M

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