Alfonso Gomez on His Return, Music Career, and More

By Ryan Burton

 

Former Contender series contestant Alfonso Gomez talks to BoxingScene.com about his July 17th ring return, retiring another legend in Jose Luis Castillo (although there are rumblings that Castillo will lace up the gloves again), his music career and more in this Boxingscene exclusive interview.

 

BoxingScene.com:  It has been a while since we have talked.  What is new with you?

 

Alfonso Gomez:  Nothing much.  I just came back to training camp here in Oxnard, California.  After I defeated Castillo I took about a month off and we just enjoyed ourselves.  I was making music and stuff like that.  I am back in training camp because apparently I am going to be fighting someone on July 17th.  I don't know who and I t know where.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Lets get off the boxing topic for a minute.  Did you say you were making music?

 

Alfonso Gomez:  I have been making music for I don't know, twelve years already.  I started my group called H3 Hy3rid.  That is the group's name about seven years ago.  I have a music studio at home and all that good stuff.

 

BoxingScene.com:  What kind of music do you make?

 

Alfonso Gomez:  It is Spanish hip hop.  It is hip hop in español and a little rock in español, word play and all that stuff. 

 

BoxingScene.com:  Back to boxing.  You said July 17th is the date you will be back and you don't know who you will be fighting or where.  Have any names been mentioned?

 

Alfonso Gomez:  I don't know who, what or where.  I have already started camp and started sparring and doing conditioning work and all that stuff.  As soon as I know who is the opponent we will figure out a good game plan for that person and execute it.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Have any names been thrown out there?

 

Alfonso Gomez:  Well they haven't really any names.  The name of Saul "Canelo" Alvarez came up and David Estrada has been pursuing a fight with me but nothing is in concrete.  I know I can beat them both.

 

BoxingScene.com: In your last fight you retired another legend in Castillo.  How do you grade that performance?

 

Alfonso Gomez:  I give myself maybe a B+ even though my conditioning coach gave me an A-.  I give myself a B+ because I think I did great.  I used my distance and I followed the game plan.  There are flaws always like bending my knees and keeping my hands up.  In general I think I did good.  I trained very hard for that fight.  I made weight perfectly.  I came in at 145.  I felt strong.  I felt much stronger than Castillo and I am sure he felt it too because the rounds where I started pushing it more was the round he stopped.

 

BoxingScene.com:  After July how many more fights do you think you will get in this year?

 

Alfonso Gomez:  I hope I can get one or two more, maybe three.

 

BoxingScene.com:  When do you think you will be ready for another world title shot?

 

Alfonso Gomez:  I am ready to go already  I think time flies real quick.  I am not getting any younger. I feel that my technique and conditioning have improved.  I have acquired a great team here in Calfiornia with my father as chief trainer and Robert Garcia has been helping us a lot.  We are  training at World Crown Sports Boxing which has helped my conditioning and improved my strength and speed and balance a lot.  I have a great team and I have fought tremendous fighters like Jose Luis Castillo, Miguel Cotto, Arturo Gatti, Ben Tackie, Peter Manfredo and Jesse Brinkley.  We are talking about guys that are champions or were champions or who fought for championships so in reality I am ready to go.  I am ready to step up to bigger challenges.  Hopefully I get to step up in my fight on July 17th or in my next one.  Hopefully someone like Saul Alvarez.  I would love to fight Marcos Maidana who is a 140 pounder.  I am willing to push it down that far or he can come up in weight.  I am looking for big names and big opportunities.  I am ready to go baby.

 

BoxingScene.com:  You mentioned fighting Miguel Cotto.  He has a fight coming up against Yuri Foreman.  He is moving up in weight.  Do you see him winning that fight?

 

Alfonso Gomez:  That is a great challenge for him.  If he wins he will be a three weight division champion.  That is definitely an accomplishment that not every boxer gets to achieve.  In reality I wish him all the luck in the world and hopefully in the future he can give me that rematch that I feel he still owes me (laughing).

 

BoxingScene.com:  Do you have a message for the fans?

 

Alfonso Gomez:  All in all I want to say I train hard to give my best performances.  I am coming out this year strong in the fight scene and music scene.  I am going to try to be more out there.  I have been kind of hiding in the background and I am going to out there in the world and show everybody that in urban Spanish rap I am the best and there is no doubt about it.  You can check out my groups music at hy3rib.com or look up some of our videos on youtube.