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By Jake Donovan - It was barely 30 minutes into the debut episode of "The Contender" when fans and participants were given the first surprise of the series. Given the option of cherry picking his first round opponent, Alfonso Gomez, the smallest and considered the weakest contestant, instead goes after the man favored to win, then-undefeated Peter Manfredo, Jr.
Sugar Ray Leonard and Sylvester Stallone were surprised by the move and the result, as Gomez proved the gamble to be a well-calculated one by pulling out the five-round decision.
Little did they, and the boxing world, realize at the time was that it was just business as usual for Alfonso Gomez.
"Before, and even on, The Contender, I was always "the opponent," said Gomez, who resumes his old role when he faces crowd favorite Arturo Gatti this weekend in Atlantic City (Saturday, HBO, 9PM ET/6PM PT). "Ishe (Smith), (Jesse) Feliciano – even against Manfredo on The Contender, I was the opponent. I've always been forced to go on the road and go the extra mile."
Come fight night, Gomez will discover that this road will be unlike any other previously traveled. Arturo Gatti playing Atlantic City generally means three things: an all-action fight, HBO coverage, and a sold-out Boardwalk Hall arena. [details]
Sugar Ray Leonard and Sylvester Stallone were surprised by the move and the result, as Gomez proved the gamble to be a well-calculated one by pulling out the five-round decision.
Little did they, and the boxing world, realize at the time was that it was just business as usual for Alfonso Gomez.
"Before, and even on, The Contender, I was always "the opponent," said Gomez, who resumes his old role when he faces crowd favorite Arturo Gatti this weekend in Atlantic City (Saturday, HBO, 9PM ET/6PM PT). "Ishe (Smith), (Jesse) Feliciano – even against Manfredo on The Contender, I was the opponent. I've always been forced to go on the road and go the extra mile."
Come fight night, Gomez will discover that this road will be unlike any other previously traveled. Arturo Gatti playing Atlantic City generally means three things: an all-action fight, HBO coverage, and a sold-out Boardwalk Hall arena. [details]
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