When a person suffers a setback in his or her ultimate plans, that person often feels compelled to take a bit of a break. It’s natural to want to go explore other things and get away for a while. With the amount of talent Alfonso Gomez has going for him, he could have easily made a career transition after his recent and rather decisive loss to Miguel Cotto. Instead, he took it on the chin, took a mini-vacation and went right back to the drawing board to work toward his next in-ring endeavor. Horace Greeley once told the world to go west, Gomez took a slightly different approach and found catharsis and relaxation in the Big Apple with his girlfriend. He is now back in his hometown of Whittier, focused on finding and winning his next fight.

            Admittedly a few pounds heavier, he is now more determined than ever to carve out a bigger name for himself in this sport. With a broken hand, rested spirits and a belly full of New York’s finest fare, Alfonso Gomez once again sat down with Bragging Rights Corner to discuss his recent loss and his future.

BRC/NICOSIA:    How have you been healing?

GOMEZ:  Pretty good. I went to New York with my girlfriend to rest up and take a vacation. I had a lot of great food, saw the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty. I also saw The Phantom of the Opera. It was a lot of fun.
 

BRC/NICOSIA:    The way our last interview went, I wasn’t sure if you had plans to retire and pursue one of your other talents. Now that you’re back and rested, what’re your plans for boxing?

GOMEZ:  Well nothing in the immediate, but pretty soon it will be business as usual. I’m going to therapy for my hand. I want to make sure it’s one hundred percent before I get back in the ring. I’m going to work on losing some weight and getting back to training and finding my next fight. I put on some pounds when I went to New York; I’m not going to lie. (Laughs)

 

BRC/NICOSIA:    We’ve all been there. As a New Jersey resident, I’m still trying to lose weight from my last trip.
I want to talk with you a little bit about the Cotto fight. What do you suppose went wrong during the course of the fight and what would you do differently if given another crack at him?

GOMEZ:  I would definitely prepare more. I would throw more punches. There are a lot of things I would like to work on before my next fight but mainly I would just prepare more across the board.
 

BRC/NICOSIA:     Was there ever a point during the fight where you just knew you were in trouble or did you try and fight throughout the whole thing to the end?

GOMEZ:  Midway through the fight my face started to swell up so I couldn’t really see. And my corner was just saying, “Throw more punches, throw more punches!” I thought I was doing that, ha ha. So I knew I was kind of in trouble at that point.

BRC/NICOSIA:   The last time we spoke, you mentioned the politics of boxing and how for a while, you couldn’t get a fair shake. Do you think the recent loss will have any effect on your standing and your ability to get a good fight and another title shot?

GOMEZ:  No, I don’t think so much now. I think I have a pretty good name, at least good enough to get a good fight. I just have to keep winning and will eventually get another shot at the title. I’m just really focused on winning and getting good fights and getting some more wins under my belt. 

BRC/NICOSIA:   Anyone specific in mind?

GOMEZ:  Well nobody right now, really. They were talking about Chavez Jr., but we’ll see what happens. Maybe Mosley or somebody like that. I’m just interested in training again. There’s nobody in particular right now.

BRC/NICOSIA:   Do you have anything to say to Miguel Cotto?

GOMEZ:  Just good luck in the future and I hope I can fight him again soon.

            Keep a lookout for Gomez as he goes back on the fighting trail.