Bob Arum, ever the salesman, was true to his word at today's Press Conference when he said, "The Welterweight division is the BEST division in Boxing right now;  There is no dodging or dancing with the stars in this division; instead it's packed with guys who come to FIGHT."  Well said. 
 
Yesterday's assembly of Media sponges, trainers, managers as well as three of the four main event combatants (missing in action Antonio Margarito who sent word that he was too busy training in LA to make the trip eastward) were congregated atop a plush West side hotel in the Big Apple.  Though initially the ambiance of the room seemed more like a "cocktail party" than an assembly of a few of the world's best fighters and fight-trainers, the excitement snowballed once the stuffed shirts turned over the mic...
 
ALFONSO GOMEZ:  "I've come through plenty to get here.  So many people have asked me about this fight and how I'm preparing for it.  For 17 years I've been visualizing myself standing at a podium just like this one - talking to the media.  I visualized myself beating Arturo Gatti even though I had all of the odds stacked against me.  I could have fought a lesser known champion but my story did not call for that.  The trials that I had to endure to get to this position led me to fight the best and right now that's Miguel Cotto and hopefully he comes well prepared because I will be.  For 17 years I've been waiting for this, don't think I'm gonna let it go. VIVA MEXICO!"
 
KERMIT CINTRON:  "I've been waiting for this shot for a very long time, a chance to avenge my only loss.  Emmanuel has done a great job in getting me prepared for this fight.  And more than anything, come April 12th, I want to be able to say on national TV, SHUT UP!, to everyone in this world who follows Boxing & has criticisms against me!"
 
MIGUEL COTTO:  "I just hope that Alfonso Gomez is in pretty good condition come April 12th, cuz I'm coming 100% - Thank you."
 
Incidentally, by way of records the fighter who is "least" threatening ~ had the most to say.  Regardless of what the numbers say though, I just cannot buy into the assumption that Alfonso Gomez is going to be hammered away in a couple of rounds versus Cotto.  Maybe it's a cautious case of steering clear from the bandwagon when the driver (the media) starts insinuating that a particular fighter (Cotto) can't be stopped.  I learned my lesson (from Roy Jones, Donald Curry, Paul Williams, Mike Tyson, etc., etc.) that just about time the "invincibility" factor starts to creep into a fighter's dressing room, the inevitable marches into the building and funny things happen.  What's the common ingredient that ignited all of these upsets?  Belief. 
 
Hey, don't get me wrong here - I know that Ben Tackie even in his prime couldn't hold Cotto's jockstrap.  More so, had Gomez tackled Gatti prior to the 15 round battering he sustained from Mayweather & Baldomir, the outcome may have been drastically different. This is all true.  BUT, am I the only one sold on Gomez's heart?  Lest we forget who he called out for the FIRST fight in the Contender series?  Or what about his fighting eight rounds vs Ben Tackie with a broken hand?
 
Bottom line is that if anyone believes that Gomez has a chance at upsetting Cotto, we can rest assure that it is Gomez himself. As this showdown draws near - don't be surprised to discover a few others thinking the same way.
 
*Case in point; visit www.alfonsosgomez.com in the coming weeks to see the how's and why's he is preparing himself to WIN this match up.