New Q&A with the boxer who fights THIS Saturday!
Alfonso Gomez will be featured on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey showdown taking place deep in the heart of Texas this weekend. For the popular welterweight, who’s traveled down his own long and no doubt, at times, rocky “Road to Dallas” to get here, this moment will surely be a highlight he’ll remember for years. Speaking with Team Gomez today, it’s been a long road to get to this point. I listen in as his family ticks off all the cities they’ve set up camp in through the two decades while they were growing up. Born in Jalisco, Mexico, Alfonso and his family first lived in Guadalajara, then the Oakland-Berkeley area, then moved onto Napa, then back down to the Irvine-Tustin neighborhood before finally settling into their current residences in a suburb near Los Angeles.
But it has been a successful and well-traveled road with Alfonso’s career continuing to build momentum as he aims to add more championship belts to his bounty. Now he’s made it to Dallas as part of the biggest fight of the year thus far. I’ve had the privilege of interviewing the popular “Contender” star many times and he’s always a pleasure to chat with. Considering the scope and worldwide interest in this Saturday’s fight, I wanted to make sure to touch base with the Gomez camp since the bout is just around the corner.
Arriving in the Lone Star State on Tuesday, the multi-talented boxer/musician/writer/businessman, who’s still just in his twenties, says he’s ready and looking forward to his clash against veteran warrior Jose Luis Castillo (60-9-1, 52 KOs). The two pugs will square off in the historic Cowboys Stadium as Alfonso defends his World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas Welterweight Title.
Read below to hear the Mexican boxer (21-4-2, 10 KOs) and fan favorite as he assesses Castillo’s strengths and weaknesses, the one rematch he hopes to make happen, and where he plans to hold his next training camp.
Michele Chong: Hi Alfonso, what is the one thing you’re looking forward to most when you fight this Saturday?
Alfonso Gomez: To beat Jose Luis Castillo convincingly and without doubt–and to meet a lot of fans!
MC: How has the Media Tour been going? You went to Mexico too, right?
AG: Yeah, the Media Tour was real cool. I had a chance to meet a lot of celebrities (Jerry Jones, Jose Sulaiman, El Santo and many other boxers) and the Cowboys Cheerleaders too. (Laughs)
MC: Against Jose Luis Castillo, in your opinion, what are his strengths and what are his weaknesses?
AG: His strengths are his power and his experience. Plus the fact that he has nothing to lose going into this fight. His weaknesses could be all the punishment he’s received thoughout the years. He hasn’t been the same, as of late, and his body is maybe too worn out.
MC: Any special strategy you can disclose on how to fight Castillo?
AG: We know he comes forward like all true Mexican warriors, and since I’m taller, I will have to use my height and reach advantage to keep him away. I proved in my last fight against (Jesus Soto) Karass that I can box and move my head and give lateral movements so we are going to use those same tactics against Castillo.
MC: This is the second Pacquiao undercard you’ll be on. Your prediction for Pacman-Clottey?
AG: Pacman all the way!!!
MC: Alfonso, after this fight, will you continue having your future training camps in Oxnard?
AG: Yes, Oxnard has been a real blessing in terms of training camps. I’ve been to Colorado, Las Vegas, Big Bear, Anaheim for training camps and none compare to Oxnard. So, yes, I’ll be coming back!
MC: Assuming you get past Castillo, tell me the Top 3 fighters you’d like to face in the future.
AG: Ricky Hatton, Amir Kahn, and Miguel Cotto!
MC: Besides boxing, one of your other passions is music. Your brother, Robb, told me Hy3rid’s new mix tape will be dropping very soon. Are you a guest artist on this?
AG: Yes, I’ll be on this “mixtape” dropping some of my hottest rhymes. I’m getting better and better at it.
MC: Thanks again, Alfonso, and here’s to a great fight this weekend!
AG: It’s always a pleasure talking to you and giving you interviews. Hopefully we can hang out soon. And THANK YOU to all the fans who keep up with me. You can follow me on Facebook, on www.AlfonsoSGomez.com and on www.Hy3rid.com
While Alfonso arrived with his father and trainer Alfonso Gomez Sr. earlier in the week, his mother and two brothers Robb and Zeuz arrived today. They decided to make it a road trip as they made the 
trek from Cali to Texas. Robb said there’s a huge buzz building toward the fight weekend.
“The press conference was today and there were tons of people to see the undercards,” Alfonso’s younger sibling says. “Bob Arum’s here and they introduced Salvador Sanchez’s nephew, too, whose fighting. It’s really exciting to be here; everyone is very nice. And the fans have been great!” The sunny SoCal local then adds that it’s “kind of cold here though” weather-wise.
Then he jokes it will be hot in the ring when his brother takes on Castillo in just two days. There are also plans for an after party where Robb, Hy3rid’s lead singer, says Alfonso will be appearing. At this fiesta, a special treat planned is that Alfonso and his brothers will be giving out complimentary demos of their mix CD (with 15-20 songs on it) that will be released by early May.
And Team Gomez is hoping that this big party will also be a double celebration–as both an after party AND a victory party for Alfonso!
Photo courtesy of Team Gomez/ Hy3rid/ Smoothvega