Cotto vs. Gomez
Miguel Cotto and Alfonso Gomez Kick Off A Great HBO Fight Line-Up
Alfonso Gomez from "The Contender" challenges undefeated Miguel Cotto for the WBA Weltereight Championship April 12th on HBO
Alfonso Gomez of "Contender" fame challenges undefeated Puerto-Rican Sensation Miguel Cotto for the WBA Welterweight Championship Live on HBO April 12th from Atlantic City, New Jersey. This event kicks off a stretch of intriguing and exciting bouts on HBO that will also feature Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Calzaghe and Oscar De La Hoya vs. Steve Forbes. Miguel Cotto has placed himself near the top of the pound-for-pound food chain with a TKO victory over former champion "Super" Zab Judah and a narrow decision victory over "Sugar" Shane Mosley in an electric bout.
Many fans are hoping that Cotto will get a chance to fight current pound-for-pound king Floyd "Money" Mayweather, in what would certainly be Cotto's toughest fight to date. But to set up the blockbuster showdown, Cotto must first impressively defeat rising welterweight Alfonso Gomez. Gomez, as expected, is a large underdog against the reigning champ, but Gomez is no stranger to the underdog role. On the first season of the boxing reality show "The Contender," the generally unknown Gomez decided to go after the favorite Peter Manfredo Jr. in his first fight on the show. Gomez defeated the highly-touted Manfredo in stunning fashion, but was unable to pull-out the rematch in the semi-final showdown. Gomez has always been the underdog.
He's not that big, strong, or fast, but his heart and determination have carried him to victories over seemingly superior opponents. Gomez has obviously made significant strides since his days on "The Contender." In a recent fight, he brutally knocked-out and retired brawling-legend Arturo "Thunder" Gatti, earning him a shot at Cotto's WBA Championship. Many fans and experts aren't giving Gomez much of a chance in this fight, but Gomez is accustomed to overcoming the odds, and apparently embraces the underdog roll. This should be an exciting fight, and Gomez will definitely make Cotto work.
Alfonso Gomez Sr. will be in the corner of his son and should instruct him to keep the fight-pace high and pressure Cotto every round. Gomez is not a particularly slick boxer, and will need to make this fight ugly to have a chance. If he lets Miguel Cotto stay on the outside and pick his shots, it could be a short night. This will not be a cakewalk for the champion, who could have to dig down deep to retain his title and set up a big-money bout with Mayweather. Alfonso Gomez has waited for this chance his entire career and surely will bring his A-game and earn his paycheck.
