Last year America went to the World Championships in Milan, Italy hoping to have more success than they’d had at the Olympics the year previous. They took a young squad and gave them all important International experience, unfortunately the experience wasn’t a good one for most of the team as they went out early. That wasn’t the case for Frankie “Pitbull” Gomez though he exceeded all expectations and came home with a Silver medal that catapulted him into the American publics view. A few short months later the 18 year old who comes from the same area of East L.A as his hero Oscar De La Hoya they also spookily share the same birthday decided to except an offer to to pro and signed with the aforementioned De La Hoya’s promotional company Golden Boy. Since then Gomez has made his debut on the Hopkins-Jones 2 undercard when he scored a third round stoppage. He won his most recent fight at the Tropicana Hotel Casino the night before Mayweather-Mosley to take his record to 2-0(2). Here’s what one of the brightest young prospects in America had to say on various subjects.
Hello Frankie, welcome to 15rounds.com
Anson Wainwright – Congratulations on winning your debut fight on the Hopkins-Jones Jr 2 card. How happy were you with the performance?
Frankie Gomez – Overall, I thought it was an exciting experience and one that I will never forget. As far as the boxing aspect, I thought I performed ok. I would give myself a C+ rating. It was a great learning experience though and one that I can grow from.
Anson Wainwright – You seemed a little nervous, with all the pressure on your shoulders. Would you say that was fair? Can you tell me how you felt before the fight?
Frankie Gomez – It’s fair to say I was nervous. But I wouldn’t say I felt any additional pressures going into my first fight. I think it was the nervousness that naturally goes into any professional debut. I was just glad to finally get in the ring and fight.
Anson Wainwright – Do you know when you’ll be back in action next? If so against who and where?
Frankie Gomez – I just fought again against Ricardo Malfavon at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. I won via TKO in the 2nd round. My next fight will be at the Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California on May 27th.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your younger years when you were growing up and how you first got interested in Boxing up until when you first took part in Boxing?
Frankie Gomez – I have always been boxing. It has been something that has been a part of me my entire life. I started at 5 yrs old with my first trainer Ronnie Rivota. He was the first one to bring me along and introduce me to the sport of boxing. Then a couple of years later I joined the Los Angeles Police Department’s PAL Boxing program. It is through that program that I began my amateur career. Ronnie Rivota and Hector Ibarra have been my trainers ever since.
Anson Wainwright – Who are your team members, your manager, trainer & promoter? Also what gym do you use mostly to work out at?
Frankie Gomez – Team Gomez consists of Ronnie Rivota as my Manager/Trainer, Hector Ibarra as my Manager/Conditioning Coach, George Ibarra as my weight training and diet coach and Tony Gomez, my brother and motivator. Oscar de la Hoya and his Golden Boy Promotions Company promote me and we mainly train at his gym in Los Angeles, California.
Anson Wainwright – You had a stellar amateur pedigree in which you won Silver at last years World Championships. What can you tell us about how you look back on that tournament? What made you turn pro so young and not wait until 2012 Olympics?
Frankie Gomez – The tournament was tough but I got through it alright. Looking back, I thought my last fight in Italy was a little closer and could have gone either way, but that is the sport of amateur boxing. Overall, I felt like it was great learning experience facing off against some of the best competition in the world.
As far as me turning pro, I thought it was just time to move on. After looking at all the factors, my team and I felt it was best, both inside and outside the ring, to go to the professional ranks. Golden Boy offered a very fair contract and I thought it was best for my family and myself to accept.
Anson Wainwright – What other titles did you win in your amateur career? Also what was your final record? Who was the toughest guy you fought in the amateur’s?
Frankie Gomez – My amateur titles include four Junior Gold Glove titles, four Silver Glove titles, six Junior Olympic titles, the Gold Medal at the AIBA Cadet World Championships in 2007, one Ringside World title in 2008 and the Silver Medal at the AIBA World Championships in 2009.
My overall amateur record finished at 120 wins and 8 losses.
The toughest opponent I ever faced was during the AIBA World Championships in 2009. The boxer from Uzbekistan (Sanjarbek Rahmanov, Gomez won 19-10 in the third round)Â was a tough opponent that I truly respect.
Anson Wainwright – It seems that a few years down the road there could be a rivalry with you and Jose Benavidez Jr and Michael Finney. While it is obviously early days. What do you think of that? It could be the three musketeers?
Frankie Gomez – I believe in taking it one fight at a time. If that day comes, when I face one or both of them, then I will worry about it then. But it is exciting to see such talented boxers on the rise. The future of boxing will be fun to watch.
Anson Wainwright – It has been said you have more of a pro style, what do you consider your best attributes as a professional fighter?
Frankie Gomez – I do not worry about the “pro-style†or anything like that. I am constantly trying to get better at my craft and work hard everyday to get that done. I believe in my three S’s: Smarts, Speed, and Strength. If I can improve a little bit each day on those three things, I believe I can be successful.
Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do away from Boxing? Do you have any hobbies?
Frankie Gomez – Any chance that I have to relax and be away from boxing, I like to spend with my family. I travel and am away from them so much that when I do have the time, all I want to is spend time with them. I believe they give me the strength to go in the ring and perform well. They continue to give me the love and support I need to be successful.
Anson Wainwright – What boxers do did you like growing up and who do you enjoy watching now? What did you think of the Mayweather-Mosley fight?
Frankie Gomez – Growing up, I was always a big fan of Oscar De La Hoya. He was a big influence on my life and boxing career. It means a lot to be working with him now on my professional career. I rooted for Shane Mosley this past weekend but unfortunately he wasn’t able to win. Now, I always root for boxers from my hometown!
Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans? I know many of them were very proud of your performance at the World Championships.
Frankie Gomez – I just want to thank all my fans for all the support they have shown me throughout my career. It means a lot to have everyone come out and cheer for me. It gets me motivated for my fights. Thank you to everyone that followed me during the World Championships, it was amazing to have that support. I look forward to one day winning a world championship and I want everyone to know that that day will be soon!Â
Thanks for your time Frankie, keep up the good work.
Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com
