| Recently, I have been riveted by the amazing | | | | only respect him."Alfonso's mum told him: |
| reality show "The Contender". The show | | | | "Don't get into heavy exchanges, please! |
| started with 16 boxers who have fought each | | | | Your opponent hits hard and you must protect |
| other every week until last week only 4 | | | | yourself at all times." Alfonso replied that |
| boxers were left. These were Alfonso Gomez, | | | | he did not go looking for heavy exchanges. |
| Jesse Brinkley, Sergio Mora and Peter | | | | They just came to him. His mum was not |
| Manfredo Jr. The story of the first | | | | convinced!Peter explained how he felt when |
| semi-final fight between Gomez and Manfredo | | | | training: "There's times you feel great and |
| contains several powerful success lessons for | | | | there's times you feel scared. It took that |
| everyone.Alfonso had defeated Peter in the | | | | loss for me to wake up and become a man."On |
| first fight of the competition but Peter had | | | | the wall of the training area at the |
| been voted back when another boxer had to | | | | Contender Gymnasium is a saying which is |
| leave because of injuries. Peter Manfredo | | | | worth remembering:"If you want to box, train; |
| Jr. was desperate to avenge his loss against | | | | If you want to win, train harder."Alfonso |
| Alfonso. He described his feelings as | | | | reflected on his achievements at the Gym: |
| follows: "That loss (against Alfonso) keeps | | | | "I'm the underdog here. No body expected me |
| bothering me. That was one of the worst | | | | to be in the final four. I'm the lightest. I |
| nights of my life. Until I get that rematch | | | | have the worst record. Here. So when I make |
| and beat him that'll keep bothering me."The | | | | it to the final, I'm going to be happy |
| four boxers were told: "One more victory and | | | | because I did the impossible." He also |
| you're fighting for "The Contender Belt" and | | | | looked ahead to the imminent fight. |
| one million dollars at Caesar's Palace. Your | | | | Visualisation techniques had worked for him |
| destiny is in your hands."In the meantime the | | | | in previous fights. He tried to see and feel |
| rematch was on: Alfonso Gomez v. Peter | | | | himself winning:"You see yourself fighting |
| Manfredo Jr.i.e. World War Two. Peter was | | | | and at the end I visualise myself winning. If |
| relieved to get his second shot at Alfonso: | | | | you can see it, it can happen. I see it; I |
| "I just can't wait until tomorrow night!"He | | | | feel it. This is my night I can feel |
| asked his little daughter if he would win. | | | | it."Peter's dad felt that his son had got his |
| "Yes" she replied simply. Young kids believe | | | | confidence back and was ready to win. The |
| their parents can do anything even if they | | | | trainer, Tommy, told Peter to prepare for war |
| have failed before.The series is not just | | | | and death or glory: "You got to box, but you |
| about boxing. It is about the moving | | | | got to fight. This is your shot and if you've |
| relationships which the boxers have with | | | | got to go out, you go on your face. This is |
| their own families and with each other. It | | | | it. Next a million dollars."Both boxers were |
| shows how people of different backgrounds and | | | | confident but realised that the other might |
| national origins are basically the same | | | | win. Peter commented: "If he can beat me then |
| underneath. They love their families and are | | | | he belongs in the final but if he doesn't |
| motivated by them to do well.The boxers also | | | | I'll be there."Alfonso knew he had to produce |
| have growing respect for each other. In fact | | | | the goods on the night of the fight or not at |
| every fight in this series has been an all | | | | all: "This is it; there is no tomorrow. |
| out war. They are all true warriors. Alfonso | | | | Tonight's the night! I feel like I'm holding |
| commented: "The group are not resenting each | | | | the million dollars with me right here." |
| other but are growing close together and will | | | | Alfonso hugged an imaginary million dollars |
| keep in touch when all this is over."Peter | | | | to his chest. Alfonso was great at |
| wanted his revenge but had no hostility to | | | | visualisation. He continued:"And no one is |
| his opponent: "Alfonso is a great warrior. I | | | | going to take it away from me. Seven rounds. |
| took him lightly when I fought him. You can | | | | I'm going to give it all. |