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