Frankie Gomez: It’s Going To Be A War
Photos: Carlos Rivera/CRiveraPhotography
Undefeated welterweight Frankie “Pitbull” Gomez (19-0, 13 KOs) hosted a Los Angeles media workout today at Wild Card Boxing Club with his trainer Freddie Roach, Hall of Fame Trainer and Seven-Time BWAA Trainer of The Year Award Winner, ahead of his Feb. 5 10-round, co-main event fight against former IBA Super Lightweight Champion Silverio “Chamaco III” Ortiz (29-16, 15 KOs).
Below is what the fighter and his trainer had to say at today’s workout:
FRANKIE “PITBULL” GOMEZ, Undefeated Welterweight Contender:
“I’m ready for the fight, I’ve been training hard. I’m as focused as ever. I train two or three times a day, and I’m at the gym every day.
“On February 5, it’s going to be a war, I know that Ortiz is a tough fighter; he’s durable.
“Last year was a bad year for me but I’m looking forward to putting it behind me in 2016. I want to stay active this year and fight as many times as I can. Hopefully I can fight for a world title before the end of this year.”
FREDDIE ROACH, Hall of Fame Trainer and Seven-Time BWAA Trainer of The Year Award Winner:
“I hope Frankie rises this year to what he should be. He can beat all these guys, that’s how good he is.
“After this fight, I’m taking Frankie to the Philipines with me for training camp. It’s a hard place to be for 8 weeks but he’s going to do it. He will be sparring with Manny (Pacquiao) over there to train. He has sparred with him in the past and has done well the first few rounds but then Manny takes over.
“I’ve seen Frankie’s talent and he’s ready to take on tougher fighters. I told Golden Boy Promotions after this fight on Feb. 5, let’s pick it up. If it’s not now, it’s never going to happen.”
In the main event on Feb. 5, hometown hero and former IBF Bantamweight World Champion Randy “El Matador” Caballero (22-0, 13 KOs) will make his grand return to the ring in a 10-round super bantamweight bout against Ruben Garcia (15-1-1, 6 KOs) of Mexico City, Mexico, televised live nationally on Boxeo Estelar on Estrella TV.
Fans with tickets to the fight on Feb. 5 will have an opportunity meet and interact with former eight-time world champion in three weight divisions Sugar Shane Mosley in a meet and greet at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino Special Events Center from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Tickets for the event are on sale now and are priced at $75, $65, $45 and can be purchased at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
Randy Caballero vs. Ruben Garcia is a 10-round super bantamweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and the first bout begins at 5:30 p.m. The Estrella TV Boxeo Estelar broadcast will air live on Friday, Feb. 5 at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT., and will stream live simultaneously on estrellaTV.com and on YouTube via Fenomeno Studios: youtube.com/FenomenoStudios. The Ring TV live stream will begin at approximately 5:30 p.m. PT through 7:00 p.m.