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01/23/2007 Archived Entry: "No Longer Wild, ‘Speedy’ Gonzalez Promises Exciting Return Wednesday, Jan. 24th!"
No Longer Wild, ‘Speedy’ Gonzalez Promises Exciting Return Wednesday, Jan. 24th!
By Juan C. Ayllon
Photo courtesy of Pat Doljanin
LAS VEGAS—AL “Speedy” Gonzalez is a young man who likes a good time as much—and maybe more—than the next guy. A talented light welterweight boxer, in the past, his life outside the ring reflected—and sometimes interfered with—his life inside the ring: It was fast and exciting.
His penchant for fast times came crashing down on him following his last fight—a close, unanimous decision loss to Lou Duva’s prospect, Oscar Diaz on February 4, 2005.
A partier and womanizer at the time, Gonzalez tried evicting a woman who refused to leave his apartment. Things went horribly wrong in their ensuing conflict. Suffice it to say, he served 16 months in minimum-security prison.
Now out, a penitent Gonzalez claims to be a changed man. He’s staying in more, he has a steady girlfriend and he’s sworn off womanizing. At 16-2-1 and seven knockouts, he is trying to jump-start a career that has shown promise.
Turning pro in 2001, Gonzalez thrilled Chicago audiences with his durability and willingness to mix it up with the toughest of foes. He’s had his moments, especially in sparring.
Just recently, Gonzalez wowed spectators at a gym in Las Vegas when he slugged it out with 2000 Olympian and current interim NABF Lightweight Title holder “Kid Diamond” Almazbek Raiymkulov.
Still, questions going back to his nationally televised brawl against Oscar Diaz remain. Although scintillating that night, Gonzalez didn’t listen to his corner, who desperately pleaded with him to go to the body. He also didn’t keep his punch output consistently high enough to take the fight away from Diaz, who slogged it out in the trenches and piled up precious points.
To Gonzalez’ credit, manager Pat Doljanin, said that he’s come back more humble this time. “He’s lost that arrogance,” he said.
Coupled with a newfound humility, Gonzalez has the help of former WBA Light Heavyweight Title holder Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, who serves as trainer and compiled a record of 50-8-1 and 39 knockouts in the 70’s and 80’s.
Possibilities surrounding his return have generated a small buzz in the boxing community. “My phone was ringing off the hook,” said Doljanin, when word got out that Gonzalez was back in the gym sparring again. That recent gym war with Kid Diamond—who dominated rugged Emmanuel Augustus several weeks ago—certainly didn’t hurt, either.
On Wednesday, January 24th, Gonzalez will have a chance to gauge his progress when he faces Nelson Romine (7-1-1, 2 KO’s) at the Sears Center in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
Taking a few moments from his Saturday evening, Al Gonzalez granted the Cyber Boxing Zone the following telephone interview.
JUAN AYLLON: How’s everything going today?
AL GONZALEZ: It’s going good right now.
JA: How’s training going?
AG: Really good! You know, it’s kind of different right now, ‘cause I’m trying to get back in shape. I was off two years and I just got back in for three months and I ain’t in my top, top, top shape. It’s not where I’d like it to be, but for six rounds, I know I can do it.
JA: Do you know much about Nelson Romine?
AG: No, I do not.
JA: Have you seen any fight films of him yet?
AG: No, they haven’t sent it to me yet.
JA: Tell us about your sparring and preparation for this bout.
AG: I’ve been sparring. I’ve been getting ready. I sparred with the “Kid Diamond.” Yeah, we went to war. I’ve been going to war with “Don Juan.” He trains at Top Rank (gym). That’s what they call him. I don’t know his real name. And then, there’s this other fighter named Wes.
JA: How many rounds are you sparring?
AG: Ten rounds. It’s like, Thursday, I did 10 rounds. My trainer was pushing 10 rounds this time. I was like, ‘All right. Let’s do it.’ If I did six rounds, and then eight, and 10 rounds the next day, all right! Cool.
JA: Coming off a two-year lay-off, people already questioned your commitment. Sometimes, you’ll come in really good shape and really shine and others, you’re not 100 percent. What would you say to people who question that?
AG: I know I was out there. I liked to party a lot, too. I understand that was one of my downfalls. Now, it’s like, I’m going to get to the “Gold Watch.” I could have been a champion. Now, I’m putting all my effort into it. I don’t even go out too much.
Now, I fight like I used to. It’s a good thing that I’ve changed. And you’re going to see that because this year’s gotta be my year. I’ve got to become a champion this year.
JA: You have a timeline you want to follow for this year?
AG: No, this year, I’m thinking about maybe getting in the “Top 10,” then, next year, becoming a champion.
JA: And you want to remain a light welterweight?
AG: Yeah, light welterweight.
JA: From a personal standpoint, you’re saying you’re not running around nearly as much?
AG: Yes. I don’t be at the clubs, messing with different girls and stuff like that.
JA: Do you have a regular girlfriend now?
AG: Oh yeah. I’ve got one now. We’re at her dad’s house right now. Her name’s Santana. She’ll be at the fights. She’s flying down.
We met up before I had to go do time. And, then, I got out and got back with her.
JA: What did you want to share about doing time? I heard that when you returned to the gym, you were “ripped and in pretty good shape. Did you do something special when you were locked away?
AG: Well, you know, no matter what, I can’t hide it. Everybody probably knows I was locked up, so it doesn’t matter. It was 16 months.
(As far as being ripped), it’s just that I had a friend when I was there. He said, ‘I want you to do this: I’m going to train you so when you get out of here, you’re going to explode,’ ‘cause up there, we’ve got weights and stuff. He didn’t have a partner, so he said, ‘Come on!’
So, I said, ‘Yeah.’ I started getting big. I started slowing up. I can’t believe how big I got!
Then, they took me to a restitution camp where they didn’t have weights. All we did is lay down, so it started wearing off. I got back down to 150 and it’s a good thing—I got loosened back up again, as big as I was.
I was up in Nevada. I was up there and I was fighting fires. It knocked some time off my sentence. It was like a work camp…where it was low custody, for people who haven’t done big violent crimes. That knocked off two months off my sentence.
JA: What do you think you learned from this experience?
AG: Oh, man! Just really, it’s about the females. That’s the only thing that’s basically causing me trouble.
When I first got out, I started seeing a lot of girls. And, then, I was like, ‘Nah, I don’t even want to talk to them girls!’ It changed. It was different. I didn’t get back into my old style, where I used to have different girls every day.
JA: So, now you’ve settled down a little bit? Are you engaged?
AG: Yeah. We’re going to get engaged soon and get married pretty soon, too.
JA: Congratulations!
Changing gears, what kind of diet are you on?
AG: My conditioning trainer—he’s got me on some of these dieting things. I don’t even got the list with me. He’s the one who got me…paperwork on what kinds of foods I can eat and stuff like that—mostly chicken, vegetables and fish.
JA: I hear that you and cruiserweight prospect Aaron Williams (who, like Gonzalez, is co-managed by Doljanin and Albert Falcon) are hanging out sometimes. What’s that like?
AG: Oh, it’s good. I met him a weekend before I was about to get out. You know, I was looking at jobs and then my trainers and them came in and seen me (sic). I had about a month or two left and they came and seen me at the job while I was working and I met him, so yeah!
JA: Is there anything you want to say to the fight fans?
AG: I just want to let the fans know I’m coming down, I’m going to bring a good show for them, and let them know I’m back!
