By Robert Morales

Alfonso Gomez (23-4-2, 12 KOs) was best known for competing in the inaugural season of "The Contender" reality series in 2005, going 2-1. He gained a bit more recognition when he earned a world-title shot against welterweight champion Miguel Cotto in April 2008, only to be stopped by Cotto after five rounds of a one-sided bout.

To many of us alleged experts in the industry, that seems like it might be about the best a fighter like Gomez can do. He's good, but probably not good enough to become a world champion, even in this day of four major titles for each weight class.

But Gomez will have a chance to prove some of us wrong when he challenges Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (37-0-1, 27 KOs) for his super welterweight world title in the main event Sept. 17 at Staples Center. It will be televised on HBO pay-per-view as part of a split feed that will include the welterweight title fight between Victor Ortiz and Floyd Mayweather Jr. from MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"I need that cherry on the top, that icing on the cake. This would shut up all the naysayers, all the critics, to do it. I'm really focused to actually win this title fight so they can call me a champion, not a tweener. My first try - I never create excuses - but having a broken hand during training didn't prepare me properly for that fight," he said. "In this instance, I am 100 percent healthy, 100 percent motivated," Gomez said.

"I'm going to fight full and hard with everything I have for 12 rounds," he said. "This might be my last chance to win a world title. I want a better future for my family, a better future for my wife and my children. I am willing to die in that ring. I'm going to be in there possessed, I'm going to go in there like a demon. That is what it takes to be a world champion and that's why I'm going to be victorious."