Fighter’s Corner – Mario Alonzo

On February 1^st, 2014, Pechanga Resort & Casino will play host to the first Public Safety Boxing event of the year. One very intriguing fight featured on the SoCal Battle of the Badges card is a Heavyweight matchup between Mario Alonzo, CDCR, Chuckawalla Valley State Prison (CVSP) and Farris Hisle, ICE in a crossroads Heavyweight Showdown. The UCA spent a few minutes with the 10th ranked fighter to ask him some questions about his upcoming fight.

Height 5’10   Weight 220   Age 40   Record 1-3

UCA – What gym do you train at?

MA – I train out of the Coachella Valley Boxing Club

UCA – Who is your trainer?

MA -Jacob Najar

UCA – How often are you training to prepare for this fight?

MA – I try to get into the boxing gym three (3) times a week! With my family and work responsibilities it is getting harder each fight to get into the gym. I don’t think the fight fans understand how time fighting takes away from your family. We all have other jobs to deal with; fighting doesn’t pay the bills or put food on the table for us.

UCA – Who are some of your stable mates?

MA – 2^nd ranked Welterweight Manual Zavala, CDCR, CVSP and former Top Ranked, Albert Deleon, CDCR.

UCA – Your last fight was a close decision loss to 9th ranked, Zar Roman, Carson Fire Dept. Do you feel you could have done more to pick up the win?

MA – I take nothing away from any Warrior who gets into the ring. Mentally I wasn’t ready for that fight. I stopped training mentally two (2) weeks before that fight when I found out my mother had cancer. Mentally a fighter has to be ready to get into that ring, I wasn’t. People don’t know that I can run ten miles a day and still not be in fighting shape. I felt that I would give it a go because of Jeff Penn. Jeff has been really good to me, so I didn’t want to back out on him last minute. Oh to answer the question, have a better start. I wasn’t too sure of myself, so I played it safe the first two rounds. In the end the judges choose Zar as the winner and I tip my hat to him.

UCA – What is your mentality going into this fight? Is it no pressure, whatever happens, happens or is it, I will win, I have to win, it’s win I live lose I die?

MA – Mentally I feel that I have to get my respect back. I respect the fight game and I want to make sure that whoever I get into the ring with understands how hard I have worked for the fight. With me being one of the older fighters, I feel that this fight might be a win I live for another day. I have played a lot of sports and have done my share of different sport activities, but boxing has been a tough sport to walk away from.

UCA – If you sense the fight is close going into the 3rd round will you have enough in the tank to lay it all on the line to secure the win?

MA – I have gone the distance twice in my short career so I feel that going into the third round I will have enough to get through the round. It is the last round and there is no reason not to let it all out. You can’t take anything home with you.

UCA – Do you know anything about your opponent?  Have you watched any video on him? Have you seen him fight? Do you see any weaknesses in his game you can exploit?

MA – I have actually been on the same card that Mr. Hisle has been on. So I feel that I know enough about him. He has speed and power in both hands and even had a fighter quit in the ring on him. I know that Mr. Hisle doesn’t like the judges to get involved.

UCA – Are you doing anything different in training camp in preparation for this fight compared to past fights?

MA – I am putting in more road work in for this fight. I just want to be ready for the battle and leave everything in the ring.

UCA – Have you envisioned in your mind how the fight will go? Does it end with your hand being raised?

MA – I feel that I have to whether the storm in the beginning because Mr. Hisle is going to come forward. I feel that if I can stick to the game plan that my coach has prepared for me, I have a chance. I feel every fighter goes into a fight believing they are going to win. Especially in the battle of the badges, we get a T-shirt, a hand shake and a thank you for fighting. We do it for the kids that Jeff Penn reaches out to and helps and that thing call “PRIDE!”

UCA – What will you be thinking about as you walk to the ring?

MA – I usually think about the work I did to prepare for the fight and my family. My wife’s smile puts me into that place where I have nothing to worry about because at the end of the day I am going home with the best woman in the place. I think this fight I will be thinking about my first love, my mom. God willing she will be there if she is feeling good enough.

UCA – Prediction?

MA – I want to keep fighting and Mr. Hisle needs a win. This should be a good battle; we both have been tested in the past. Leather will be flying!

UCA – Anything you would like to add?

MA – I work at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison (CVSP) as a correctional Lieutenant. I started training to lose weight because I was tipping the scales at 305 and in bad shape. 2013 wasn’t all bad for me with my sister-in-law having cancer two weeks after my last fight, the year ended well. I was awarded the Bronze Star and a Unit Citation award for my actions I took while on duty. I was nominated nationally for the Medal of Valor

UCA – Thank you for your time and good luck.

MA – Thank you again for doing what you do for us badge holders! You are doing a great job, keep up the good work!