Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. Rafael Marquez in works for June 4 - PLEASE NO!

I love Rafael Marquez, and the only reason he's still fighting and not enjoying retirement as a multi-millionaire is because the sport is unfair in payment to the small warriors who gave 10 straight FOTY winners in the past decade.

Now based on the JuanMa Lopez fight and Morales' latest performance you might be under the impression Marquez has a lot left at age 36 after all, but he most likely doesn't. Lopez slowed down painfully ever since the Mtagwa fight and if the Salido loss gives you any indication that Lopez is near the Ponce De Leon shape at this stage of his career back to the drawing board for you I'm afraid. In an amazing trilogy Vazquez and Marquez beat the career out of each other, in the unnecessary 4th Rafa just had a little more vs. a probably half-blind Izzy, but he's NOT an elite feather-weight, and hurting Lopez at one point who's getting hurt nowadays at every turn is no proof he should share a ring with blinding fast KO artist Yuriorkis Gamboa, in fact he's the LAST person around these weight classes he should face.

You might know I'm a Gamboa fan and critic at the same time, kid is super talented and a genuine good guy, but has several flaws, one is picking up some dirty tactics lately which I dislike, and another being open for the counter left hook, one of Marquez' money punch. But let me ask this: should Rafa risk a career-ending and long-term affecting beating that is 85% to happen for a 15% of chance of landing a monster left for the upset? My answer is no.

Marquez, you gave us much more than a fan could ever ask. Please just let it go!

 

It would be sweet if Marquez can pull it off.

 

gamboa all day!

 

good fight.

 

i think arum is doing this on purpose.
he is hoping that gamboa could loose to juanma's past opponent,how salido beat juanma.
then he can say they both lost ,..fight still on,...**** THAT,AND **** ARUM

 

If Marquez wins, it will definitely send shockwaves through the FW division. But I dont think it will happen.

 

terrible fight. marquez is shot. arum sure can pick 'em

 

**** all that, Vamos Rafa GUERRA!

 

It wouldn't surprise me to see Marquez win, honestly. Fully fit, he is still a brilliant fighter but, most importantly, he's a technician. As impressive as Gamboa is, he is all about handspeed, reflexes, power and quickness. He's not technically brilliant, so don't be surprised to see Marquez land quite freely. If that happens, can Gamboa take it? I don't think he can.

 

Why? It's a fun fight for everyone involved. I'll take it over a Barros, Gonzalez, Salido II for sure. I think it depends on how much Rafa has left.

 

Even thought I never like to see two of my favourite fighters meet each other, this fight makes sense for both guys and there's no reason it shouldn't happen.

The plan for Gamboa is probably Rafa then Jhonny Gonzalez - both fights against name fightersvwho he'd be favoured to beat but who still have the skills and, more importantly, the punching power, to make it interesting.

 

war rafa!

he aint a punk like his ***git bro.

 

Well you can never fully count at Rafa but this fight pushes that theory.

Gamboa is just getting into his groove while Rafa is slowly falling past his. However Gamboa is only 5'5" with a smaller frame than JML. Rafa would have a little bit of a height and maybe a wingspan advantage. Not sure on the reach but from memories i think Rafa should have that reach advantage.

Also like the OP did say. Gamboa can be caught with the left hook and no thats not Rafas best punch. The right is his best punch in any variation.
His left hook is great though and when Gamboa lunges in he does have a tendency to get caught with a good left hook.

My verdict is Gamboa stops Rafa in the mid-late rounds but tastes the canvas a couple of times doing so.

 

Rafa is a technician but he also likes to brawl a bit too much and a guy with Gamboas speed and power that is just wrong. Also his defense isnt all that great to begin with.

Imagine the craziness of an upset. What would that say about these so called superstar FW if the old vets beat them?
Not as good as advertised or just the vets were better era than the current one?

 

Rafa has the exact same height and reach as JuanMa if I remember correctly.