~ The Yuriorkis Gamboa Bandwagon ~

The big difference is that Gamboa walked through from D+ to B-- level competition in just 8 fights, and he did in stunning fashion... At that point, Gamboa's resume was better than Khan's in 18 fights. Amazing speed, power, movement and he got away with the risk of jumping in and holding the hands low. It was the most impressive start for any pro fighter in decades. It's still is, but fights SINCE that points are different.

At the very moment he appeared before the large public, and when he needed to show improvement in the necessarily areas, he started to taste the canvas regularly, so most people have only seen the off-the-canvas wins of Yuriorkis. He was down vs. Jimenez and Ramirez on HBO, and now vs. Gonzalez on ESPN2, and this competition is not really highter than guys like De Jesus. So it's a bit of a shocker to see him on the canvas all the time, but he didn't seem to correct those mistakes or make the necessarily adjustments.


He still fights on the same level he started his pro career, which is pretty damn high, but never really adjusted to the pro game. There could be several reasons for that. A guy with 10+ years of amateur boxing and hundreds of fights doesn't easily adjust to a different kind of boxing style, but I don't think that's the problem on Gamboa's talent level. It's his dedication. Rumors say he goes all out into the Miami life, parties, drinks, doesn't seem to respect the trainers too much, and he might not have the champion's attitude in the gym.

Maybe the money and life he has now compared to his life back in Cuba is satisfactory enough not to have full dedication on boxing. That's a known problem for many Cubans. Solis doesn't seem very dedicated, neither was Juan Carlos Gomez. Casamayor had his promlems with focus as well.


As for the Amir Khan comapration, Gamboa never was really hurt in either of his KDs. He was just surprised as he was entirely focused on his game. He always looked focused after these knockdowns, but still starts fights going for the knockout. That's why I think a change in camp is necessary. A trainer like Roach (good for controlled aggression style) and having camp far from Miami is the right way IMO, but I think Öner knows that too.


Gamboa IS the talent we are saying of him, and we have most experts backing us, but talent alone is not enough in this game, and Yuri lacks of 'skills' in other areas. Focus, dedication, pro style fighting with patience, game plan, measuring the opponent in the ring, etc. That's what for example the Wild Card Gym can teach him whereas Ismael Salas is still pretty much following the amateur kind of training.

Nothing is over for Gamboa's pro career because he was down again. But he has to make the necessarily adjustments, that's pretty evident.

 

Oh and this could be his ring entrance song:

[YT]TL3rrYzf3oc[/YT]

 

Gamboa returns to the ring vs. Colombian fighter Walter Estrada on Feb 20, on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights.

It's gonna be a pretty good card with Breidis Prescott returning vs. Humberto Toledo, Richard Gutierrez facing Jesus Gonzalez and Erislandy Lara fighting unbeaten Cecil McCalla, all televised by the network.