~ The Yuriorkis Gamboa Bandwagon ~

Gamboa-Rojas, Aydin-Ouali This Friday On SHOWTIME (from main page)

When speaking of celebrated Cuban prizefighters, some of the names that readily come to mind are Jose “Mantequilla’’ Napoles, “Kid’ Chocolate, “Kid” Gavilan, Luis Manuel “El Feo” Rodriguez, Ultiminio “Sugar” Ramos and Joel Casamayor. It would be premature to suggest that Yuriorkis Gamboa is in that class – yet – but “The Cyclone” has certainly created a commotion and one would be hard-pressed to find anybody who doesn’t think the Miami-based Cuban has the potential to become a definite world champion and perhaps an all-time great..

The 2004 Olympic Games gold medalist, 2009 Prospect of the Year and World Boxing Association (WBA) No. 3-ranked contender, Gamboa (14-0, 12 KOs) will face second-ranked Jose “Cheo’’ Rojas (25-6-1, 17 KOs, 1 No Decision) of Caracas, Venezuela, for the interim WBA featherweight title this Friday, April 17, on ShoBox: The New Generation on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).

In the co-feature at Buffalo Bills Casino at Primm, Nev., undefeated Selcuk Aydin (17-0, 14 KOs) of Turkey makes his ShoBox and United Sates debuts against hard-punching southpaw Said Ouali (25-2, 17 KOs), a native of Morocco who now lives in Las Vegas, in a 12-round battle of top 10 welterweights.

“I want to fight for a world championship,’’ Gamboa said. “I want to be the best in the world. My objective is to win at 126 pounds and in about two years I would like to move up to 130 and then 135.’’’

The confident, offensive-minded, hard-hitting Gamboa, who defected to the United States after a competition with Venezuela's national team in late 2006, has been on the fast track to the big time since he turned pro 24 months ago (April 2007). This will be his fourth start at Buffalo Bills Casino.

Gamboa’s meteoric rise has drawn the attention of many due to a lethal combination of dazzling speed and one-punch power in both hands, a vulnerable chin and a sometimes-flawed defense, which can lead to knockdowns (he’s been decked three times) but makes for edge-of-your-seat fun and much-see TV.

Simply put, when Gamboa is in high gear and letting the combos fly, he is a spectacular fighter – his defensive deficiencies notwithstanding. Below are remarks from a few experts about the hyper-aggressive, flashy, five-foot-five, 27-year-old who is known for a powerful mixture of lightning-fast flurries and stop-you-in-your-tracks knockout punches:

ShoBox blow-by-blow announcer Nick Charles said: “To me, watching Gamboa for the first time was like getting hit by a tidal wave. There is no doubt he’s got flash, but what about that chin? The combination of his unmistakable skills and obvious weakness makes him a fighter I don’t want to miss in action.’’

Said Steve Farhood, ShoBox analyst and boxing historian: “Gamboa's speed, power and style generate as much excitement as any fresh face that has come along in recent memory. The fact that he's an Olympic gold medalist adds quality and accomplishment to the flash. I was in Florida for his first fight in the States, and he blew me away. He has a certain presence in the ring, and the fact that he's been dropped a couple of times only adds to the urgency to watch him every time he fights.’’

Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports said: “I think Gamboa is one of best in fighters in the world who doesn’t have a title. He has no peers offensively and if he ever tightens his defense, he could become a superstar.’’

Offered Dan Rafael of ESPN.com: “I like Gamboa and think he is very exciting. Whether he wins, or eventually loses, he's always exciting to watch and, because of his style, he is always in a good fight, which is what I want to see when I tune in to ShoBox. Rojas is a pretty reasonable step up for Gamboa.’’

Gamboa has maintained a high level of activity since going pro after bringing home flyweight gold to Cuba. The ambitious prospect-turned-contender has already fought twice in ’09 after competing five times in ’08 and on six occasions in ’07.

A mature, highly skilled boxer-puncher, the undefeated dynamo made more like a “Hurricane” than a “Cyclone” in his last outing, blowing away the vastly more experienced, former world title challenger, Colombian southpaw, Walter Estrada, in only 35 seconds, on Feb. 20, 2009, at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“It didn't go exactly how I wanted,’’ said Gamboa, who has stormed through the ratings at a startling speed and is ranked by the four major organizations. “I was hoping to get some work in, but I knocked Estrada out and that's not a bad thing. I never look for a knockout.

“It seems with my style that the knockouts just happen. Thankfully they have happened often.’’

The crowd-pleasing, always-attacking Gamboa rebounded from a knockdown to score a 10th-round TKO over Roger Gonzalez in his outing before last on Jan. 9, 2009, at Buffalo Bills Casino. The match was halted at 2:12.

“My defense (he tends to hold his hands low) is something I know I have to correct as I advance in my career,’’ said Gamboa, who’s cocky inside the ring but a respectful gentleman outside. “Little by little I’m trying to perfect my craft and that’s why I train hard in the gym. It is something I’m going to get corrected.’’

On July 18, 2008, at Buffalo Bills Casino, Gamboa looked devastating as he annihilated Al Seeger in the first round to capture the North American Boxing Organization (NABO) featherweight belt.

None of Gamboa’s foes have entered the ring with a losing record.

Southpaw Rojas, who owns a KO 3 victory over current junior featherweight standout and WBA titleholder Celestino Caballero, is making his Shobox debut and second start in the United States.

In the last 12 years, the 19-year veteran’s only defeats came against WBA champs Chris John, Yober Ortega and Antonio Cermeno. The five-foot-eight-inch, 36-year-old is 9-1-1 in his last 11 starts, including a third-round TKO over Rafael Castillo in his last outing on March 20, 2008.

An awkward, aggressive boxer-puncher who is not unaccustomed to coming back from a layoff, Rojas is getting a fifth shot at an elusive WBA belt – his third at 126 pounds. He went 0-2 at 122.

Two outings ago, in a rematch of a Dec. 4, 2004 bout that ended in a fourth-round technical draw, Rojas lost a decision to the still-undefeated John in a hard-fought match on March 3, 2007.

In their initial encounter, Rojas led John by one point on two of the three scorecards after three rounds. It was stopped at 1:41 of the fourth with both boxers cut over their right eyes by a clash of heads.

Rojas was a top amateur for Venezuela before turning pro July 29, 1989 (Gamboa was six-and-a-half). Rojas’ career was interrupted for four years (1992-96) when he served in the Venezuelan military.



1 DAY!

 

GAMBOA VS. ROJAS TONIGHT!

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Both fighters made weight, so Gamboa's first (interim) world title fight is on! Article from main page:

The 2004 Olympic Games gold medalist, 2009 Prospect of the Year and World Boxing Association (WBA) No. 3-ranked contender, Yuriorkis Gamboa (14-0, 12 KOs), of Miami by way of Cuba, will face second-ranked Jose “Cheo’’ Rojas (25-6-1, 17 KOs, 1 No Decision) of Caracas, Venezuela, for the interim WBA featherweight title tomorrow/ Friday, April 17, on ShoBox: The New Generation on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). In the co-feature at Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino at Primm, Nev., undefeated Selcuk Aydin (17-0, 14 KOs) of Turkey makes his ShoBox and United States debuts against hard-punching southpaw Said Ouali (25-2, 17 KOs), a Las Vegas-based Moroccan, in a 12-round battle of top 10 welterweights.

Tickets for an event presented by Hamburg, Germany-based Arena Boxing start at $20 and can be purchased at www.primmvalleyresorts.com. Doors open for the live event open at 6 p.m. PT. NOTE: THURSDAY’S WEIGHTS – Gamboa weighed 125 1/2 pounds, Rojas 125; Aydin and Ouali each weighed 146 pounds..


YURI GAMBOA

“Fighting for a world title in my 15th fight is very exciting, but I always had a dream, a goal, to fight for the title within two years of turning pro and it is almost two years exactly.

“I am very hungry for the belt. I’ve seen tapes of Rojas and know he is a veteran with a lot of experience. He has fought tough fighters. He is not coming here to lose. So there is no way I will look past him.

“But I am confident and extremely prepared. It could be an easy fight, or a difficult one. But a fight is a fight and I will try and finish him as fast as I can. I feel I am too fast and explosive for him.

“That he’s a left-hander doesn’t bother me at all. I had so many amateur fights. I have fought all sorts of fighters with all different styles.

“Expectations of me are very high, I understand that. So, yes, there is definitely pressure. But it is the kind of pressure that is almost an honor for me to have. I will give my best and try to live up or exceed what people already think of me. I know I have to prove myself.

“Since hooking up with trainer Ismael Salas, I feel I am much improved. He is one of the top trainers in the world and he has really helped me learn and understand the pro game.

“I know I hold my hands low – everybody knows that – but we continue to work on that. It’s just a bad habit I need to get rid of. Nobody likes to get knocked down but, bottom line is, I keep getting back up.

“I want to fight the best there is at 126 pounds. I am willing to fight any of the current world champions. This is a great opportunity for me. I am looking forward to winning the title on SHOWTIME.’’


JOSE ROJAS

“I am not here to be a stepping stone for anybody. I am happy to get another shot at the world title and I want to win it.

“I’ve never seen a tape of Rojas. Nor do I care to. There is no way to compare him to the other fighters I’ve fought. He’s just coming up. Let’s see how he does on Friday. Then, maybe, I will have an opinion.’’



GO GAMBOA! :happy :happy :happy

 

Gamboa's first title try:

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or

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! Last chance to place your predictions and say afterwards: 'I told you so!'