Yuriorkis Gamboa

RiseToTheTop

Anyone like this boxer? He is one of my favourites ATM, a record of 21 wins and 16 KO's, an exciting fighter. If he doesn't get Donaire soon (highly unlikely) i'd like to see him move up in weight.

He should be fighting more though as he is 30, 3 times a year at least, 4 time preferably. The same with Rigondeaux, these guys aren't been given to chance to fight that often though. Gamboa is being avoided by the average guys and then the guys with the titles are wary of him.

dlofnep

Gamboa fights at FW, Donaire is a Super-BW. There's no reason why they have to fight. Gamboa is great, still a bit raw though. Best FW in the game bar none.

Henno30

Yeah he's quality alright. I'd love to see him in against some better fighter though. His next fight is total bullsh*t. Rocky Juarez is coming off five defeats in a row ffs.

Henno30

dlofnep wrote: »

Gamboa fights at FW, Donaire is a Super-BW. There's no reason why they have to fight. Gamboa is great, still a bit raw though. Best FW in the game bar none.

Donaire apparently struggles to put on muscle and said he felt a bit uncomfortable in the fight with Vazquez at 122. That makes any match with Gamboa out of the question for time being.

If JuanMa beats Salido in their rematch that fight could still happen. Chris John would be a good match as well.

Spazdarn

Chris John has no intention of fighting him. Juanma was kinda ducking him but losing to Salido, really set back any chance of the two fighting.

As mentioned Donaire isn't comfortable at 122 so as much as I'd like to see a fight between the two, it probably won't be happening for a while.

Brandon Rios and Gamboa is a very interesting fight, I'd definitely favour Gamboa over him if it weren't for the gulf in weight.

Can't help but like the likes of Rios and Gamboa, they seem to just want the best fights available.

BiffoGooner

Great fighter, unbelievable handspeed.

A fight with Brandon Rios is apparently a done deal for April 14th. That would be a huge step up from what he's been facing if true. Confident he'd have the tools and speed to deal with Rios though.

dlofnep

Isn't Rios 2 weight classes up?

Spazdarn

He sure is, making Gamboa look even more bad ass than usual for taking this fight.

Henno30

Jesus, now that's a fight. What weight is it going to be at?

Henno30

I see it is in fact at 135. Massive respect to Gamboa. This would most definitely make him a superstar if he wins it. Rios might not be that well known outside of boxing circles, but to everyone in it this would put Gamboa in the top 5 p4p if he got a result.

The Prodigy 2

Gamboa is a total machine! Good boxing ability, great power with both hands, good rhythm with his combinations hes very fluent ! sharp reflexes.. The Rios fight will be savage !

walshb

Gamboa is excellent. Looks wild at times, but he can also look very technical and composed. I think he is just such a natural fighter that he lets go so effortlessly, and this at times can look crude. Speed, power, feet and fitness. Almost the total package. Still need to see if chin is grade A.

He was my favourite amateur from the 2004 Atens games. Sensational.

Would love to see him and Rigo at FW. Great clash of styles. Apparently as an amateur Gamboa skipped 54 kgs to avoid figting Rigo. Gamboa went to the 57 Kg division.

RiseToTheTop

Yuriorkis Gamboa Facebook Page wrote:

It's official!! I'm fighting Brandon Rios on April 14th in Las Vegas The fight will happen at 135lb!

This is taken from Gamboa's offical Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/Yuriorkis.Gamboa

Nice, will be a great fight. (Appearently he has been taking English lessons for a while, thus him writing the message himself.)

runboyrun

Gamboa v Rios at LW

Great fight

I'd pick Rios to win because of the size and strength difference....also Rios should be hitting harder at this weight

I could see Rios losing if he struggles as badly with the weight as he did against Murray.

If he does the weight properly or is able to I could see him losing the first 3 or 4 rounds but then catching up with Gamboa and forcing a late stoppage or winning by a couple of points.

RiseToTheTop

Gamboa has a lot of power you know, he could trouble Rios throughout all the fight.

runboyrun

Rios is a huge lightweight

Gamboa will be jumping up 2 weights from 126, skipping 130lbs and straight into 135lbs

Rios will probably weigh 150lbs + come fight time.....I'd say at least 10lbs heavier than Gamboa will be

Gamboa is a small LW at 5ft 5.5 inches

I think Gamboa should have a couple of fights at LW first to grow into the weight before fighting a champion

The only way I see Rios losing is if he does the weight very badly again

keane=cock

RiseToTheTop wrote: »

Gamboa has a lot of power you know, he could trouble Rios throughout all the fight.

rios has a granite chin and NEVER takes a step back.

gamboa has to out box him. IF he trades with him he WILL be beaten

RiseToTheTop

We'll have to see. Should make for a very interesting fight.

Henno30

keane=cock wrote: »

rios has a granite chin and NEVER takes a step back.

gamboa has to out box him. IF he trades with him he WILL be beaten

How will he avoid trading with Rios though? Rios is going to keep walking him down, and with the weight difference you have to wonder if Gamboa has the power to stop him in his tracks. Gamboa is absolute class but he's going to have to exchange. That's just how Rios fights.

rebelomar

Shows the kind of warrior spirit Gamboa has in fairness to go up two weights to fight this guy...Big Respect for Gamboa.

Like his compatriot Lara, seems determined to call out and fight the best available opponents. Rigo the same with Donaire. These guys don't seem to duck anybody. Why would they with their skills I suppose. Very refreshing.

RiseToTheTop

If only Mayweather took a leaf from Gamboa's book boxing would be better.

keane=cock

Henno30 wrote: »

How will he avoid trading with Rios though? Rios is going to keep walking him down, and with the weight difference you have to wonder if Gamboa has the power to stop him in his tracks. Gamboa is absolute class but he's going to have to exchange. That's just how Rios fights.

i dodnt think he can henno. i can not see anything other than a rios win. very dangerous fight for gamboa to take.

RiseToTheTop

We'll have to see if Gamboa can punch harder at lightweight.

walshb

I am going to back Gamboa here. Far faster and far the more all around boxer. Rios is a good hitter, but a boxer/slugger with slow feet. Gamboa if he boxes clever wins this all night. And, Rios would want to make sure he gets his weight right or he may not have the same spark come fight night

walshb

Gamboa's team wouldn't be stepping up two weights to fight this guy if they thought it was a big risk. They see something that Gamboa can exploit, as do I.

Spazdarn

Rios was sluggish in the last fight due to weight issues, If I erase that lumbering fight from memory, it's a pick 'em fight. I'd always fancy the boxer in these scenarios though.

walshb

The good thing for Yuri is that he can eat and train normally and not worry about draining or boling to make weight. That can be an advantage, even though naturally he is smaller. Rios is a big LW, and was supposed to go to 140 after the Murray scrap where he struggled real bad. Now, he is holding back again and staying at a weight that he finds quite difficult to make.

I think Gamboa's excellent speed, and versatility, as well as all around movement may make this "natural size difference" irrelevant. Rios hitting air mostly, and eating a lot of wickedly fast shots.

walshb

BTW, should JMM meet Rios any time soon it's a landslide win for JMM.

Spazdarn

walshb wrote: »

BTW, should JMM meet Rios any time soon it's a landslide win for JMM.

Agreed, Marquez far too classy for him. Though gotta love Rios, he will fight anyone, and doesn't seem to be allowing the promoters lead him astray.

RiseToTheTop

I say in the next year or 2 years time Marquez might be a bit too old to fight.

Spazdarn

RiseToTheTop wrote: »

I say in the next year or 2 years time Marquez might be a bit too old to fight.

He's looking to fight him after the Gamboa fight though, far too soon...

walshb

Henno30 wrote: »

Gamboa is absolute class but he's going to have to exchange. That's just how Rios fights.

Yes, but in the exchanges one man is so so fast, that for every exchange it could be 3 to 1. That will tell on Rios more than Gamboa. Gamboa can do it inside and outside, that is also so important. He only needs to engage for split seconds and then on his feet. He has that all around balance and movement. I thinnk Gamboa most definitely can rock and hurt this guy.

He has too much of everything to lose here, unless his beard isn't up to a flush Rios shot.

tryingmybestt

Gamboa will lose a lot of speed at the much higher weight.
Rios will be too big for him, he will bully and dominate him.
Rios is very good at cutting off the ring, similar to margarito.
I see Rios winning a tough fight.
Gamboa is excellent at FW and FW but I think LW is a weight too far for him, especially since no previous fights.

Rios to win by late stoppage of 3 or 4 points !

Spazdarn

tryingmybestt wrote: »

Gamboa will lose a lot of speed at the much higher weight.
Rios will be too big for him, he will bully and dominate him.
Rios is very good at cutting off the ring, similar to margarito.
I see Rios winning a tough fight.
Gamboa is excellent at FW and FW but I think LW is a weight too far for him, especially since no previous fights.

Rios to win by late stoppage of 3 or 4 points !

Rios was sluggish and wasn't cutting off the ring very well against Murray, he'll really have to get his weight issues in order, he can't afford to give Gamboa a moment of peace in there...

tryingmybestt

Read an article stating that Rios' weight is normally in the 170's six weeks before fight time but this time he's around 150lbs. He has a nutritionist and special trainer to cut the weight properly so it seems like he will do the weight properly this time. If he does he should beat Gamboa.

Gamboa is class but too many obstacles for him to overcome in this fight.

Rios was totally fooked in the Murray fight, not eating anything for 4 days leading up to the fight. He still KO'd a tough game Murray.

Henno30

tryingmybestt wrote: »

Read an article stating that Rios' weight is normally in the 170's six weeks before fight time but this time he's around 150lbs. He has a nutritionist and special trainer to cut the weight properly so it seems like he will do the weight properly this time. If he does he should beat Gamboa.

Gamboa is class but too many obstacles for him to overcome in this fight.

Rios was totally fooked in the Murray fight, not eating anything for 4 days leading up to the fight. He still KO'd a tough game Murray.

Doesn't Rios normally weigh around 150 on fight night?

runboyrun

yea he does weigh around 150.....he's a huge LW and he could outweigh gamboa by at least 10 lbs......by the sounds of it he's doing the weight properly and if so gamboa is in trouble....great fight though

walshb

No matter what weight he comes in at, on weight day he must be 135. He is not a massive LW. Just because he may rehydrate a lot doesn't make him a massive LW. Look at others from years gone by and he's not naturally bigger. Oscar, Duran, Gatti, Floyd etc etc. So Rios stuffs himself after the weigh in putting on 15 lbs in food and liquid, big deal. Gamboa is the one that is the far better boxer, and far faster too. This is what I see as the difference, not 10-15 lbs of food. Rios may simply not be all that dedicated to keeping in shape in between fights, and may be susceptible to putting on the lbs. That doen't mean he's some massive LW fighter. Hatton was not a massive LWW just because he went above 180 lbs after fights and between fights.

To me, a massive LW, and natural, was Amir Khan. Rios is a LW, should be too. Because he puts weight on and does not keep in shape between fights is another story.

RiseToTheTop

People saying boxing isn't the same as before, but the lower weight divisions are good as ever IMO. Gamboa, Donaire, Rigondeoux. Not to mention the welterweights.

runboyrun

rios is a natural LW, Gamboa is clearly not. Gamboa will be naturally bigger (5ft 9 to 5ft 5) and naturally heavier. The extra weight is significant and if he's 10lbs heavier at fight time it will be a factor e.g. chavez jnr v rubio.

walshb

runboyrun wrote: »

rios is a natural LW, Gamboa is clearly not. Gamboa will be naturally bigger (5ft 9 to 5ft 5) and naturally heavier. The extra weight is significant and if he's 10lbs heavier at fight time it will be a factor e.g. chavez jnr v rubio.

Yes, he is a natural LW. My issue is with folks saying he's a massive LW. He is not. He has not got a big frame. Right now he's simply a natural LW fighter. Prescott and Khan had bigger frames and were naturally bigger than Rios when they were weighing at LW for fights.

runboyrun

walshb wrote: »

Yes, he is a natural LW. My issue is with folks saying he's a massive LW. He is not. He has not got a big frame. Right now he's simply a natural LW fighter.
Prescott and Khan had bigger frames and were naturally bigger than Rions when they were weighing at LW for fights.

he is a big LW, he's well above the average height of a LW at 5ft 9. he has a big frame, wide shoulder etc.

it's not all about height, he's very strong and powerful and LW and i feel he is a big LW and if he's 150lbs come fight time i would say he is a monster of a LW. that is if he does the weight properly and is 150lbs come fight time.

walshb

runboyrun wrote: »

he is a big LW, he's well above the average height of a LW at 5ft 9. he has a big frame, wide shoulder etc.

it's not all about height, he's very strong and powerful and LW and i feel he is a big LW and if he's 150lbs come fight time i would say he is a monster of a LW. that is if he does the weight properly and is 150lbs come fight time.

Think that height is a bit generous. Looks more 5" 7' or 5" 8.

megadodge

RiseToTheTop wrote: »

People saying boxing isn't the same as before, but the lower weight divisions are good as ever IMO. Gamboa, Donaire, Rigondeoux. Not to mention the welterweights.

People have been saying that since boxing began. FACT.

The older you get the more you'll notice it, assuming you're honest enough and have a good memory.

Any sport where you can't measure performance the rose-tinted brigade will have you believe "everything was better in the good old days". Bullsh!t.

Henno30

Gamboa has gone AWOL. Didn't show up for the opening press conference of the promotional tour for the fight. Top Rank say they don't know where he is. This is Dan Rafael's report on it - http://espn.go.com/blog/dan-rafael/post/_/id/835/where-in-the-world-is-yuriorkis-gamboa

There are rumours that he isn't at all happy with the contract. Some say he wants more money, others say he was reluctant to agree to the fight at all. Not surprising considering the nature of it.

barney4001

Be a close call this one both unbeaten and the bookies see it that way also

1/1 Rios 4/5 Gamboa

Henno30

barney4001 wrote: »

Be a close call this one both unbeaten and the bookies see it that way also

1/1 Rios 4/5 Gamboa

What are the bookies' odds on the fight actually happening?

Henno30

Exclusive: Gamboa says he won't fight Rios unless the deal is right

by Lem Satterfield
Mar 6th, 2012


The attorney for THE RING's No. 1-rated featherweight Yuriorkis Gamboa said the former Cuban Olympic gold medalist won't fight the magazine's No. 1-rated lightweight, Brandon Rios, on April 14 on HBO unless he is "operating under terms that are satisfactory" regarding his contract with co-promoters Top Rank Inc. and Ahmet Oner.

Gamboa (21-0, 16 knockouts) did not show up for a noon press conference on Monday at the Versailles Restaurant in Miami, Fla., and said that he will not be present at the Los Angeles presser at the Millenium Biltmore Hotel's Crystal Ballroom today.

"No," Gamboa said when asked if he would attend the L.A. press conference on Tuesday. "There's no contract and there is no fight."

Gamboa spoke to ringtv.com from Las Vegas, where he arrived on Sunday and has been training at the gym owned by WBC welterweight titleholder Floyd Mayweather Jr. Gamboa's interview was translated by his wife, Maria Cabrera.

"Whenever everything is clear with my contract, that's when the fight will happen, but right now I'm not under the terms that I want the fight to happen," Gamboa told ringtv.com. "I don't have a problem with HBO, and I hope that HBO doesn't have a problem with me either because everything that's happening with me, I didn't choose to be in the position I'm in right now.

"But this is the time to do this, because if I don't stand up for myself, nobody else is going to do it. I never thought that things would wind up this way, but there was never a contract and there was never a signature from Gamboa agreeing to fight with Brandon Rios on April 14."

Gamboa contends that he has never been happy with the terms of the deal and that he has not signed a bout agreement to face Rios (29-0-1, 22 KOs), with whom he is scheduled to fight for the vacant WBA lightweight belt at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.

Gamboa's lawyer, Sekou Gary, says his client is willing to work things out with his co-promoters, but he also stresses that the undefeated boxer-puncher is unsatisfied with his current situation.

"He is looking to come to a resolution with Top Rank and the co-promoter, Arena Box-Promotion, and Ahmet Oner, and he's looking to go in another direction; he's hoping to come to an amicable resolution with these guys," said Gary, whose father, Willie E. Gary, has earned the nickname, "Giant Killer," for his billion dollar success in high profile cases.

"Top Rank and Ahmet Oner are in the same position. Ahmet Oner is the promoter that he's signed to, and Ahmet Oner did the co-promotion with Top Rank, so they're both the same entity as far as we're concerned, and we're not happy with either of them."

Although officials from Top Rank Inc. or Oner's Arena Box-Promotions could not be reached concerning the status of Gamboa's contract at the time of this filing, Top Rank Inc. spokesman Lee Samuels told USA Today that Gamboa is under contract with the company for another two years.

"He can't fight for anyone else," said Samuels.

Gary would not speculate on whether or not Gamboa would contest his contractual agreement with either promoter.

"We're not going to comment directly on that, because we're in the process of working on that," Gary said. "We don't want to predict the future. We're in the process of trying to deal with the future right now and we don't want to be pigeon-holed into that position.

"Because we don't really know what's going to happen with resolving this matter. It could turn out in a couple of different ways. There are a few different scenarios and we just have to find one that he feels comfortable moving forward under. We have to be operating under terms that are satisfactory to the fighter, and that's the bottom line."

Gary also wanted to be clear that his client is not afraid of Rios or withdrawing from any legal agreement.

"We have concerns because there are people saying that Gamboa is backing out of the fight, and things of that nature, and that's not true," Gary said. "(Gamboa) has never signed on to the fight, so he never has backed out of the fight. He just wasn't going forward with a fight that they hadn't reached satisfactory terms on."

Gamboa said he skipped out on the press conference "because I never signed a contract for the fight, and since I didn't have a contract, and we're still under negotiations, then there was no reason for me to go to the press conference."

"When I told them that I was not going to show up, they told me that there was no way that they could cancel this, and that I should just show up and be there and this and that," said Gamboa.

"But I said, 'I didn't sign anything, so I'm not going.' I told Jose Perez, who works with Ahmet Oner, on Saturday, when I spoke to my lawyer, that I was not going to go to the press conference on Monday."

Gamboa also denied reports such as that in USA Today that he is close to signing with Mayweather's promotional company.

"I'm here in Las Vegas with my father [Carlos Gamboa,] and I've been training in Mayweather's gym because he [Floyd Mayweather Jr.] is my friend," said Gamboa. "He offered me his Gym so that I can train there, since the fight is going to be here in Las Vegas. That's the purpose of my training here."

Gamboa said he wants the fight as much as Rios does.

"The message to my fans is that, obviously, I'm not scared of Brandon Rios. They all should know that. I have no problem fighting with him or any other boxer," said Gamboa.

"But the problem is with my promoters and how they're doing their business with me. So it has nothing to do with Brandon Rios, but with the way that the business is being handled."

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/171823-exclusive-gamboa-says-he-wont-fight-rios-unless-the-deal-is-right

Henno30

Brawl at the Rios-Gamboa press conference - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbi-x0hbxdE#t=08m09s

The sharper among you will probably guess what this is about

jjm

tryingmybestt wrote: »

Read an article stating that Rios' weight is normally in the 170's six weeks before fight time but this time he's around 150lbs. He has a nutritionist and special trainer to cut the weight properly so it seems like he will do the weight properly this time. If he does he should beat Gamboa.

Gamboa is class but too many obstacles for him to overcome in this fight.

Rios was totally fooked in the Murray fight, not eating anything for 4 days leading up to the fight. He still KO'd a tough game Murray.

This is a great clip by HBO on Rios cutting weight before the Murray fight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HKuxQlLXeU

BiffoGooner

jjm wrote: »

This is a great clip by HBO on Rios cutting weight before the Murray fight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HKuxQlLXeU

He really looked like sh**e at the weigh in. Awful. Better get it right this time around if the Gamboa fight goes ahead.