TalkingBoxing News
Gamboa Faces Rojas, Friday on Showtime
TUE April 14 - 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.
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.
“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.
Aydin is an exciting, untested fighter who’s ranked eighth in the WBC, one notch lower in the IBF. A 5-foot-seven, 25-year-old, Aydin will be making his ShoBox and U.S. debuts. An excellent European amateur, Aydin competed in the 2004 Olympic Games. He turned pro on Nov. 10, 2006 – about a year and a half after he was suspended for hitting a referee.
In his last outing, the aggressive boxer-puncher twice leveled Luis Hernandez en route to winning by first-round TKO on March 8, 2008.
Ouali, who is rated sixth in the WBC, No. 12 in the WBA and No. 4 in the IBF, has won 10 in a row, including eight straight by knockout. A fighter not always known for power won his ‘09 debut with a first-round TKO over Johnathon Nelson on Jan. 16. Ouali fought at Buffalo Bills Casino in his outing before that, registering a fifth-round TKO over Allen Conyers on Sept. 5, 2008.
“Moving to the United States on April 4, 2000, was something I worked for my whole life, since I was a little kid,’’ the 5-foot-10, 30-year-old southpaw said. “I literally started from nothing. I started from scratch, from the Diamond Gloves to the Golden Gloves to the Nationals.
“My style is kind of different. I like to throw power shots but I know how to box, too. Different guys, you’ve got to fight them differently. That’s what I’m trying; it’s about how you can adjust.
“I’m left-handed, but it depends on what I do. Some sports I play with my left hand, some I play with my right hand. I write just with my right hand. When I throw a ball, I use my left hand.
“In my Moroccan culture, doing things with your left hand was like a sin. When you’re left-handed, they try to change you to right-handed. They did it to me. I’m more right-handed than left-handed, I think.”
Charles and Farhood will call the ShoBox action. The executive producer of ShoBox is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
For more information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please go to the new SHOWTIME Sports website at http://sports.sho.com.
'Raging Bull' Moving up to Super Flyweight, Will Face IBF Champ
TUE April 14 - In what will be a brutal battle of pure power punchers, Vic “Raging Bull’’ Darchinyan will attempt to become a world champion in a third weight class when he challenges International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight champion Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko on Saturday, July 11, live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
The event is being co-promoted by Don King Productions and Gary Shaw Productions, LLC.
Agbeko (26-1,22 KOs), of New York by way of Ghana, will be making the second defense of the 118-pound crown he won with a seventh-round TKO over Luis Perez in August 2007. A winner of five in a row, Agbeko is coming off a 12-round decision over William Gonzalez on Dec, 11, 2008.
Darchinyan (32-1, 26 KOs) solidified his status as the No. 1 super flyweight in the world – and one of the top boxers pound-for-pound – with back-to-back impressive victories over Jorge Arce last Feb. 7 on SHOWTIME and Christian Mijares on Nov. 1, 2008, on SHOWTIME.
An Australia-based Armenian, Darchinyan exited his signature victory over Mijares with the IBF, World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) 115-pound belts. A former IBF flyweight champion, Darchinyan is appearing on SHOWTIME for a ninth time.
Agbeko, a relentless, aggressive-minded slugger, will be making his third start in the United States and second on SHOWTIME. His nickname is not really a nickname. “My name is Joseph King Kong Agbeko. That’s my real name,” he said. “It’s on my birth certificate and my passport.’’
By any name, this figures to be a dangerous assignment for Darchinyan, who’s talked about moving up in weight for a long time. “I’ll be ready and I’ll be stronger at 118,” he said. “Agbeko will feel my power, I promise you.”
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING announcers Gus Johnson and Al Bernstein will call the action with Jim Gray reporting from ringside. The executive producer of SHOWTIME Sports is David Dinkins Jr., with Bob Dunphy directing.
For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please visit the SHOWTIME Sports website at http://www.sho.com/sports.
Intense work for O'Connor
TUE April 14 - Promising prospect Danny O’Connor recently spent 10 days working out at the famed Athletes’ Performance Institute in Tempe, Arizona.
Athletes’ Performance, where Boston Red Sox stars Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury trained during the off-season, is home base for numerous athletes in several sports. O’Connor arrived there right after a slew of college football players, including potential top pick Matthew Stafford (U. of Georgia quarterback), preparing for the NFL combine had departed, which afforded Danny extra time and special attention.
“One of my best friends went to school for sports medicine and he has a good job there (Athletes’ Performance),” Danny said. “He talked to the people who run the facility and I did 10 days of legitimate training there. I was very impressed. I got educated about my body, nutrition, recovery work, and not getting injured. It was like going to school to learn how to be an athlete. It was way better than going to the gym and punching the heavy bag. I had a little time off after my last fight. I could have taken a vacation, or taken a vacation in Arizona and training at Athletes’ Performance. I learned a lot of new stuff. I was like a sponge; taking in as much knowledge as possible to make me a better athlete.”
2004 U.S. Olympic Team alternate O’Connor (5-0, 2 KOs) is coming off his first-round TKO of Charles Wade before 300 of his passionate fans 3 ½ weeks ago in Boston. “The place was jam-packed,” Danny noted. “They kept me until the last fight. I didn’t watch any of the other fights so I could concentrate on mine, but when I went out there everybody – family, friends and fans – were standing and it was so loud. I was really taken back to think they were all there to see me. It was a good feeling.”
The 23-year-old O’Connor, who defeated 2008 Olympic Gold medalist Felix Diaz, of the Dominican Republic, last May in a USA-Dominican Republic dual meet, is gradually dropping down from light welterweight (140) to lightweight (135). His connections at Athletes’ Performance set him up with a strength and conditioning coach, Eric Cressey, in Hudson (MA).
“Eric is a well known strength coach who worked a lot with (former Red Sox star) Curt Schilling,” O’Connor added. “He has me doing a lot of ply-metrics, similar to workouts we did with the Olympic Team – interval and explosive training. I feel good about my fights. I’m getting stronger and better each fight. I’m not the type to ever get out of shape, but I’m on a mission to be world champion and everyday, I wake up thinking of what I can do to make that happen. Mornings, I work with Eric, and nights I’m at the gym in Providence training with my coach, David Keefe.
“I’m coming down in weight, little by little, to 135. The morning of my last fight I weighed 137+ but when I learned my opponent wasn’t coming in close to 140, I ate more and weighed in at 141. With proper nutrition, I want to be a strong 135, not weak making it. I’m on a great diet plan and when I’m comfortable at 135, I’m going to be a monster.”
Danny’s head trainer and co-manager, David Keefe, believes the move to make his prize pupil a lightweight is a major step in the right direction. “Our goal is to drop weight gradually until he hits 135 in about six months,” Keefe explained. “Eventually, Danny will be the champion of the world in the division that suits him best - lightweight. He’s going to be a big lightweight. I’ve always told Danny that he had the weight to lose. Hooking-up with Eric Cressey will help him drop weight and make him stronger at the same time, something Rob Valle (O’Connor’s other co-manager) and I are excited about.”
O’Connor, promoted by Seminole Warriors Boxing, is scheduled to fight an opponent to be determined April 25 on Showtime’s Carl Froch-Jermain Taylor card at MGM Grand Foxwoods. “That’s another big card where I can showcase my talents to a lot of different people,” Danny concluded. “It’s a great fight card and Foxwoods is close to home, so I know a lot of my fans will be there (Ledyard, Connecticut).”
For more information about Danny O’Connor go online to www.dannyoconnorboxing.com.
Jermain Taylor is, "Peaking at the Right Time!"
TUE April 14 - "Every fighter knows when he's ready to do battle. I'm ready.
My conditioning, stamina and mental preparation is on schedule. I'm peaking at just the right time.
When you match his skill-sets with mine, I don't see how Carl Froch can win this fight."......Jermain Taylor
Going The Distance:
Jermain Taylor doesn’t want his fight with Carl Froch to even go the maximum 12 rounds — he wants to knock out Froch much earlier. Still, for Taylor, it’s nice to know he can go 16 rounds if necessary.
Taylor is in the tapering-down stage of training camp now, less than 12 days before his WBC Super Middleweight title bout with Froch on April 25 at the MGM Grand Theater at MGM Grand at Foxwoods.
The fight card is being promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Hennessy Sports. Tickets are on sale and priced at $200, $100, $75 and $50. Tickets are available at www.mgmatfoxwoods.com your local Ticket Master and MGM Grand Box Office 866-646-0609. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will telecast live at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
But before trainer Ozell Nelson would let Taylor start to wind the camp down, Nelson made sure Taylor was in the type of physical shape necessary for a fight of this caliber. Late last week Taylor went 10 rounds with multiple sparring partners and then, without interruption, did another six rounds of intense handpad work with Nelson. It was the longest workout of the training camp. “He did 16 rounds with ease,” Nelson said. “Jermain is going to be in excellent shape. He’s peaking just right. He finished real strong on the mitts, real strong. There was good snap on his punches. This camp is very confident about victory.”
Taylor agreed:
"Every fighter knows when he's ready to do battle. I'm ready. My conditioning, stamina and mental preparation is on schedule. I'm peaking at just the right time. When you match his skill-sets with mine, I don't see how Carl Froch can win this fight."
Home Sweet Miami:
Jermain Taylor returned to Miami to train for his last fight, against Jeff Lacy, for the first time since 2005, when he won the middleweight champion over Bernard Hopkins. Things went extremely well, and Taylor beat Lacy in a lopsided decision, so it was back to Miami for the Carl Froch training camp. With this camp going just as well, Taylor gives plenty of credit to Miami. “I always love being in Miami for training camp, it's where I started my professional career,” Taylor said. “My environment has a lot to do with my training and preparation for a fight. Everything always goes smooth in Miami. I like the weather conditions when I do my morning run. I know where everything is. I like the training facilities where I do my gym workouts. It’s a comfort feeling for me and that's important."
New Motivation, New Taylor:
Jermain Taylor is notorious for being hard on his sparring partners, and not just in the ring. To Taylor, every minute in the gym is work time, and he approaches each sparring session as if it were a prizefight. That normally means no talking to sparring partners, and certainly no joking around in or out of the ring. Taylor is also well-known for having a more serious, and downright cranky disposition the closer he gets to his fights. This training camp has been different. Taylor has been more talkative and more jovial with everyone in camp, even the sparring partners.
“It’s been amazing ,” said trainer Ozell Nelson. “He gets down to the gym and is talking, very active. When he steps in the ring he’s all serious, but afterward he’s still talking to the sparring partners, telling them he’s happy they came to work and stepped it up. He’s more relaxed, and I know he’s ready to go. He has a good outlook. And he’s thinking more in the ring instead of just whaling away with punches.”
Taylor said he’s more focused than ever, and it allows him to relax and mingle more with people in the camp. “We’ve had a great camp, as far as the sparring partners go,” Taylor said. "I usually don't talk or interact very much with my sparring partners because I approach the sparring sessions as though it's fight night. It keeps me focus with an edge to my attitude, but this camp I opened up just a little with my sparring partners and it's brought the best out of them. They really have pushed me with some serious and intense workouts."
More chatter in the gym isn’t the only new side of Taylor to come out this camp, and not the only thing that has pleased Nelson. Taylor has also shown much more interest in watching video of his opponent than before recent fights. “Jermain has really done his homework on Carl Froch, he wants that belt" said Nelson. "It shows me his focus is where it should be. We have a good feel on how Carl will fight Jermain and we are prepared to make any adjustments in the ring if needed."
Training With A Purpose:
Jermain Taylor has been a professional boxer for more than nine years now, but he still learns something new from every training camp, present camp included. And while Taylor said he went through a stretch of his career when he didn’t enjoy his training camps as much as he should, the Carl Froch camp has been the perfect combination of hard work to keep him excited and focused on winning another title.
"This was the prefect fight for me," said Taylor. "I couldn't wait to get in camp and start training for this match. I'm excited again like I was when I started my career. I have a purpose, I'm fighting for a title, something lost and I want it back."
In this training camp Taylor has been working on some of the same skills that allowed him to rise to the ranks of the boxing elite, namely a lightening-quick jab. But Taylor said he is also working on some new feints and countering techniques that he expects to use effectively against Froch.
"It's about skill-sets," said Taylor. "Carl can't match me skills-for-skills, all I have to do is apply and execute my talents and I'll come away with the victory."
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