Potential Champion: Yuriorkis Gamboa
The Cuban-Born Featherweight Prospect Must Overcome Defensive Flaws
The scene was a familiar one to Yuriorkis Gamboa. His opponent had just landed a massive punch, hurting him and knocking him off balance, and the referee in front of him began his 10-count. Once again, Gamboa’s shoddy defense had failed him, and his opponent had scored a knockdown.
He didn’t appear hurt or dazed. But Gamboa had visited the canvas again, and it was clear that, although his offensive abilities make him one of the most exciting prospects in the world, his future still is in doubt.
If he can’t take a punch from a solid featherweight – or learn to avoid catching them flush against his face – he might have trouble once he starts facing A-level fighters.
Still undefeated
So far, he’s avoided a major disappointment. So far, he’s kept his perfect record intact while recording highlight reel knockouts. But there might come a time soon when Gamboa can’t recover from yet another knockdown. It could cost him a win. It could cost him a career.
Facing Roger Gonzalez on Jan. 9, it didn’t appear as though Gamboa would encounter many problems. Gonzalez hadn’t beaten anybody of consequence thus far in his career, and he was coming off a 10th-round knockout loss to Cornelius Lock seven months earlier.
Knowing that, Gamboa came out in the first round throwing hard shots. The veteran shook them off, though, and, with his hands, he urged Gamboa to keep on throwing. Gamboa, his speed and power on display, obliged.
Although Gonzalez probably knew he had a slim chance of upsetting the prospect in front of him, he waited for the perfect time to throw the perfect punch. And he didn’t have to wait long.
Yet another knockdown
Early in the second round, Gonzalez circled to his left and flicked his jab into Gamboa’s face. Then, when Gamboa wasn’t expecting an attack, Gonzalez struck. He shot out his left jab, blinding Gamboa, and he blasted the Cuban with an overhand right he clearly did not see coming. Gamboa wobbled and his left glove touched the mat, signifying the knockdown.
Though Gamboa went on to win the fight, stopping Gonzalez in the final minute of the last round, this has been a trend in Gamboa’s professional career. It happened against the undefeated Marcos Ramirez, when he was hit solidly by two counterpunches that brought him to his knees in the first round. Sure, Gamboa knocked him out in the next round, but, considering Darling Jimenez and Adailton De Jesus had accomplished the same feat against the 27-year-old, the trend already had been established.
The problem, in part, is because Gamboa doesn’t hold his hands high – an oddity considering the success of the Cuban amateur boxing system – and because he uses his speed so effectively that he, at times, forgets about defense.
An unclear future for 2004 Olympic gold medalist
The fact Gamboa has reached this level on the professional circuit is impressive. He starred on the Cuban national amateur team, and he won a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics. He defected from his country while the Cuban team was competing in Venezuela, and with teammates Odlanier Solis and Yan Barthelemy, he escaped to Colombia. Eventually, he found his way to Germany, and he’s been an impressive professional fighter ever since.
But he possesses that enormous question mark. Will he find his defense and his chin and go on to become a champion? Or will he continue on like another speedy knockout artist named Naseem Hamed – who built a flashy undefeated record but whose defense couldn’t stop future Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera from basically ending his time in the boxing ring.
The answer to those questions will define Gamboa’s career.
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