What appeared to be, when matched, a genuine straight down the line don't fvcking bet on this 50-50 fight.
Here's what I splurged over on the Current Scene:
But does Ricky's capitulation to Zlaticanin signify that the Septic's no more a threat than Darleys Perez or Michael Farenas, fringe-level guys with decent fundamentals who negated Gamboa's gifts to the extent where he failed to shine but were so physically outmatched they could not beat him?I've been going back & forth.
A large part of me thinks Gamboa has to land something to shock Crawford, shake him up badly within five or he will do his usual disinterested thing & eat so many counters on the way out (like most excessively gifted athletic fighters, his fundamentals are shocking at times: head straight up when he backs off, the jab's barely a flick which means he has difficulty opening guys up & seems to get frustrated) that he'll find himself in a hole on the scorecards & start rushing in late, which is when he gets dropped (think Farenas, a video of which I'd hope the American's brains-trust hopefully had on a loop in their training camp). I think Crawford--if he can take Gamboa's single bombs--must work the jab when Gamboa runs out of ideas & not be awed by his speed & power, jab the body, not just use his reach but score with it when Gamboa's neglect of fundamentals means he goes into posing mode.
I think he can do it. I like his fundamentals, his stance, his attention to craft. I like his engine & his willingness to work. But Crawford's task is so fraught I'm staying awake to watch.
Literally. Cannot. Wait.
PS: I am biased, I should admit. Added to my natural proclivity for a smart counter-puncher the shadow--c'mon let's not mince it, the huge five mile high letters of fire written across the sky--of Gamboa's PED use makes me wanna see him get slapped silly.
I dunno. I'm reeeeally excited to find out.
