BoxRec

Good fights this weekend for prospects Yuriorkis Gamboa and James Kirkland.
Gamboa takes on the tough Darling Jimenez, its not an easy match. Jimenez has lost a couple on points but against decent opposition and both were points losses. Jimenez has a good punch he's won his last 6 all by KO and that includes a win over Mike Anchondo, who he Ko'd in 3 in his last fight.
So if Gamboa comes out and does a number on Jimenez early then it will be a very impressive win, but i think Jimenez will come with ambition and skills, so this fight will go into the later rounds, but i feel the overall punch and ability of Gamboa will take over for a late round stoppage. But he may not get it all his own way.

James Kirkland for me gets an even harder test in Eromosele Albert, This is really a good matchup, Albert is a come foward boxer who doesn't stop throwing punches to head and body, not the biggest puncher , but he wears them down and breaks his opponents heart.
Kirkland is a big big puncher, he comes out throwing bombs and he won't have to go looking for Albert, but in Kirklands last fight he was floored and really hurt by Allen Conyers before landing his own big punches to KO Conyers in the 1st round, in that one it looked like Kirkland was only a punch away from being stopped himself. So maybe the chin isn't quite there for him.
So i'm going for Albert to upset Kirkland here, as long as he avoids the bombs that Kirkland throws in the first couple of rounds, i feel Albert will break and wear Kirkland out to win on points.

There's 3 good junior middles on that card.

Anyone think Jamie Moore would be perfect for that ShoBox program? He's more tested than all those guys and if it would take him closer to a title shot...

ShoBox have just done one show from England.

Looks a good card, I think Sky are showing it delayed as far as I can tell.

Kirkland looks like a young Nigel Benn, with the reckless way he slams back when hurt. Big puncher but like Ian says, chin might not be great. Nigerian is in with a chance if he's as tough as they usualy are from Africa.

TFN are also showing the main event (live and delayed), not sure about the others though.

What about this Angulo guy?

Autobarn wrote:What about this Angulo guy?

Fernando Angulo, the lightweight?

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:

Autobarn wrote:What about this Angulo guy?

Fernando Angulo, the lightweight?

Yeah he faces big punching Randy Suico, which shows this card really is good quality.
Angulo has had a shot at a world title against Juan Diaz losing on points , but showing he's tough in the process. Randy Suico has also had a shot at Diaz losing by KO, he's also lost to Mzonke Fana on points, in that one Suico really had Fana there for the taking , but let his numerous chances slip by not following up when Fana was hurt.
Can't really pick between these 2, maybe Angulo takes the big shots from Suico and wins on points, or Suico bullies Angulo for a stoppage or points win.

Old bones Ian wrote:

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:

Autobarn wrote:What about this Angulo guy?

Fernando Angulo, the lightweight?

Yeah he faces big punching Randy Suico, which shows this card really is good quality.
Angulo has had a shot at a world title against Juan Diaz losing on points , but showing he's tough in the process. Randy Suico has also had a shot at Diaz losing by KO, he's also lost to Mzonke Fana on points, in that one Suico really had Fana there for the taking , but let his numerous chances slip by not following up when Fana was hurt.
Can't really pick between these 2, maybe Angulo takes the big shots from Suico and wins on points, or Suico bullies Angulo for a stoppage or points win.

I rate Angulo highly. He's a good litmus test for anyone wanting to see how they'll do against top 135 fighters. The Diaz fight was a bit of a blowout for him, but he's a tough little cookie.

Alfredo Angulo, the light middle, who's on that card.

Autobarn wrote:There's 3 good junior middles on that card.

Anyone think Jamie Moore would be perfect for that ShoBox program? He's more tested than all those guys and if it would take him closer to a title shot...

ShoBox have just done one show from England.

Jamie Moore got 'most entertaining boxer' at light middle in The Rings yearly awards. So he might generate some interest by the US tv channels.

Terry D wrote:Albert struggled a little with Edouard when Daniel tried to box but Albert then sucked him in and fought really well inside.

Albert may just tuck up for the swings and hammer Kirkland when he gets close. Kirkland also loses a little steam during the later rounds in my opinion.

Albert could win a gruelling battle or Kirkland could KO the guy with a single shot, it is a really good fight.

Looking forward to Gamboa, he is a diamond but is there in close to be thrown at and can be cocky.

Why can't we have a UK card like this in which the young guys all face off? Is it because we have to leave them for 5-years so that they can be gifted WBO titles?

I think with us having titles like the British and the Commonwealth and the WBO, that gives our fighters something to fight for. So for me it's a different kind of criteria - I can't remember when we've last had prospect vs prospect - and we have had good stuff like Mitchell-Johanesson, Johanesson-Gomez, Arthur-Foster Jr, even the recent Truscott-Akaba where they all really put in massive efforts for the prize.

I think the best we get is a prospect vs a test. Like Mitchell-Johanesson, Truscott-Akaba (not a classic by any stretch but a great learning experience) or Khan-Limond.

Everyone has a plan and everyone has their own particular path (unless they have the same promoter and a WBO belt doing the rounds) to take.

I just think it's up to the promoter to make it interesting and keep things moving forward.

From a business POV it would be too wasteful to put 2 prospects together.

Can you think of any prospect vs prospect bouts you'd like?

Also i think the TV bosses have more of a say on matches then over here.
They don't want mismatches , and will let their commentators speak their minds if they think it is a mismatch.

The promoters have most of the say over here.

One i'd want to see is Murray v Fewkes, will that get made again?

I think it's harder to make with ppl having the same promoter. I mean, is Gilmour going to put Paul Truscott and Pauw Appweby in together? One's won the Commonwealth, one's in an equal test for the British. I'm happy with the way both are progressing, but won't hold my breath to see them vs each other. I hope one of them will break Britain's bad fortune vs Jacksn Asiku...

MightyWarrior wrote:Looks a good card, I think Sky are showing it delayed as far as I can tell.

Kirkland looks like a young Nigel Benn, with the reckless way he slams back when hurt. Big puncher but like Ian says, chin might not be great. Nigerian is in with a chance if he's as tough as they usualy are from Africa.

Good call on the Nigel Benn comparison, Kirkland is vulnerable but exciting. I think it's a matter of time before he comes a cropper but not sure whether Albert is the man to do the job.

Gamboa comes out slinging but i think if you weather his early storm then you get a chance to throw him off his kilter. I'd say he can be hurt as well if you catch him, seem to remember a Brazilian dropped him and gave him a a couple of issues after weathering his early big punches.

Here's that knockdown, its more of a punch landing and Gamboa being off balance. Gamboa seemed to handle it well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v7Yq723 ... re=related

Yep fair enough must have got changed in the old memory banks! I think he was more embarrassed than anything.

I've been trying to think of who Gamboa reminds me of , and its Ike Williams

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Frig me Kirkland got rid of Albert in a round! Gamboa won a decision and Angulo took only five rounds to dispose of Gutierrez (which surprised me, i expected a close one either way!)

slightly mixed reviews on gamboa last night.

his defence getting most of the criticism.

sounds like he well outboxed the guy though.

steve689 wrote:

MightyWarrior wrote:
Kirkland looks like a young Nigel Benn, with the reckless way he slams back when hurt. Big puncher but like Ian says, chin might not be great. Nigerian is in with a chance if he's as tough as they usualy are from Africa.

Good call on the Nigel Benn comparison, Kirkland is vulnerable but exciting. I think it's a matter of time before he comes a cropper but not sure whether Albert is the man to do the job.

Good example of that here.... gets hit quite a lot, but just bites down on his gumshield and bangs back....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP1ugoEW3kk

Well Kirkland certainly did a number there, think he could take any light-middle out early on. Title shot can't be far away, but will his lack of rounds prove his undoing?

TEAM GAMBOA FIRED! ( )
FightBeat.com's Miguel Salazar has just learned through a reliable source that after Yuriorkis Gamboa's somewhat dismal performance on HBO's May 17 triple-header, everyone in Team Gamboa has been fired.

Although Gamboa displayed a tremendous amount of speed and footwork, Darling Jimenez was able to drop him and land several right hands that seemed to stun Gamboa on several occasions.

Earlier this week FightBeat's Craig Medaris (forum member Tam-Tam)received uncorroborated information that Gamboa had been dropped in sparring by a journeyman in the gym.

Maybe Gamboa will get away with it like Calzaghe did. But it seems Arena Box with Gary Shaw are not bringing in any soft opponents. Gamboa has turned pro quite late, there's no time to waste, but I do hope he calms down a little bit.