|
 Triple crown!
Gamboa, Angulo, Kirkland score big wins on HBO tripleheader, for minor belts
Ringside by Andreas Hale
Photography by Chris Cozzone
- FightWireImages.com
Three rising stars took center stage last night on HBO’s Boxing After Dark from Terrible’s Primm Valley Casino Resort in Primm, Nev., 45 minutes south of Las Vegas.
The card, promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Arena Box Promotion, headlined super featherweight Yuriorkis Gamboa and junior middleweights Alfredo Angulo and James Kirkland—three unbeatens who rose to the occasion to acquire minor belts while remaining undefeated.
 In the main event, 2004 Olympic Gold medalist Yuriorkis Gamboa claimed the vacant WBC International super featherweight belt by defeating Darling Jimenez via unanimous decision, to improve to 10-0, 8KOs.
Gamboa was, quite possibly, the most touted of the young boxing prospects, but he had a difficult time putting away Jimenez, who falls to 23-3-2, 14 KOs. Gamboa has blitzed numerous opponents since his professional debut back in April of 2007, but against Jimenez, he had to settle for a decision.
 Punching from awkward angles, with power in both hands, Gamboa has spelled doom for his previous opponents. The Cuban defector has quickly climbed the super featherweight ladder.
However, former prospect Jimenez would not succumb to the decorated Cuban without a fight. In fact, Jimenez was able to expose many chinks in Gamboa’s armor in the duration of the bout.
Gamboa raced out quickly, attempting to overwhelm his Bronx opponent with a barrage of punches from all angles. Aggressive but slightly reckless, Gamboa looked to impress early. Even Jimenez found himself in awe; he could only cover up as Gamboa fired away with an impressive display of offensive ability.
By the end of second round, Gamboa seemed to get overly cocky and did more admiring of his work rather than looking to get rid of his opponent. His carelessness caught up to him as a right hand landed high on his head, dropping Gamboa for a flash knockdown—it was the second time he’s been down in his young career.
 Gamboa climbed to his feet, but was slightly stunned and on not perfectly steady legs. Gamboa survived the round but allowed the confidence to rise in Jimenez.
Gamboa did little to change his game plan, and continued to fight with his hands down while carelessly leaping in with his left hook. Fortunately for Gamboa, Jimenez is not a world class fighter and wouldn’t take advantage of the fundamental no-nos in Gamboa’s arsenal.
Regardless, Gamboa’s strength, speed and ability were far too much for Jimenez to overcome. Gamboa put on a final display of blazing handspeed in the beginning of the tenth and final round to punctuate his obscene physical advantages in the fight.
After ten rounds, the scorecards had two judges scoring the fight 97-92, while the third judge strangely forgot the Gamboa knockdown and scored the fight 99-91.
 'Perro's' chomps down for win
Second up for the HBO telecast was popular Mexican Alfredo “Perro” Angulo, who found himself in a difficult fight against Richard Gutierrez, for the vacant WBO Intercontinental jr. middleweight belt.
Gutierrez, whose only previous lost was to Joshua Clottey back in 2006, was not going to allow Angulo to run through him like Kirkland did to his opponent. But, unfortunately for Gutierrez, Angulo would not be denied en route to a stellar 5th round TKO.
Angulo, who improves to 13-0, 9 KOs, was fueled by a large Mexican contingency that chanted “Perro” (Dog) as he slugged it out with a very game challenger. Gutierrez, who dropped to 24-2, 14 KOs, started off strong as he shot an uppercut through Angulo’s guard early, then launched a thudding counter left hand to put Angulo on the defense.
 Angulo, however, pushed the fight to close quarters, continuously battering Gutierrez with scintillating body and head punching. It was apparent that Gutierrez fared much better when there was distance between the two fighters, but Angulo made sure that distance would not be part of the equation in this fight.
The fight had excellent back and forth action throughout, but got extremely interesting in round five. Just as Angulo seemed to be wearing down the Columbian, Gutierrez caught Angulo asleep at the wheel with a thudding left hook that sent “Perro” reeling into the ropes. Gutierrez made a valiant attempt to close the show but Angulo quickly found his legs, then caught his opponent with a chopping right hand that immediately found him dazed.
 Angulo now had his chance to dispose of a visibly shaken Gutierrez, and he threw bombs that continuously found their mark on the Columbian’s face. Gutierrez showed the chin of a champion and tried to weather the storm but it was simply too punishing to watch. The Mexican composed himself and wasted no punches as he sought openings to close the show. Gutierrez did not fall but the barrage of power punches, which forced Referee Tony Weeks to jump in at 2:48 to give Angulo the TKO victory.
“It was a left hook and it hurt me, but I couldn’t let the people down,” Angulo said in the post fight interview about the exciting finish. “I hurt him and I was a little anxious, but then I thought and caught him with my combination and that’s how it worked out.”
 Kirkland sends Albert down Clout 66
In the first of the televised bouts, top prospect James Kirkland let loose a huge display of fireworks to defeat Eromosele Albert for the vacant NABO junior middleweight championship.
Kirkland was much like a rabid wolverine waiting to be let loose for, when the bell rang, he tore Albert limb from limb in 66 seconds.
Kirkland, 22-0, 19 KOs, blazed out of his corner with a sense of urgency, and with something to prove, as he jumped all over the helpless Albert, 21-2, 10 KOs, with a vast assortment of power punches.
Albert was sent to the canvas courtesy of a blistering left hand that landed flush,sending him sprawling to the canvas. Albert rose but his legs were not quite under him. Referee Joe Cortez let the fight continue  but another storm from Kirkland put his opponent down again.
This time, Cortez had no choice but stop the fight.
“I just wanted to have a good time and have a good fight," said Kirkland.
"I’m just ready to fight! Anyone at one-fifty-four. I want to take it all. Anybody in that weight class, I’m ready!”
Ramos beats up Moreno
Rico Ramos spoiled the debut of overmatched Dennis Moreno in a four-round super featherweight bout.
Ramos, 2-0, 2 KOs, pounded away at Moreno early and often as Moreno could never find a rhythm in the fight. By the second round it was evident that this was a squash, and the fight was called to a halt at 1:29 in the second round.
Bey outclasses Alcorro
The technically sound Mickey Bey improved to 11-0, 6KOs, by outclassing veteran Wilson Alcorro, 25-10-3, 17 KOs, in a ten-round lightweight bout.
One judge scored it a shutout while the two others had the fight 99-91 in favor of the Ohio native.
Avalos takes out Muro in one
Young bantamweight prospect, Chris Avalos showcased great use of both hands, taking the fight to Alvarro Muro en route to a first round TKO. Ravaging Muro from the opening bell, Avalos forced Referee Tony Weeks to stop the fight midway through the first round.
Avalos' record rises to 4-0 with his third knockout; Muro falls to 4-9, 4KOs.
Savage stoppage
Dion Savage spoiled the debut of Tim Taylor with a barrage of power punching that caused Joe Cortez to stop the fight at 1:05 in the first round of a four-round super middleweight fight.
Savage’s young career improves to 2-0 with his second knockout as Taylor suffers a loss in his professional debut.
Bonus shots
|
