25.03.08 – by James Slater: The sensationally talented Yuriorkis Gamboa, who defected from his native Cuba so as to make it as a pro in boxing, will have his next fight, in May, shown on massive T.V cable channel HBO. For many fight fans, this bout will mark the first time they will have seen the supremely gifted and ultra-exciting Gamboa. They are in for a treat.
Marcos Ramirez, of Kansas City, also an unbeaten prospect, is the man expected to be facing the 9-0(8) Gamboa on May the 17th. Gamboa’s German promoter, Ahmet Oener, is certainly moving his boxer quickly. The 26 year old super-featherweight, who, in his last fight in February, destroyed the capable Johnnie Edwards in less than a single round to annex the vacant NABF 130 pound title, isn’t phased about fighting such good opposition so early in his career, however..
Gamboa, a former Olympic gold medallist at flyweight, is surely a world champion of the future. Blessed with speed and awesome power, the 26 year old looks as close to a dead cert to make it to the very top as you could likely find. Since turning pro back in April of last year Gamboa has blazed through everything in his path. Can he do the same against the unbeaten Ramirez on his HBO debut?
Ramirez has a superb 25-0(16) record. Turning pro back in August of 2000, the fighter nicknamed “Flaco” is a talent in himself. Aged 26 like Gamboa, Ramirez has also been in with an opponent that the gifted Gamboa fought. Brazilian Adailton De Jesus is the common opponent in question, and both men beat him. The problem for the man from Kansas, however, is the fact that Gamboa ripped through De Jesus in six impressive rounds, while Ramirez was forced to go the full twelve rounds to achieve his win. If this is anything to go by, Ramirez is without a doubt the lesser puncher of the two men. Still, Ramirez was the first man to defeat the Brazilian, and a case could be made that he softened him up somewhat for Gamboa.
Unless there is an upset of the scale of the recent one that saw the hotly tipped Andy Lee beaten, Gamboa will surely get his tenth win on May 17th, though – whether this fight is against Ramirez or another fighter. The dazzling Gamboa will also likely thrill his HBO audience while winning.