By James Slater: Some people say Cubans make better amateur fighters than they make pros. This belief was given plenty of steam recently as, over the past seven days, two of Cuba’s finest amateur boxers were brought down to earth courtesy of less than scintillating performances in the pro ring. Last Saturday, in one of the year’s biggest disappointments, former Olympic gold medallist and three-time world amateur champ Oldalnier Solis fell apart inside of a round against WBC heavyweight king Vitali Klitschko, and last night, unbeaten light-middleweight hope Erislandy Lara, looked at as a “sure thing” for a world title, was held to a draw (some say beaten) by the tough Carlos Molina.
Okay, Cuban sensation Guilermo Rigondeaux, the interim WBA super-bantam title, won last Saturday and looked great in doing it (halting Willie Casey inside three minutes), but overall the Cuban defectors have had a high profile bad run. Tonight, the man who just might be the jewel in Cuba’s crown, WBA featherweight boss Yuriorkis Gamboa – will, in my opinion, restore pride to the Cuban people who follow the progress of the fighters who left the small island in search of a better life.
Gamboa, unbeaten at 19-0(15) and still only 29-years-old, has already achieved plenty – at both paid and unpaid level. Tonight, in what will be his sixth “world” title fight, the speedster with awesome punching power will meet his potentially stiffest test.
Mexico’s Jorge Solis, beaten only by the great Manny Pacquiao and by Cristobal Cruz as a pro, will surely test Gamboa in Atlantic City. But will he beat him? In short: no!
Gamboa has reportedly grown tired of being asked about when he will face Puerto Rican rival Juan Manuel Lopez; so focused is he on getting rid of Solis first. In my opinion, the potential classic that is Gamboa-Lopez will not go down the drain due to an upset win on the part of Solis, 40-2-2(29) tonight.
It won’t be an easy fight for Gamboa – far from it – but “The Ciclon Of Guantanamo” will become the second man to stop Solis. As is his way, Gamboa – one of the most exciting fighters in the sport today – will almost certainly pay the usual disregard for the defensive side of his game, and he may well be wobbled, even knocked down as a result. But Gamboa will get up/recover and then, with his laser-fast fists, take his frustration out on the Mexican challenger.
Never in a dull fight, Gamboa will get the job done in style tonight. Look for the former Olympian to stop Solis, after an exciting affair, in around seven-rounds. In the process, Gamboa will give the Cuban fight fans something to cheer about.