Boxing (Two really good fights)

[H2O Man]

March 26
At Atlantic City, N.J. (HBO): Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. Jorge Solis, 12 rounds, for Gamboa's WBA/IBF featherweight title; Miguel Angel "Mikey" Garcia vs. Matt Remillard, 12 rounds, featherweights.

There are two good fights on HBO's Boxing After Dark (“BAD”) tonight. I believe the fights start at 10:30 pm/est, although it may be at 10. I'm writing this “preview” off the top of my head, so please excuse me if it's not of serious quality. (I've a a very rough couple of days, with the second unexpected death of a relative in the past two weeks.)

We're being treated to some featherweight bouts. Boxing's “little men” tend to fight at a much faster pace than those in the heavier weights. This makes for more “fan-friendly” bouts, although too often, the smaller fighters are not as familiar to the general sports fans. Both fights appear to be outstanding – likely better than 90% of the Pay-Per-View cards – and are “must see” for boxing fans. (If you do not have HBO, I recommend either visiting a friend who does, or even a relative. These fights are worth seeing.)

The opening bout pits two undefeated young contenders. It's becoming rarer for undefeated young guys to meet in fights like this. However, the winner is likely to get a title bout by the end of 2011,

Matt Remillard, 24, has a 23-0 record, with 13 knockouts. He has been fighting a number of other good young fighters, with a few bouts against seasoned veterans with less impressive records. He is a “boxer-puncher,” looking to take tonight's opponent deep into the later rounds.

Miguel Angel Garcia, 23, is 24-0, with 20 knockouts. He comes from Oxnard, California, and is an impressive example of the warriors from Oxnard's boxing gym. He has actually met a slightly higher quality of opponent that has Remillard.

You can't ask for a better fight. My guess is that Remillard will be looking to keep some distance between himself and Garcia, use his jab, and capitalize on Garcia's mistakes. Garcia is going to be cutting the ring off, and in terms of “ring geography,” keep things towards the ropes. One thing is certain: either man can knock the other unconscious in any round. I tend to favor Gsarcia, because I love body-punchers.

The main event is, on paper, actually a better fight. In fact, it features former Cuban amateur star Yuriorkis Gamboa, a fighter that I think very well may – in three years – be recognized as the best in the sport.

Gamboa, 29, is 19-0, with 15 knockouts. He appears to be on a collision course with another featherweight title-holder, Juan Manuel Lopez (who is 30-0, with 27 knockouts). Top Rank promotes both fighters. Bob Arum has convinced much of the boxing public that he is holding off on making this fight, until both win a few more, and it becomes a bigger money-maker.

Arum, like some other promoters, controls the puppet-strings of a number of national boxing writers. In return for access, they parrot Arum's message. Hence, the boxing writers' association ranks Lopez higher on “pound-for-pound” lists than Gamboa. However, the boxing fans familiar with both fighters recognize that Gamboa is superior. Arum has invested more heavily in Lopez. He is hoping Lopez improves before fighting Gamboa. However, once a fighter has 30 fights and a title, they should be ready and willing to fight anyone their weight. Gamboa, with 19 fights, is more than ready to fight Lopez. But Arum is protecting his investment. (Note: while I do not like Oscar de la Hoya as a person, I have great respect for him as a promoter. Unlike Arum or King, he is looking to improve the sport, not line his pockets.)

In October of 2009, Lopez had a tough fight against Rogers Mtagwa. In fact, he barely survived the final two rounds. Three months later, when Arum refused to give Mtagwa a return bout with Lopez, he was matched against Gamboa. He was destroyed in two rounds.

Gamboa has fought twice since then, winning both by decision. In his last fight, he looked stale against tough Orlando Salido. No fighter is at their peak every fight; however, I wondered if his trainer had over-trained him, or if Gamboa was having trouble making weight. (Most fighters gain weight around the age of 28.)

Salido will be challenging Lopez on April 16. While Lopez is favored, that fight could end up in an upset that derails a Gamboa vs Lopez match.

However, tonight's fight could do that, as well. Jorge Solis, 31, has a 40-2-2 record, with 29 knockouts. His first loss came in 2007, to Manny Pacquiao. Solis was doing very well, until getting knocked out in the eighth round. His second loss came in 2009 to Cristobal Cruz, by 12-round decision. It was a tough fight, in which the referee deducted points twice from each fighter. However, he took 2 points at a time from Solis (versus one per time from Cruz), which created the slim margin of victory.

Solis is three inches taller than Gamboa. He knows that Gamboa has been decked several times as a pro – never hurt, but caught off balance – and believes he can take advantage of Gamboa's reckless style. Solis has also fought recently at a higher weight, and believes his size and strength will be a big advantage.

Gamboa, while reckless, is usually an extremely entertaining fighter in the ring. He has natural gifts that few athletes are born with. These include simple unreal reflexes, great speed, and explosive punching power in both hands. In many ways, this kid reminds me of the muscular bobcats I have seen on and near my property, stalking game.

I consider Solis a bigger threat to Gamboa than Lopez. Yuri has to be at his best tonight. Reports suggest that Gamboa trained exceptionally hard for tonight's bout. Yet, I heard (though definitely unconfirmed) that he was having some problems making weight.

I'd give Gamboa an edge in this bout. But I would not be shocked if Solis scores the upset.

Again, if possible, watch these bouts. This is one of the best cards you'll see this year.

Enjoy!
H2O Man

[JonLP24]

1. Thanks

Miguel Angel Garcia is the only name that rings a bell so I have nothing to add. Would watch if I could and don't know any friends with HBO. :)

I saw that Rigondeaux got another win about a week ago. First round against a Willie Casey.

[H2O Man]

2. Rigondeaux,

as we have talked about, is an extraordinary body-puncher. He has also had a "down" fight relatively recently. He won, and appeared to do so rather easily when he exerted himself. But he seemed distracted, almost bored at times.

Both he and Gamboa have yet to make the full transition from elite amateur stars, to the professional bouts that go past nine or ten rounds. Both are fully capable. But Rigondeaux in particular isn't open to being told to -- and how to -- fight differently. It's a huge adjustment.

What seems evident, though, is that these two are the most advanced of the Cuban fighters who recently defected. I find myself thinking about if Angelo Dundee were younger. He was the most capable trainer of the naturally stubborn fighters (Ali being #1). Angelo had the great Cuban welterweight champion Luis Rodriguez, and really brought out his best potential. Luis fought well against middleweights .... decisioned Rubin twice (got off the floor to do it!), and would have won the middleweight title when he challenged champion Nino Benvenuti in his hometown in November of 1969.

I wish you lived closer. You'd love Gamboa's skills.

[H2O Man]

3. Good fights.

Garcia won by knockout in the 10th round. It was a curious fight, with Remillard being the agressor in most of the rounds. As it turned out, Garcia was suffering from what he believed to be food poisoning; he ate some pizza after the weigh-in that made him ill. In fact, he wanted to quit after the second round.

Gamboa was simply explosive. There are many fighters who enjoy displaying their skills for the pleasure of the audience; showing off is not uncommon. But Gamboa is in that tiny group of fighters who shows off for his own pleasure. He destroyed Solis in four rounds, scoring five knockdowns along the way.

The most devastating came at the end of the third round. Gamboa, with his back to the ropes, his feet in a southpaw stance, measured Solis with a right, then flattened him with a left-cross. The bell saved Solis, but it was evident to me that he was not fully conscious until half-way between the rest period between rounds.

After the fight, Solis said that fighting Gamboa was a "terrible" experience. He said that Gamboa hits significantly harder than Manny Pacquiao.