by James Slater – Unbeaten Cuban star Yuriorkis Gamboa takes the next step towards global stardom next month, when the reigning “Regular” WBA featherweight champion makes his Las Vegas debut. The 28-year-old former Olympian and all-out superb amateur who has lit up the 126-pound weight class with his electric style of fighting, will face durable Mexican and reigning IBF featherweight champ Orlando Salido at The Palms Hotel.
Currently 18-0(15) and a champion since April of last year, Gamboa will be a big favourite to win on July 24th. Salido, a year older at age 29 and currently 34-10-2(22) is a fighter Gamboa and his team have referred to as “slow” and the IBF champ is no big puncher. With this fight, it may be a case of can Gamboa get the stoppage, more so than can he get the win. Without a doubt, it would be one big, big upset if the man known as “Siri” were to derail the Cuban express..
Still, Salido – who finally became a belt holder in his last fight, back in May, when he out-pointed tough old campaigner and fellow Mexican Cristobal Cruz in a return match – has only been stopped five times in total and only once in the last ten years. Slower than Gamboa, not as hard-hitting he may be, but the IBF champ doesn’t figure to go over easily next month. The slightly taller man with a reasonable reach advantage, Salido will surely look to box and move as best he can and hope Gamboa’s fast attack slows in the later rounds.
Gamboa was taken the full 12-rounds in his last fight, when he out-pointed the undefeated Jonathon Victor Barros in March, and maybe, just maybe, Salido will also see it to the finish line. Then again, Gamboa, known as “El Ciclon de Guanta-namo,” is a lethal puncher when he’s in the mood, and he’s in the mood most of the time! Perhaps the Miami-based star of the future wanted to get a distance fight under his belt at championship level last time out.
In making his Vegas debut, I’d be willing to bet that Gamboa wants very much to put on a spectacular showing against Salido, and that could be bad news for the IBF champ who is perhaps best known for his 2006, 12-round No-Decision of a fight with Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (Salido failed the post-fight drugs test).
The Mexican, like all Mexican fighters, is tough, and Salido has also been in with some of the best featherweights of the last five years or so – including Juan Manuel Marquez, Guerrero and Cruz (twice). As such, it’s highly unlikely he will be fazed at the thought of facing Gamboa. All of Salido’s stoppage losses came early in his career – four of them in his first twelve pro bouts (Salido was actually stopped in his pro debut in 1996) – and his chin has proven reliable ever since. But has he ever met a fighter with a blend of speed and power the likes of which Gamboa possesses?
A quick blast out doesn’t look likely, but Gamboa will, in my opinion, get the stoppage he is looking for as he claims his second “world” title; in around six or seven rounds. Then, hopefully, the promoters will match the sensational Cuban with the fighters the fans really want to see him get it on with; Juan Manuel Lopez being at the top of this list.