Exclusive Interview with Yuriorkis Gamboa

kimbodice · 05-16-2008, 01:14 AM

This Saturday May 17th HBO’s Boxing After Dark will televise a triple header featuring three of the most exciting young fighters in boxing—James Kirkland, Alfredo Angulo, and Yuriorkis Gamboa. Last week Jr. Middleweight slugger Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo was a guest on Toe-2-Toe, the FightBeat Radio Show. Angulo will be the co-featured attraction of the evening and will be taking on the rugged Richard Gutierrez.

HBO’s main event will feature one of the most talented young fighters who has been taking the boxing world by storm. With his tremendous hand speed, and KO power this phenom is quickly rising to title contention. I’m talking about “El Ciclon de Guantanamo” from Miami by way of Guantanamo, Cuba – YURIORKIS GAMBOA. Gamboa will be taking on Darling Jimenez of the Bronx, NY (my hometown).

Gamboa, just 2-days away from his HBO debut, took time out to talk to us about his fight with Jimenez. Unfortunately my translator was unavailable to do the show so the show was recorded completely in Spanish. However, I transcribed the audio interview, which will be available soon, for you to enjoy. Read on to see what Gamboa had to say about fighting on HBO, his favorite fighter, his thoughts on Manny Pacquiao, and much more!

Exclusive Interview with Yuriorkis Gamboa<br> \"El Ciclon de Guantanamo\" | Carlos Guzman

**King Kabuki** · 05-16-2008, 01:24 AM

Yuri better be on his A-game, Darling is no cream-puff.

Last fight he was supposed to lose he kicked Anchando's ass.

kimbodice · 05-16-2008, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Kabuki

Yuri better be on his A-game, Darling is no cream-puff.

Last fight he was supposed to lose he kicked Anchando's ass.

seriously? How good is that dude Darling? I figured they were feeding Yuri cupcakes or something?

**King Kabuki** · 05-16-2008, 08:43 AM

He's sturdy and hits pretty well. I think all of his last fights since 2004 he's won by KO or TKO.

BigNogFTW · 05-16-2008, 08:47 AM

Im just excited to see gamboa fight again

but he needs to keep those hands up

kg75k9 · 05-16-2008, 04:11 PM

I listened to Gamboa's interview in Spanish, and he didn sound so cocky there. He actually praised Pacquiao: "He is the top fighter(in 130) now. Let's see what happens when i get a shot at the world championship." That exactly what he said.

**mschatz** · 05-16-2008, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kg75k9

I listened to Gamboa's interview in Spanish, and he didn sound so cocky there. He actually praised Pacquiao: "He is the top fighter(in 130) now. Let's see what happens when i get a shot at the world championship." That exactly what he said.

Paq's moving on up from 130 though

kg75k9 · 05-16-2008, 04:19 PM

I honestly doubt Jimenez could take his pucnches, even though is a good fighter and everything. Honestly, the only fighter i could see beating Gamboa now is Pacquiao. For now. And i might be wrong too. Certainly, he has had only 9 pro fights, but 425 amateur fights! If u ever get to watch a Cuban amateur championship you'll know what im talking about. As to the other guy Valero, i think he stands almost no chance against Gamboa and Ive watched several of his fights. Yuri is just a phenom.

ViiT · 05-16-2008, 08:58 PM

This is going to be great; I'll definitely tune in. Gamboa by KO!

**King Kabuki** · 05-16-2008, 09:37 PM

Quote:

I honestly doubt Jimenez could take his pucnches, even though is a good fighter and everything. Honestly, the only fighter i could see beating Gamboa now is Pacquiao. For now. And i might be wrong too. Certainly, he has had only 9 pro fights, but 425 amateur fights! If u ever get to watch a Cuban amateur championship you'll know what im talking about. As to the other guy Valero, i think he stands almost no chance against Gamboa and Ive watched several of his fights. Yuri is just a phenom.

He's certainly not a phenom, there's plenty guys around who resemble Gamboa, and he's certainly no better than Joan Guzman. The difference between the two is Guzman has been tested against an utterly higher class of Professional opponent.

Yuri is well-skilled, and yes has a decorated Amateur background, but so did Yanqui Diaz, so did Antonio Izquierdo, so did Diosbelys Hurtado, and many others that came before.

There's a World of Fighters at 130, and Yuri has yet to be remotely proven as better than all of them save for the very best.

BTW, if JMM remained at 130, he'd kill Yuri dead.

All that said yes on paper Yuri should beat Darling, but then again so should have Anchando, that's all I meant by that. Darling's no punk, but he's not a World Class opponent either.