Philippines, 23 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Crawford vs. Gamboa: The Guant?namo cyclone headed straight down tornado alley


PhilBoxing.com




Omaha gets its first title fight in over 40 years this Saturday on HBO with a matchup of speed, wits, and power that may not create explosive action. It will however bring us clarity at the division raising the winners profile at lightweight and beyond.

Yuriorkis Gamboa lived up to his nickname "The Guant?namo Cyclone", when he stormed on to the American boxing landscape via Espn2 Friday Night Fights. After a few highlight reel knockouts HBO came knocking and Gamboa kicked the door down with his blistering hand speed, mixed with heavy hands and vulnerability.

The fans began to call for a lower weight super fight of sorts with Puerto Rican Juanma Lopez, who at the time was making waves with his volume punching and a 1st round knockout over Ponce De Leon. If it wasn't one punch power, it was rapid fire combinations breaking punch stat records and his opponents will in the process.

His career never came crashing down inside the ring for the way it did for his Puerto Rican rival to be. Gamboa did most of his resume building at featherweight, were his best wins came against Orlando Salido and Ponce De Leon. Promotional issues were among a host of distractions that limited Yuriorkis to only fighting twice since the fall of 2011.

Gamboa's inactivity in the last two years could prove costly the way it almost did after being hurt by Micheal Farenas. He followed that fight up with an uninspired performance last June versus Darleys Perez.

Terence Crawford on the other hand has been active as ever busting on the world scene with an impressive junior welterweight victory over Breidis Prescott some 15 months ago. After collecting some decent wins he traveled across the pond to Scotland were he challenged lightweight titleholder Ricky Burns. The action was fought at a snail?s pace early until Crawford turned up the heat, completely shutting out "The Rickster" down the stretch.

Crawford was the second option after Mikey Garcia couldn?t come to terms with Gamboa. A win over Yuriorkis may not hold the same weight as it did a few years back, it still holds weight amongst us hardcore?s.

Breaking down a fight that includes a Cyclone in Gamboa is ironic considering he will be entering Omaha, located in the heart of tornado alley. Meteorology speaking, a cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud.

Translation being Yuri aiming wildly at times leaving his feet in search of spectacular speedy knockout. Crawford fundamentally the better fighter can deliver a knockout blow that won?t as fast, but his feet will be in the correct position for both offense and defense.

I admit the metaphor is reach at best. I do think after a few slow rounds someone will take the lead as far as pressure and pace. If I were in Gamboa's corner the game plan would be fairly simplified.

Gamboa's left hook could be a key weapon on offense and countering on defense. Gamboa must start relatively fast in effort to get up on the scorecards. Putting rounds in the bank could make Terrence Crawford press a bit early than he would want to.

Gamboa must be aggressive but not reckless, punching in combination instead of settling for potshots. Applying pressure behind his jab and lead left hooks will distract Crawford thus opening up holes for Gamboa to throw his potent right hand.

If he can close the gap it will increase his chances of catching Crawford in an exchange. If he is able to exchange it's just a matter of time until a bomb is landed. The flip side of course is Gamboa's bad habit of punching too wide resulting in a flash knockdown or worse with this type of opposition.

Crawford should stick to what got him to this point. Patient?s pays off with a guy like Gamboa, who rarely stays focused throughout a whole bout. Relying on his fundamentals and natural reach is the key to victory for Crawford.

Crawford is a natural fighter with the ability to switch from southpaw to orthodox without a hitch. He is responsible on defense yet still able to push forward on offense. He can counter from the outside and on the inside. Once Crawford has measured his opponents he throws a lot of power shots mainly his straight left or right depending on his stance.

Who will lead? My guess is they will take turns leading with majority of the battle taking place in the middle of the ring. It will be interesting to see if Crawford keeps his cool in front of his hometown during the slow moments.

Besides some exchanges and flurries on both sides I would be a tad bit surprised to see an abundance of action. I see Gamboa getting off early, at some point making mistakes, having to press late out of desperation after being controlled at range by Crawford.

If Gamboa can't hurt Crawford in the first half it will be too little too late in the championship rounds. Crawford's overall skill starting with defense and jab, to go along with a five inch reach will prove to be too much for Gamboa to overcome.

I don't see a whitewash, rather two skilled boxers trying to outsmart each other with distance being a premium. My betting advice would be Crawford by UD and/or Gamboa by KO.

If Gamboa wins he will be stuck at 135 without a big name besides Mikey Garcia. The bigger names such as Lomachenko, Donaire, and Walters are at Featherweight. For Crawford, a win over Gamboa can be parlayed into the hotter division 5 pound north at junior welterweight.

My official prediction is Terrence Crawford by Unanimous Decision.


Written by Chris Carlson Owner and Host of Rope A Dope Radio at www.blogtalkradio.com/ropeadoperadio

Follow Chris on Twitter @RopeADopeRadio & http://ropeadoperadio.wordpress.com/



Click here to view a list of other articles written by Chris Carlson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Kevin Brown Victorious - Retains His WBA Continental North American Title
    , Tue, 23 Sep 2025
  • Kingsley “The Black Lion” Kingsley Ibeh Rolled to 11th win in a row to become new WBC FECARBOX Heavyweight Champion
    , Tue, 23 Sep 2025
  • Former World Champion Marcus Browne Returns to the Ring Against Brandon Glanton in Nigeria on Independence Day
    , Tue, 23 Sep 2025
  • MATCHROOM SPORT PRESIDENT BARRY HEARN OBE RECEIVES FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF LONDON
    , Tue, 23 Sep 2025
  • 2025 Sports Heroes Night on Sept. 28 at TRM
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 23 Sep 2025
  • IIEE Singapore notches 7th level championships in Chess Olympiad, IIEE Metro East is shootfest Champ
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 23 Sep 2025
  • Danovis Pooler and the Martial Art of Boxing (Special Series 2 of 5)
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 22 Sep 2025
  • Junior, Youth and Elite Divisions Conclude on Final Day of 2025 USA Boxing National Open
    , Mon, 22 Sep 2025
  • Vayson rues coach’s decision
    By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 22 Sep 2025
  • Donaire In Line For Shot Again at WBA Regular Bantamweight Title
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sun, 21 Sep 2025
  • Oscar Collazo Defeats Jayson Vayson in Controversial 7th-Round Stoppage
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 21 Sep 2025
  • PUERTO RICO’S OSCAR COLLAZO SHINES IN INDIO WITH SEVENTH-ROUND TKO TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED AND UNIFIED MINIMUMWEIGHT CHAMPION
    , Sun, 21 Sep 2025
  • Jayson Vayson and Oscar Collazo Make Weight, Ready for Unified World Title Showdown Today on DAZN
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • PeeWee, Bantam and Intermediate Champions Crowned on Day Five of USA Boxing National Open
    , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • Quezon City chess wonder makes a big push for glory sweeps FIDE-rated rapid chess tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM INDIO, CA: COLLAZO -104.6 LBS., VAYSON - 104.4 LBS.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • Japanese World Champions Down to Four
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • The Night Boxing Reached for Its Crown
    By Mark F. Villanueva, , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • WATCH BOXING INSIDER PROMOTIONS CARD ON YOUTUBE AT 7:00 PM ET
    , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • "Legacy Night" Official weights from El Salvador
    , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • Brian Mendoza Calls Out Sebastian Fundora in Explosive Appearance on “Drew & Pris Uncensored” Podcast
    , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • With Support from GAB and Topnotch Team, Jayson Vayson Battles for Glory (PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • Weights from New York City
    , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • Sampaguita Stakes Race to Crown Top Filly in Highly Anticipated 2025 Showdown
    , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • USA Boxing National Open Preliminary Rounds Finalized on Thursday
    , Sat, 20 Sep 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.