Late last night at the Palms Casino and Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, undefeated WBA featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa defeated gritty Mexican Orlando Salido over twelve rounds in a unification bout. During the fight Gamboa showed his trademark speed and quickness while also being tagged and dropped in the process, which has also seemed to become a custom of his from time to time.
Gamboa controlled the action round after round as the talent difference between the two fighters was striking early on. Salido was game but didn?t have the firepower or the overall ability to mount a serious attack. Gamboa seemed to be in cruise control as rounds four and five pressed forward before becoming rejuvenated mid-way through.
The eighth round was wildly entertaining as Gamboa hurt Salido badly early on and was subsequently floored after he tried to follow up his attack. Gamboa would rise and shake his head but a volley of stinging punches from Salido would again make him retreat. Gamboa survived the round and went on to control the rest of the fight with some slight confusion taking place later on.
Gamboa stunned Salido severely in the tenth and finally broke through in the final round, appearing to drop the 29-year old despite referee Joe Cortez calling it a slip. As the round ended Gamboa would floor Salido again and was deducted two points for hitting Salido while he was on the canvas as Cortez wasn?t in position to break him beforehand.
Scores of 116-109, 115-109, and 114-109 were read in Gamboa?s favor as he eyes a potential 2011 clash with WBO champion Juan Manuel Lopez. However it should be noted that the Puerto Rican has a serious clash on November 6th with former two-division titlist Rafael Marquez at the MGM Grand that he must get past first.
On the chief undercard attraction, Oxnard, California?s Brandon ?Boom Boom? Rios won via 7th round disqualification in a wild fight against Washington, D.C. fighter Anthony Peterson. On the line was a crack at WBA lightweight champion Miguel Acosta but Rios? victory was far from easy.
Peterson stormed out in the first round and dominated the action as Rios seemed to be feeling his foe out. Rios stepped up the tempo in rounds two and three but the action was still nip and tuck. In the fourth Rios rocked Peterson and he would drop him with a beautiful left hook to end the fifth.
Peterson was obviously in trouble and began firing away with low blows in the following rounds. After repeated warnings and two point deductions the 25-year old was disqualified after going too far south in the seventh. Rios and his team erupted in celebration as he came through with the biggest victory of his young career. If he continues to fight with the same perseverance and tenacity that he showed tonight we very well could be calling him a champion in a short time.
For a picture by picture look at all the action please continue on to the slideshow below?
Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at [email protected]
