Redemption in Miami promoted by New Champions Promotions rocked Anthony Hall in Miami tonight when Yuriorkis “El Ciclon de Guantánamo” Gamboa 29-2, (17 KOs) and Juan Manuel Lopez each won to set up a long-awaited match.
Gamboa won a one-sided unanimous decision victory over two-time world title challenger Miguel Beltran, Jr. 33-7 (22 KO). The four-time world champion in three weight divisions and Olympic Gold Medalist Gamboa dumped Beltran on the canvas right at the end of round one, in what looked like was the start of the end, but it was just the beginning. Gamboa stalked Beltran throughout the next 9 rounds with flashes of his old self. Sharp counter punching and slick feet, Gamboa had Beltran in trouble a few times and finished strong in a great performance.
Former World Featherweight Champion Puerto Rican Juan Manuel Lopez 36-6, (32 KO) put Cristian Ruben Mino 19-3(17KO) on the canvas four times en route to a unanimous decision victory. In round five Mino rocked JuanMa with a left hook in what looked to be a glimpse of JuanMa’s vulnerability of a weak chin which has plagued his career. Lopez was on the ropes and in trouble, however, he was able to work through and work to a victory, but never flashed the brilliance he once possessed. The final cards reading 97-88 and 96-89 twice.
In 2009 Gamboa and “Juanma” were both world titles and rising pound-for-pound stars on a collision course boxing fans were begging for. Both fighters were promoted by Bob Arums’ Top Rank who chose to let the fight marinate. Instead, Lopez’s career got derailed when got knocked out twice by Orlando Salido. Gamboa went to Omaha and introduced the world to Bud Crawford in a clash of undefeated lightweights. Gamboa has gone on to “win some lose some” highly unnoticed and Lopez has lost more than he has won, going 2-4 in his last 6, stopped all 4 times.
“This is something that has been a long time coming. It is something that I have promised to my fans in Miami, which is the city that has really embraced me when I first got here from Cuba,” states Gamboa.
The Cuban and Puerto Rican are now back on track for a collision course after ten years in the making. Long overdue, for sure, over marinated perhaps, great boxing, absolutely.
The live broadcast of the pay per view event “Redemption in Miami” from Anthony Hall kickstarted with a showcasing of undefeated Cuban Bantamweight Jorge Romero improving to 12-0(9KO) pounding out a shutout performance against tough and relentless Jason Vera 5-6(3KO).
Crowd favorite Harold Calderon 18-0, (11KO) from Miami, put Emiliano “Pacman” Martin Garcia 16-3, (13 KO) of Buenos Aires, Argentina on the canvas three times enroute to a strong TKO victory. To the chant of Harold-Harold-Harold from the start of the match, the crowd favorite did not disappoint. Calderon’s straight left hand dropped Martin in round two in a fight he was never really in. Outpowered, outboxed and outclassed was Martin knocking him down twice in the seventh round and the final knockdown came courtesy of a right hand when referee Sam Burgos called a halt to the bout at 1:11 of round seven.
Welterweights’ Sonny Duversonne 4-0(2KO) and Jesus “Zues” Almonte 4-1(2KO) opened the evening at Arnold Hall in Miami with a slow-brewed chess match that nearly turned into a fight of substance on a few occasions however never erupted into the battle it could have been, instead only a brutal game of tag that the judges scored 58-56, 59-55 and 59-55 for Duversonne, handing the Atlantia boxer his first loss as a pro.
A packed house in Miami at Arnold Hall in anticipation of JuanMa Lopez and Yuriokios Gamboa upcoming matches, including heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz.
