This marks the return of boxing (In my world) since Manny vs Oscar

The pictures for the fighters are like some sort of oxymoron and I was not aware that was quite possible. The reason for that is because Gamboa has the red triangle flag trunks with his right arm up. Then the other pictures looks like its him again because of the trunks and his arm is further up. Like the up coming fight just happened one way or the other. WIERD!

Lack of HD is lame.

But we’ll talk undercard too. Erislandy Lara is up first apparently. B-Hop’s in the studio.

Lara wins with ease.

But he also mentions Jermain Taylor.

doesn’t sound like that one will be happening

“Highly unlikely,” I say, in the great style of Gorilla Monsoon.

Then Jay Nady with, “He doesn’t speak English so we’re gonna keep it quiet.” Classy, Jay.

Solis with a heavy right upstairs, doesn’t land flush. Burnett trying to work a jab, but not backing Solis up at all. Now they tangle after Solis lands a couple body shots. Jab from Burnett. He’s trying to work in a right uppercut inside, too. Solis throwing a loopy right over Burnett’s glove, and keeping his hands very high. Solis is battering Burnett, who’s trying to cover up. Looks like Burnett took that very well.

Burnett working the jab, now he’s throwing combinations! Not that I’m an adonis or anything, but Kevin Burnett has fucking love handles.

Burnett caught again. Left hook by Solis, nice counter shot. Burnett is throwing a lot of jabs but few are landing (about a quarter of them). Burnett’s one slow-handed mofo.

Solis 10-9 — the pure skill difference is obvious

I wouldn’t go so far as to call Burnett’s jab “piston-like,” but God bless the big man, he’s really commited to throwing that bad boy. Burnett literally lays his head on Solis’ shoulder and walks around, and Jay Nady follows that with, “Stop! What’s the matter with you?” Phenomenal.

Solis’ U.S. debut isn’t exactly electrifying thus far. He’s being very cautious with Burnett, which is understandable given his height disadvantage, and I expect eventually he’s going to feel he’s seen all Burnett has to offer and he’ll give him a good rush.

Still, right now he looks a bit lethargic.

Burnett 10-9
19-19

Solis puts on a small rush, but little comes of it. Still, he put some fear into Burnett. Solis throwing power shots, one at a time. Solis on the attack now, big right scores after an uppercut, and Solis is throwing NON-STOP with Burnett hanging on for dear life. Right to the body, right up top, Burnett throwing back with an uppercut, and he gets off the ropes and slows it down. Round ends with Burnett pawing a jab and Solis standing around for the final minute or so.

Solis 10-9
Solis 29-28

I can’t help myself, watching Solis live for the first time, thinking that he’s not aggressive, doesn’t have big power (which would be a real plus for a guy his size), and isn’t doing with Burnett what you’d expect such an outstanding amateur to do. There doesn’t seem to be any fire in his belly.

Nice left hook from Solis after a first two minutes of the round that are just as complacent-feeling as the rest of this fight has seemed. I’m not trying to be hypercritical here, but Solis can probably be scratched off that “Who will save the heavyweights?” list. Who is he ever going to excite?

Solis 10-9
Solis 39-37

Solis connects with a couple solid lefts, then goes back to waiting on Burnett to give him something. Solis hasn’t TAKEN anything in this fight — just waited for gifts from the outclassed Burnett, who hasn’t given him enough of them to make this exciting.

Burnett goes for a combo, and Solis pops him with a pretty counter left hook. And another one lands moments later. I mean, it’s just so obvious the difference in skill. In the immortal words of this generation, git-r-done already.

Solis catches Burnett again just before the bell.

Solis 10-9
Solis 49-46

How sad is it that this easily tops the last three featured heavyweight fights on American TV (Toney-Oquendo, Klitschko-Rahman, Valuev-Holyfield)?

Teddy has the exact same scorecard I do.

There’s about 30 seconds left in this round, and I’ve run out of things to say. Solis is winning with ease but not because he’s so dominating Burnett. It’s just that Solis is good defensively, Burnett is mediocre offensively, and Solis is rather indifferent to punching.

Solis 10-9
Solis 59-55

Pat Burns is saying he might stop it soon, not wanting Burnett to get hurt. With what? Solis’ occasional pussywillow swipes of death?

Also, I don’t think it’s fair that Teddy Atlas gets to give Pat Burns advice via the magic of TV headsets. Kinda shady, innit?

This is a lousy fight and I’m tired of watching it.

Solis 10-9
Solis 69-64

1, 2, 3, 4 quick shots from Solis. Solis turning it up slightly, and he’s staggering Burnett back some. And then it stops. Burnett loses his mouthpiece.

Left hook BUCKLES Burnett’s legs, and there’s another, and a right, and Jay Nady waves it off. Burnett was all but down. His legs gave the fuck out about 90%.

Odlanier Solis TKO-8

Gamboa time!

<img src=“”http://www.flickr.com/photos/33107668@N03/3183974944/" title=“1534991 by crazedang1280, on Flickr”>"/>

who’s winning that one?

I really needed a nice little Gamboa promo for my DVD collection….

FINALLY

Who’s this guy with Teddy on the strip?

Hey guys. Watched the Cavs / Celtic game during the first fight (as a diehard Lakers fan, I’m loving watching the Celtics recent epic suck).

Sounds like I didn’t miss much with that first fight. Nice to see Teddy in such good form.

Gonzalez lands a jab for the first real shot of the fight. Gamboa is keeping distance. Gamboa now to the body, then back out. Gamboa gets him on the ropes, but nothing comes of it. Gamboa’s hand speed is on full display, but he’s just being a bit too tentative for my selfish liking.

Gamboa 10-9

Feeling out round from both men.

BIG SHOT GONZALEZ, GAMBOA GOES DOWN!!! Flash knockdown, but a knockdown. Woo!

Gamboa is up and ready to go, though, and usually he gets pissed after his (numerous) knockdowns.

Left hook Gamboa. No big charges from Gamboa, no amazing combos yet. Gonzalez is just waiting on him. Gamboa hit with another left hook, but now he unloads on the ropes. Gonzalez playing defense, doing a good job of not getting creamed with Gamboa’s dangerous power and speed.

Man, Gamboa is fun to watch. Awesome offensively, so vulnerable defensively.

And Speedy Gonzalez plays keep-away through the end of the round.

Gonzalez 10-8
Gonzalez 19-18

Gamboa drills Gonzalez, who covers up wisely and escapes the pressure. Gamboa is starting to look more impatient now. Gamboa throwing a lot of punches, none really connecting, after Gonzalez’s lunging left hook falls short. Gonzalez is mentally pressing Gamboa by controlling range and doing all he can to dictate pace. Very impressive thus far.

Gamboa ends the round with a nice flurry of aggression, though he doesn’t land anything big. We’ve got an interesting fight on our hands.

Gamboa 10-9
28-28

Gonzalez covers and eats shots on the ropes, then starts blatantly calling Gamboa on. I think he’s looking for another good counter shot if he can piss Gamboa off and get him to go loopy. Yeah that’s exactly what he’s doing. He’s playing real head games with Gamboa.

Gonzalez is doing zero offensively this round, just waiting to land a flash shot again for the most part. Still, he’s not getting beaten up by Gamboa at all. Easy round to score for Gamboa.

Gamboa 10-9
Gamboa 38-37

This looks a lot like the last round. Gonzalez is just not giving Gamboa anything to work with, and Gamboa is working hard to find anything he can. Pot shot right by Gamboa, and now he’s showboating. He’s also letting his hands fall again. I like Gamboa and love watching him fight, but a good puncher with a chin is going to clean his clock one of these days.

Gamboa 10-9
Gamboa 48-46

Gonzalez is unable to shift to a punching stance quickly enough from his shell game defense. Thus he cannot seem to take advantage of the many shots Gamboa flashes him.

Gamboa throwing again, but here comes Gonzalez with a few. Now Gamboa is exhibiting his speed. Matt’s observation above is dead-on.

Gonzalez with a couple decent counter shots, but it’s just not enough. Gonzalez showboating after he slips some combination punching from Gamboa. Stiff left jab from Gonzalez at the end of the round. Still not close to enough to steal a round.

Gamboa 10-9
Gamboa 58-55

And it’s working

Gamboa throws really crisp punches, but he needs to work on his balance a bit.

Gamboa flashes his hand speed again about halfway into the round. This is really easy work for him tonight. Past the flash knockdown this has just been Gonzalez chilling and hanging out in there, cashin’ his check tomorrow with relative good health.

Gamboa’s keeping his hands so low now he’s all but daring Gonzalez to take the initiative. Here comes Gamboa! Gonzalez again stands up to it, but an uppercut sneaks in there. Gonzalez’s nose is bloodied, but he makes it out of the round.

Gamboa 10-9
Gamboa 68-64

Trying to show a little swagger, but now that he’s taking bigger shots it’s not looking so great.

Gamboa comes out in full-on attack mode, and he’s firing away from all angles. Gonzalez has reached the deep waters, and his boat has a leak.

If Gonzalez has any designs on winning this fight — and it doesn’t appear that he does — he might as well just go for broke and turn this into a firefight. Chances are he loses, but it’s not like Yuri has some rock solid beard, either.

STIFF right from Gonzalez, and Gamboa felt that one. But he comes right back, too. Round ends. That’s the most fire Gonzalez has shown since the second.

Gamboa 10-9
Gamboa 78-73

HARD right from Gamboa as he dances around the ring and throws power shots. Gonzalez trying to throw punches this round, at least. Gamboa looks like he’s sparring at this point. Gonzalez is doing more, but he was doing nothing.

Gamboa 10-9
Gamboa 88-82

An early knockdown, followed by a complete domination by way of relentless, relatively light flurries and hands-down showboating?

Are we sure this isn’t a Joe Calzaghe fight?

Joe Tessitore just shit his pants about Gonzalez’s corner mistakenly saying the last round was the final round, as if this has never happened before.

Gonzalez is throwing this round, but he’s not really close to landing anything significant. And now Gamboa is peppering him on the ropes. Gonzalez gets on his bike. Right uppercut lands, and now Gamboa is drilling Gonzalez. The mouthpiece comes out, and the referee stops the fight with 48 seconds left. Jesus, whatever. That was a terrible stoppage.

Yuriorkis Gamboa TKO-10

I disagree with the stoppage. He wasn’t that hurt at all.

Bad stoppage….

Gamboa looked like crap in my opinion given the amount of hype he has been given.

Jhonny Gonzalez took him out in 6 rounds and Gamboa got a questionable stoppage and got knocked down.

I don’t think he will be an elite fighter. He is what he is… a talented fighter who has significant shortcomings. He would get torn apart by someone who is a world class championship level fighter. He gets hit too often for me to respect his offensive abilities.

Lakers just scored 41 points in the first quarter. Sick.