Luevano-Lopez, Gamboa-Mtagwa headed to Madison Square Garden
by Scott Christ on Oct 28, 2009 2:54 PM EDT
in Boxing News Analysis
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Bob Arum told Primera Hora (link in Spanish) that although previous talks had the January 23 HBO card featuring Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa based in Lopez's native Puerto Rico, the card is now headed to Madison Square Garden in New York City. He doesn't indicate whether it will be at the main arena or the WaMu Theater, where the October 10 Lopez/Gamboa PPV card was held.
A quick look at the New York Knicks schedule tells me the Knicks are off that night, but do play at 1pm the following afternoon at MSG. There's nothing at all scheduled on January 23 at MSG or the other venues connected to the arena, in fact. Still, I'd expect WaMu first.
It also looks like the card is pretty much set with Lopez (27-0, 24 KO) moving up to 126 pounds to take on WBO titlist Steven Luevano (37-1-1, 15 KO). Gamboa (16-0, 14 KO) is slated to face the man who gave Lopez his Fight of the Year candidate test in October, Rogers Mtagwa (26-13-2, 18 KO).
Should Gamboa demolish Mtagwa within the first five rounds and Lopez win against Luevano, it probably sets up a summer showdown between the two young KO artists. I also expect we'll be inundated with, "Look how easily Gamboa beat Mtagwa, and how much trouble Lopez had! That means Gamboa will destroy Lopez!"
I don't really see it that way. I'll say right now I already figure Gamboa will get Mtagwa out of there within five or six rounds. He's much better in a back-and-forth firefight than is Lopez, and Mtagwa's wildness will be countered by Gamboa's own free-swinging ways. It's what Gamboa is really great at, letting his hands go, throwing from all over, and showing off his incredible handspeed. As good as Lopez is, he's a bit more straightforward than that, and not as fast as Gamboa. I think the style matchup against Lopez helped Mtagwa. I think the style matchup against Gamboa puts Mtagwa in an unwinnable fight. Even if he manages to knock Gamboa down, he won't be the first to do that, and I don't think he's got the one-shot pop to knock him out.
But I also don't want to overlook Luevano against Lopez. Luevano's methodical, well-disciplined style could give Lopez fits if JuanMa is out there trying to be flashy and impressive after a win over Mtagwa that raised some questions about him for the first time.
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You got top rank in my HBO….you got HBO in my top rank. Beautiful together? Seriously this is an HBO card? Thought these matchups were going to be latin fury ppvs. Guess this is going for the whole hyping these two fighters for a broader audience so that when they fight they bring in large numbers.
“Look how easily Gamboa beat Mtagwa, and how much trouble Lopez had! That means Gamboa will destroy Lopez!”
Yeah a lot of hatters and non hatters for that matter are going to be with that rampage comment. But I think Mtagwa is going to give Gamboa a difficult fight as well. He took some serious shots from Lopez and was able to take him down, but was still coming. Wouldn’t be surprise if it turns out to be the toughest fight of his career.
"Penelosa is not human." -Max Kellerman on Gerry Penelosa during the Juan Manuel Lopes-Gerry Penelosa bout.
Interesting
There were grumblings that they were trying to schedule Dirrell-Abraham for that date at the MSG theater.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
FYI, here's where Dirrell-Abraham in that location on that date comes from
http://www.mlive.com/sports/flint/index.ssf/2009/10/andre_dirrells_next_fight_coul.html?
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
They should have it at Joe Louis Arena. Keep up the trend of building up local fanbases. And there just ought to be boxing every once in a while at that arena. The Red Wings are at home on the 23rd though so they’d need to move the date.
They probably couldn’t do Joe Louis, too big of a place. Maybe Cobo Center, formerly known as Cobo Hall, but that place is pretty outdated at this point.
Bad Left Hook
"Well Howie, I think I'm going to stay outside and outjab him." -- Tex Cobb telling Howard Cosell how he would approach Larry Holmes
by Scott Christ on Oct 28, 2009 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Do people near Flint have money to go to boxing matches?
If they do it in Detroit, doing it in one of the casinos probably would make the most sense. That way, maybe you can get a site fee.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
What kind of style is tailor-made for Juanma then, if it’s neither the wild swinger nor the methodical boxer? I guess Ponce De Leon is tailor-made for Juanma – is he very different from Mtagwa?
well he’s much slower i’ll tell you that
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Oct 28, 2009 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Ponce is slower than all hell, so I think that played a difference. His straight punches get there in about the same time as Mtagwa’s looping hooks.
Bad Left Hook
"Well Howie, I think I'm going to stay outside and outjab him." -- Tex Cobb telling Howard Cosell how he would approach Larry Holmes
by Scott Christ on Oct 28, 2009 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions
lol this confused the hell out of me because i thought you were referring to me (last name is ponce)
on that related note i appreciate it if you don’t associate me with PDL
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Oct 28, 2009 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions
looks like i’m going to have to play contrarian once again and i think mtagwa will knock gamboa’s block off.
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Oct 28, 2009 6:47 PM EDT reply actions
If Gamboa actually boxes Mtagwa, easy win. Heck, he can probably just play off speed alone and beat him like he did Darling Jimenez what seems like a hundred years ago. I like Mtgawa plenty; he had some crazy smashups with Martin Honorio and Tomas Villa, but this is a different level. Just remember kids; Billy Dib can’t punch and holds his hands down by his waist and he shut out Rogers not too long ago. To that end; not a big fan of that fight.
Lopez/Luevano excites me more though. Luevano is often boring but a decent enough fighter to create issues for Lopez, who’s really f’n open to be punched. But then, Luevano ends up getting hit a lot for a guy who’s more of a defensive boxer; I suppose we’ll find out if Lopez is a real hard hitter or a guy who’s demolished only worn down or overrated comp.
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