Bad Left Hook Fight Night: Yuriorkis Gamboa v. Jose Rojas

No league this week (since there really weren’t any big fights), but here’s my pre-fight analysis:

I hadn’t seen much of Aydin before this fight was announced, but now that I’ve watched some clips, I’m convinced that this fight was made because Oner thinks he can knock out Ouali in spectacular fashion. Ouali has improved his offensive arsenal quite a bit, and he’s an exciting banger, but he has a habit of leaving his chin up while throwing wide hooks. Aydin, on the other hand, has a monster uppercut and really is an offensive fighter himself. For as long as this lasts, it could be a fight of the month type fight. Ouali’s game plan needs to be to control from the outside. He has the big reach advantage here, and he’s a southpaw, both of which help him out. I think we’ll see a pretty even fight until Ouali slows down a bit, and when Ouali makes that mistake, Aydin will crack him with a huge uppercut, knocking him out for the count. Aydin KO 8

Rojas is a crafty veteran who can bang a bit himself, but at this stage in his career, he’ll probably be pretty rusty, and he was never a quick fighter even when he was younger. Gamboa is just completely on a different level here, and Rojas has been knocked out or down a few times before. Rojas might put Gamboa in trouble early, especially if Gamboa jumps into a left hand, but he should be walking out of the ring with a fake ass interim belt and Rojas’ back on the floor. Gamboa TKO 4

no predictions thread for tonight?

But no, no picks game thread this week. Not big enough. I guess the Top Rank PPV has big enough fights but eh.

Gamboa TKO-2
Aydin TKO-5

“His nickname is MINI-TYSON!”

Wow! Amazing! Him and 100 other guys!

Who are these dudes on the undercard?

Aydin comes out working methodically, then starts ripping when he walks Ouali to the ropes. Two jabs from Ouali. Aydin walking in and then just throws clubbering right hands. Kind of an orthodox Darchinyan thing. No crab movement, though. He’s throwing with real intent. Good body shot. Ouali misses a long uppercut. Left hand from Ouali sneaks through the guard. Aydin just keeps walking at him and tearing away, and Ouali is content to cover up and take it. Ouali lands a couple shots near the bell.

Aydin 10-9

Ouali a little more aggressive in the opening moments, but here he’s back to getting walked down again before the first minute ends. Ouali is willing to take the initiative at center ring, and then he goes right back to getting walked to the ropes. He also keeps calling Aydin to him. He might have felt the power and decided it’s nothing to worry about. Ouali, back to the ropes, puts some combos together. Two left hooks to the body, some big power shots upstairs, and a HARD right to the body by Aydin. That combo seemed to get to Ouali. Was a close round until that bit.

Aydin 10-9
Aydin 20-18

WHOA! Staredown at the bell and Aydin shoves Ouali.

I have missed you so. “Keep touchin’ that motherfucker right there!”

I’m really rooting for Ouali now… Aydin is a punk.

Shit, Ouali is LITERALLY trying to rope a dope.

It’s not working.

Left hooks and a big right by Aydin. Ouali is getting torched with that right now. Left hook Ouali! We’re getting a firefight now! Ouali might be a bit hurt but he’s throwing! Ooh boy. This is chippy as hell.

Long left to the body by Ouali. Left hook to the body by Aydin. And another one starts a four-punch combo, mostly blocked. Right to the body, uppercut after. There’s a hard uppercut. Ouali backed down again. He’s trying to deter Aydin but it’s just not happening. Uppercut by Ouali. VICIOUS uppercut by Aydin, and two more get blocked. And another hard uppercut! Man, this is mean.

Uppercut by Ouali. Aydin wins the exchange before Ouali clinches up. Good flurry before the bell by Aydin.

Fun round.

Aydin 10-9
Aydin 30-27

Wasn’t his brother a junior middleweight titlist at some point?

Neither of these guys seem to be able to use the ring effectively. Aydin is winning the rounds largely on confidence. That and a much tighter jab. Ouali seems to think he has a left hook, but I doubt it.

Just noticed Ouali’s back, WTF is up with those red spots? Kind weird.

Aydin with a nasty, two-hand flurry to start the round. Ouali rope-a-dopin’ again. Borderline low shot from Aydin as he aims for the body. More good shots from Aydin on the ropes. Ouali has done decent work here and there but for the most part this has been pressure domination by Aydin, I think. He’s really hammering him. It speaks well for Ouali’s beard so far, but jeez.

Ouali with a right hook counter, landed flush but didn’t come from a good angle for him. Aydin fights hard and he fights angry.

Roger at the bell: “You need more work.” “Huh?” “You need more work, move your fuckin’ hands.”

Aydin 10-9
Aydin 40-36

And back to the ropes. Ouali with a series of shots, putting some work in. Ouali uses his body and head to shove Aydin back and try to catch him off-guard. Good idea. Ouali HAMMERED with uppercuts. He’s complaining to Weeks about something but getting drilled over there. Tony stops it briefly and says, “Let’s cut all this out. You’re both professional fighters.” Good man.

Hard left hook to the body by Aydin. Jab and a right hook from Ouali. He keeps calling Aydin in, and this time he gets hit with a big right hand. Aydin with another right hand. He’s really taken over. The thing is even when Ouali shows some fire, he can’t back Aydin down, and then he has to reset.

Aydin 10-9
Aydin 50-45

After being told again by Roger to not go to the ropes, he manages to stay center ring for about 40 seconds before willingly taken himself to the ropes. Aydin slips, good job by Weeks to see it.

Aydin back to the body as Ouali again just takes himself to the ropes. Right hand by Aydin. Aydin with another flurry. Ouali works enough to get out of there. Just before the bell, Aydin is deducted a point on a low blow.

Aydin 10-9
-1 for Aydin
Aydin 59-54

They’ve given Ouali a couple rounds. I have not. Close for them, not so much for me.

This round changes it up as Ouali goes to the ropes and Aydin leans in and throws punches, landing a couple, and then Ouali throws a few and gets off the ropes, and then he goes to the other side of the ring to lay on the ropes.

Big work from Aydin. Nice body shots and an honest buttload of uppercuts from Aydin.

Aydin 10-9
Aydin 69-63

This has become so routine I can’t find much more to say about it. If anything changes, I’ll let you know.

No, not really. Better round for Ouali and I think he might’ve stolen it in the last 40 seconds.

Ouali 10-9
Aydin 78-73

One thing that bothers me is when they let hyperbole get in their way with a fight like this. They just said that the winner is a player in the division — really? If Aydin beats Ouali, he becomes a player? It would be his best win but he has, like, no quality wins.

Ouali starting to make a few more things happen, and he’s also on his horse a little bit. But then with about 45 seconds left, Aydin unleashes some meaningful shots. Ouali throwing leather near the bell. Aydin is having another fit at the end of the round. Dude’s kind of a turd.

Aydin 10-9
Aydin 88-82

 doesn’t look like I’ve missed too much so far…

Ouali sort of seems out of ideas, but Aydin gets himself in mild trouble at center ring because his pressure seems to be coming from frustration now. And then Aydin turns it around, so maybe he was just letting Ouali open a door.

Aydin 10-9
Aydin 98-91

“The welterweights are hot, but there’s none hotter than the super middleweight division!”

…what?

Why did Weeks warn Ouali instead of Weeks there?

Low blow from Aydin, but that was Ouali’s fault for holding his head. Tony Weeks again makes the right call. Aydin with a long shot, just misses. His T-rex arms don’t give him much reach. I’m just ready for Yuri Gamboa at this point. They’ve got this fight really close on their cards but have spent most of their time slamming Ouali’s gameplan and his poor execution. I mean, if all that comes out of your mouth is that, do you think maybe you’re trying to make a close fight? It really hasn’t been. Ouali has had moments, Aydin has been all over him from the start. Aydin has made the fight, landed better shots, and just beaten him.

Aydin 10-9
Aydin 108-100

And I’ve only watched a couple rounds, but Aydin seems like a future gatekeeper to me. He doesn’t seem to be hanging his hat on much other than his power, and Cintron knocked out Ouali COLD. If he can’t score a KO here, he probably doesn’t have enough power to match up with the elite, and he certainly doesn’t have the boxing skills to match up with any of them.

Aydin, in case it’s close, is going right after Ouali to start the 12th round. Good call. Aydin throwing those uppercuts, mostly getting blocked, but keeping Ouali on the defensive anyway. Ouali starts throwing a little, but when he does he’s met with the same firepower from Aydin. That’s been the entire story of the fight: Even when Ouali does well, Aydin basically matches him, and then there’s the rest of the fight where Aydin is beating on him.

Ouali with some long shots at center ring. Too late, dude. Might’ve been good to do that at some point in the other 11 rounds instead of laying on the ropes. BIG LEFT BY OUALI! Aydin is hurt and tries to tackle Ouali. Fuck it, go for it Said! Let’s see a home run shot!

And instead he goes back to the ropes. Chasing, right glances, not enough on it. They end it fighting.

Ouali 10-9
Aydin 117-110

And kind of a dick, to be fair.

I didn’t keep an exact score, but I had it wide for Aydin, much like Scott.

What?

114-113 Ouali
115-112 Aydin
116-111 Aydin

SELCUK AYDIN BY SPLIT DECISION

Thank you, Adalaide Byrd, you horrid, horrid judge.

Aydin looked for a second like he didn’t realize he was the guy with the “still” in front of his name during the announcements. Anyone else notice his delayed reaction to the (absurd) split decision?

That’s at least the third time I’ve heard someone say Froch is from Germany.

She like a kindergarten teacher. She wants the loser to have high self esteem.

Michael Buffer: Judge Jerry Roth scores the bout 118-110. Judge Chuck Giampa scores the bout 117-111, and judge Adelaide Byrd scores it 114-114 even for your….114-114? What the?

Not often I see a ref in Nevada I don’t recognize

Great, now I’ll be witness to horrible judging for 2 forms of combat by the same judge.

Long right to the body by Rojas, just a jab but the only punch to really land early on. Gamboa finding his way in on the longer fighter. So far more tentative than usual from Yuri, but here he comes and he backs Rojas down big time. Rojas is trying to stay away from him. Gamboa gets crazy and FLIES at Rojas, but bows when they get back up. Right hand, left hand. Rojas is staying away, trying to keep Yuri off of him. But I mean, how long can you do that?

Rojas swings a wild right hook that is just too high.

Gamboa 10-9

But Gamboa still wins the round with one huge punch. On the bright side, Gamboa is holding his hands up. On the downside, his feet are still 4 feet apart from each other.

Who are these announcers on Showtime?

First half of this round is interesting in the way the first one was. Gamboa doesn’t seem so completely certain about overwhelming this guy, or maybe he’s purposely hanging back some more. But Rojas is pretty smart. The rest of the round is the same as I try to get my cat to get off the table.

Gamboa 10-9
Gamboa 20-18

Gamboa is so much more tentative than usual. Maybe he’s working on that. Long right is just short from Yuri. Rojas slips, referee resets.

And here comes Yuri Gamboa! He’s a HOUSE AFIRE! Good Lord. I don’t think he ever hurt Rojas in there, though. Nothing flush. That’s pretty big for Rojas. We all know Yuri can be caught on counters. If Rojas can keep slipping flurries like that, Gamboa could get taken to deeper water than usual.

Some bad swelling on Rojas’ right eye. Flush right from Gamboa as Rojas comes at him. Two shots that both land awkwardly for Gamboa. Kind of on the side of the head and then the shoulder/neck area. There’s been no attempt at jabbing from Yuri. Gamboa’s also been warned for the third time to keep the shots above the belt.

Rojas is proving to be a pretty good test for Gamboa. He’s getting his face rearranged a little but he’s giving Gamboa some good looks.

Gamboa 10-9
Gamboa 40-36

Really? Looked like their legs got crossed to me.

Rojas down? at about 1:01, but not hurt. Good chest shot, it looked like? I dunno, that seemed a little iffy. I wasn’t watching the feet there.

Gamboa’s starting to wear on him, and Yuri’s attacking big time. Rojas is fighting back. BIG right from Gamboa. Man, most guys are down on that. He’s just all over Rojas now. This is the usual Yuri.

Rojas weathers the storm and gets the paced slowed again, but this is a 10-8 round. Rojas needs something special.

Gamboa 10-8
Gamboa 50-44

Just finish it off with a classic KO please! ;-)

Gamboa is really taking over, and the cockiness is coming out. Rojas strays very low, but kind of just something that happens there. I’ve enjoyed this OK but it’s getting to that point where I’m looking for the KO. I mean, I’ll admit it. I know who wins. It’s been clear.

Gamboa caught with a left he didn’t see, but it doesn’t bother him whatsoever and he goes back to the big offense. He’s now chasing Rojas and pounding on him. This is getting increasingly ugly.

Gamboa 10-9
Gamboa 60-53

Gamboa should go to the body a little bit more, in my opinion.

Gamboa is in full control, totally dominating. Rojas is a tough son of a bitch. But he’s not there offensively and eventually he’s going to get hurt just by an accumulation. Or else they’ll stop it on a big flurry. Rojas also appears to have nothing on his punches. I mean he’s caught Yuri with a few flush shots and not even so much as made him blink.

Gamboa 10-9
Gamboa 70-62

nearly knocked himself out on the turnbuckle

More of the same. I’m starting to wonder why this is even still going. Not because Rojas is getting beaten up to the point he’s clearly hurt, but he’s not in this fight. He’s getting destroyed. And now he almost kayoes himself on the turnbuckle.

I mean right there, just before the bell, Rojas catches him with a left that again Gamboa didn’t see coming. Nothing. Rojas’ face is getting turned into mush and they keep giving him inane corner advice. “Wait for your time!”

Gamboa 10-9
Gamboa 80-71

Russell Mora asks Rojas if he wants to continue. He says yes. So he’s got balls and guts. And gutballs.

Since this is terribly one-sided they’re talking about Gamboa wanting Chris John next. I’d be down, but I think John beats him at this point. A year or two more? Maybe not. But he’s still raw and hasn’t fought anyone near John’s level. Gamboa hot dogging a little more now. This is getting bad. OK, look: FLUSH, on the button left hook from Gamboa. Rojas doesn’t budge. The man is tougher than nails but he’s getting his ass beaten in there. It’s getting ugly.

Gamboa 10-8 w/o a knockdown
Gamboa 90-79

Doctors are looking at Rojas’ eye.

Rojas keeps saying he can see and wants to fight. Brave? Stupid? Both?

Honestly? I have no desire to watch this go on. I’ve seen worse, far more uncomfortable beatings, and many of them. But this is a fight you stop and let people bitch if they must. This is a foregone conclusion, he doesn’t look like he can see out of that eye, and he can’t do anything.

And there as they’re exchanging Russell Mora stops it. Let me be a hypocrite:

1. Odd time to stop it, really.
2. But I’m OK with it. Fighter safety is important.

Yuriorkis Gamboa TKO-10

Rojas’ eye had completely closed up

I thought the fight was stopped at just the right time, and I agreed with the ref’ing all night pretty much.

I’d be into Gamboa vs. John. I call John by fairly close UD, but I think it would be a worthwhile fight.

I actually think Gamboa would knockout John for some reason. I’m not that confident in John’s chin over the duration of 12 rounds against Gamboa.