Fight Preview: Yuriorkis Gamboa v. Rogers Mtagwa

by Scott Christ on Jan 21, 2010 9:10 PM EST in Boxing Fight Previews

While there was plenty to say about Luevano-Lopez, I have to be honest. The featherweight title fight on Saturday between Yuriorkis Gamboa and Rogers Mtagwa seems pretty cut and dry to me.

Of the few complaints about Gamboa, these are the most usual:

He's wild
He fights cocky
He has a poor chin (this one is just nonsense)
He has bad balance (this is what the chin issue really is)

They're fair complaints, I suppose, but they also make him a terrific foil for Mtagwa.

I like Rogers Mtagwa. Two years in a row now, he's been in Fight of the Year contenders that came out of nowhere. In 2008, he had an unbelievably gritty war with Tomas Villa that was the best fight of that year according to many hardcore fans, and just last year, he fought Juan Manuel Lopez tooth-and-nail in another instant classic, nearly dethroning the young titlist at 122 pounds.

Mtagwa gets by because he's tougher than leather. You have to ignore his record (26-13-2, 18 KO) and focus on the fact that the guy can really fight. He still doesn't make a living from boxing, working as a roofer still in Philadelphia, as Kevin Iole talked about the other day.

He's an easy guy to root for. He's a late-bloomer who at 30 and after years of being booked as an opponent has come into his own through hard work and the fact that he's seemed to learn from his fights. Instead of being a guy that accepted his role, he kept trying to get better. And now, he is better.

But Gamboa has phenom talent. His speed is blinding, his power has been devastating thus far, and he does everything Mtagwa does. I bet he'll be able to do it first in this fight.

The only worry for Gamboa is a big one though. Mtagwa, at 5'5", has a huge 72" reach. Gamboa is a half-inch taller than Rogers, but will be giving up seven inches of reach in this fight. Mtagwa is solid fighting inside and doesn't exactly use his long arms in a conventional way, but he can swing big from further away. And with Gamboa having cowboy tendencies, there's always that chance he gets caught, and Mtagwa has plenty enough power to make a difference, too.

I think this will be a tremendously entertaining fight no matter how long it lasts. If it lasts two minutes, it's going to be two minutes of fury. If it lasts about six or seven rounds, as I expect, it's going to be a whirlwind of action. Unlike Luevano-Lopez, this fight doesn't have much stinker potential. Gamboa TKO-7

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

It's all about whether Gamboa can stay disciplined.

He fights like he did against Rojas, he’ll cruise and Mtagwa will barely land a punch. I feel like I have to bring this up every other thread about Mtagwa, but this is the same guy who was shut out by Billy Dib not long ago. Gamboa fights like what Dib wants to fight like. I don’t think this will be close.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Jan 21, 2010 9:38 PM EST reply actions

I love me some Gamboa

it’s art and culture with the lighter Cubans like him. Sooo many fights, sooo much experience and talent. But, he fights with his hands down and gets reckless with the feet.

If SC’s prediction holds, I think that’s a great night for Gamboa. I think it takes a bit longer,

Gamboa TKO 9

"Yes Gina, I am a Wise Cracker"

by lcollins1 on Jan 21, 2010 9:58 PM EST reply actions

i love my adopted philly boy, mtagwa, but gamboa’s speed is going to be his downfall. i think it will be stopped in 6.

"Newspapermen ask dumb questions. They look up at the sun and ask if it is shining."
-Sonny Liston

@mikefareri on twitter.

by sonofapsycho on Jan 21, 2010 11:18 PM EST reply actions

Can’t wait for this one. I like Gamboa- – he’s exciting and has a great looking future, but I’m still hoping Mtagwa creates a repeat of the Lopez fight.

by BloodMeridian on Jan 22, 2010 12:54 AM EST reply actions

mtagwa will drop gamboa in the 5th round with a massive right, and finish him off in the 6th

WAR MTAGWA 6th round KO

The Dude Abides

by battle axe of doom on Jan 22, 2010 1:23 AM EST reply actions

Shit you sold me. I’m taking the A train to Penn Station and finding a ticket for this mofo.

Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"

by Matt Miller on Jan 22, 2010 4:00 AM EST reply actions

I'm A Fan Of Gamboa

but if he can’t hurt Mtagwa (and i’m not sure he can),he could be in for a long night.He is quicker at moving in and out than JM Lopez though and Mtagwa is the one moving up in weight so he should make easier work of this than JuanMa did.As SC mentions,the reach advantage of Mtagwa could make a difference though and one thing’s for sure,he won’t go down without a fight.

by Matt Mosley on Jan 22, 2010 8:51 AM EST reply actions

Has quicker hands tha JuanMa too.

by Matt Mosley on Jan 22, 2010 8:52 AM EST reply actions

Looking forward to both of these fights.

Going to put my Arum-hate on suspension for a couple of hours, at least.

Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion

by The Kittitas Kid on Jan 22, 2010 12:10 PM EST reply actions

F.O.T.Y. possibility for as long as it lasts

"If you sit there and watch a person take about an hour to tie his shoestrings, then you realize that whatever problems you got ain't that significant"
---Vernon Forrest 2006

by The Midnight Rambler on Jan 22, 2010 4:28 PM EST reply actions