Arum says Lopez-Gamboa won't happen yet
by Scott Christ on Jan 24, 2010 5:17 PM EST
in Boxing News Analysis
43 comments
Maybe Bob Arum really thinks letting it "percolate" is the best move. Maybe he or his matchmaker Bruce Trampler saw something last night that let them know that right now is simply not the time. But whatever it is, that much-hyped summer showdown between featherweight titleholders Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa will not happen, as Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports discussed earlier today.
"I want to hear you guys ask me that question [about when they’ll fight] over and over and over," Arum said, grinning. "Because then I know they’re taking care of their business and we’re doing our jobs. They’re terrific young fighters and terrific kids, but this fight is going to be huge one day. If I just threw them in there now, yeah, you’d love it and it would be a great fight, but it wouldn’t do the kind of business it’s going to do a while from now."
This is most of Arum's argument, that the fight can be much bigger than it is right now. He is very right -- it can be.
But who are they going to fight in the meantime? Given the way Arum is talking about Lopez-Gamboa (and it is a fight you can dream on as a promoter), don't expect these guys to be taking any great challenges, even if Bob talks about having the two of them clean out the featherweight ranks. I think both of them would knock Chris John out if they fought right now, to be honest, given that Rocky Juarez rocked John in both of their fights last year, but I don't see that matchup happening.
Given how wild and reckless Cristobal Cruz is, he might be a good fit for Gamboa to pick up another title, since Cruz is basically Roger Mtagwa with better wins. But does Arum want to put Lopez in with Cruz? Would you if you were Bob Arum? Lopez got himself into hell with Mtagwa and barely survived. He proved his guts and his toughness in that fight, but I wouldn't want to do that again. Lopez was one right hand from going down for the count against Mtagwa. Too risky.
Jorge Solis is out there, but again, that's a really good fighter capable of pulling what would be an upset. Elio Rojas has a belt.
More likely, expect to see one of them fighting someone like Bernabe Concepcion or Mario Santiago. Those two will meet on February 13 on Top Rank PPV.
Arum is taking a calculated risk delaying this fight, but it could certainly pay off. It could REALLY pay off if they do what I don't expect, which is match these guys tough for a couple more outings.
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SC
What about Caballero for JuanMa?Surely with his height he will be comfortable coming up to 126.Or Lopez could even drop back down for his belt?
Just wondering,why do you think the Gamboa v Chris John fight won’t happen?Do you think John will stay in Indonesia now to make some easy(er) money now that he has had a taste of the big time?
by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 24, 2010 5:31 PM EST reply actions
No, I think John would fight him, because I think John has a lot more guts than he was given credit for for many years. But John is working with Golden Boy and I’m skeptical that the two companies are going to be putting any fights together for a while. There’s also been rumblings of John fighting Daud Yordan, which would be a megafight in Indonesia. Golden Boy works with both of them.
And I don’t think Top Rank wants anything to do with Lopez-Caballero, but I do expect Caballero to join the crowd at 126 soon.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Jan 24, 2010 5:46 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah,
i forget the politics sometimes.But,if they are the best fights to be made,surely they will find a way to make them,especially when there aren’t that many options in the div.
by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 24, 2010 5:49 PM EST up reply actions
Then Again,
maybe they will string the fans along with beatable opponents until they meet.After all,most fans don’t follow the sport as closely as we do.They just want to see their favourite fighter.
by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 24, 2010 5:59 PM EST up reply actions
I Don't Know Why They Don't Want Cabba.
Maybe i’m missing something but as far as i know Molitor is the biggest name on his record and who had Molitor beat?Michael Hunter?Please.Cabba didn’t impress me.
I would definitely pick Lopez in that one.
by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 24, 2010 5:54 PM EST up reply actions
Caballero has destroyed a few other titlists
Lopez’s best win is Ponce de Leon. That’s Caballero’s 3rd or 4th best win. He just doesn’t have the big names on his resume.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Now it is, yeah
Wasn’t really counting that one in my equation for whatever reason
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
I’m not crazy about Caballero either, but he’s difficult for anyone and really risky given that he means 0 money in the States.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Jan 24, 2010 6:35 PM EST up reply actions
I mean with his belt holder status.As far as drawing viewers in the US,like you said-0,…or thereabouts.
by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 24, 2010 7:17 PM EST up reply actions
Caballero's not going to have any easier of a time getting fights at 126
Anyone who’s any good (other than Vazquez and Marquez) is controlled by Top Rank, GBP or Don King.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
arum said he wants them to clean out the division including fights with john (which doesnt seem like a real possibility since hes back to indonesia to sit on the title) and caballero who was supposedly at the fight last nite. probably a case of lying yesterday and telling the truth today but he says a fight with el pelenchin will be sought out for one of them before gamboa and juanma are to meet up … concepcion santiago winner was mentioned by arum as well …
Arum says lots of things. I’ll believe anything bigger than the Concepcion-Santiago winner when I see it.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Jan 24, 2010 5:46 PM EST up reply actions
They'll clean out the Top Rank guys and shot fighters
Top Rank controls Cruz, Santiago, Concepcion and Solis.
In May, expect Lopez to fight the Concepcion-Santiago winner and Gamboa to fight his mandatory Daniel Ponce de Leon.
After that, Lopez will fight the Marquez-Vazquez winner (who will be his mandatory) and Gamboa will fight Cristobal Cruz (which has the side effect of giving Gamboa a second belt so he never has to face Chris John).
Around then, the WBA will force Chris John to enforce his super mandatory against Gamboa, and Arum has Gamboa drop that belt to unify against Lopez.
Calling it right here.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Jan 24, 2010 6:02 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Actually
Vazquez-Marquez IV becoming a WBO title eliminator might have been (at least part of) what made Arum change his mind. He knows Lopez can beat either of them, and will become a much bigger star once he does, which should happen.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Interesting Brickhaus.
I am watching the Conference Championships and have had a few now:).(Jim Beam’s+Carlsberg):))
Your analysis makes a lot of sense and it is pretty complicated with all the BS that goes on with the belts.
I have to say though,i see Gamboa beating John as John doesn’t have the power to take advantage of Gamboa’s weakness and Gamboa’s speed would overwhelm John,imo.
So i don’t agree with his handlers keeping him away from John.
I do agree with SC that Arum is full of s**t(as i have said in other threads),talikng about matching both of the winners tough but like i said,i think they would both be up to the task.
by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 24, 2010 6:14 PM EST up reply actions
I don't think they want to keep him away from John because he'd lose
I just think (a) John isn’t a big name, (b) since John is the ‘super champion’, he’d get a bigger chunk of any purse bid and © he’s more likely to cause Gamboa problems than Lopez.
I’m still waiting to see how Gamboa handles it when he faces a disciplined fighter who doesn’t leave himself open to be countered, and I suspect that might be his kryptonite. That doesn’t describe any of de Leon, Cruz or Lopez though, but might describe John.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Yeah
John is pretty sound,technically.
by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 24, 2010 6:24 PM EST up reply actions
I Meant To Also Say,
all the BS that goes on with the promoters,not just the belts/sanctioning bodies.
Like they say,it is a business,as much as it is a sport.
by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 24, 2010 6:22 PM EST up reply actions
ooh, good call
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Jan 24, 2010 6:34 PM EST up reply actions
no
Setting up Lopez against Vazquez or Marquez is a great idea business-wise.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Jan 24, 2010 7:00 PM EST up reply actions
I’d like to see this match up, but hey these are kids. Add up their ages and they are barely older than Bret Favre. They will meet up eventually.
They're not that young
A featherweight’s prime usually ends around age 30 – 32. They’re already pretty close to that.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
To clarify
Lopez is almost 27 and Gamboa is 28. Just seems like they’re young because they’re relatively new on the scene.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
And I don’t know if he’s an “old 28” or not, but Gamboa’s fought more rounds, albeit amateur, than just about any fighter.
"Yes Gina, I am a Wise Cracker"
well if luevano is an old 28, i’m pretty sure gamboa is one too
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Jan 25, 2010 1:16 AM EST up reply actions
That’s some Max Kellerman bullshit. I’ve never once considered Luevano “old” at his age. That really bugged me on Sat. night.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Jan 25, 2010 3:18 AM EST up reply actions
KELLERMAN
bugs me just by talkin’ I’d rather hear chalk screech across a board than that wide-eyed shill, he detracts from the show with his rants. Wish they had Lampley for all HBO shows, and he can grate on ya’ too. But Max is just unbearable. Peace!!
Just finished listening to Juanma on the radio
He was asked if Gamboa is next… his response:
“Yes he’s next for the day of the Puerto Rican Day Parade but the Puerto Rican Day Parade of 2011 […]”
The next part doesn’t make sense. But… umm… FUCK!
"Penelosa is not human." -Max Kellerman on Gerry Penelosa during the Juan Manuel Lopes-Gerry Penelosa bout.
reminds me of how they waited to put on Hearns/Leonard back in the day.
Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei. Basillio. Harry Greb.
by theworldsoldestsport on Jan 25, 2010 11:34 AM EST reply actions
I'm just thankful
that Arum has the best interest of the fans at heart. Good for you, Bob.
I suppose I'm cast as the darkness, because I comprehended their light not at all; at least not in the way they wanted me to.
So
Does anyone think JuanMa would lose to Gamboa if they fought right now? I think I’d pick Gamboa if the two would have fought next.
-Brian
Juanma by 6KO
I hate to say it but Juanma needs to work that jab a lot more to get in at a better pace. Nonetheless, speed kills… but a slightly feather jaw gets easily rocked. I gotta go with Juanma… great freaking fight either way.
"Penelosa is not human." -Max Kellerman on Gerry Penelosa during the Juan Manuel Lopes-Gerry Penelosa bout.
I'm waiting
for the day old man Arum dies. I appreciate him as a legend, but I think Top Rank will be much more productive when he’s gone.
Not that young
Dang…..you know you are an old man when 28 is considered old…..I’m more than twice that age….what does that make me besides decrepit and senile? I’ve had more fights too; mainly with the wife.
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