Joan Guzman - Yuriorkis Gamboa

Guzman is without a doubt the most underrated fighter in boxing today and in a long time. Some of that is his fault with injuries and pulling out of a couple fights but how come his name never comes up? I didn't get to catch the Soto fight live and only caught sections of it after that on replay during dinner at family's house.

I would like to see this guy against ALL the top guys and nobody would walk over him, he has the potential to beat them all. I wouldn't argue against it. But let's face it, Guzman's shot at Pac is lost. No way Arum puts Pacquiao in with Guzman after he saw what Guzman did to Soto, no way. The more I think about it the more I think Guzman takes it.

I posted earlier about Khan-Guzman and while that's ridiculous imo, maybe Guzman and Gamboa isn't. People are very high on Gamboa and he's obviously being set up for a title shot sometime soon. I would like to see Gamboa against Jiminez first but no doubt this is a great fight.

Gamboa would probably be the bigger guy, might be just as fast as Guzman is a sharp offensive minded fighter with great slickness himself. Still, Guzman might have the best body control in boxing. He is more Pernell Whitaker then Floyd is imo.

I'm honestly not sure who wins but it is an amazing match up of talent. I really hope we see this one day.

I know this opinion won't be popular but i think people are making way way to much out of this kid. Now i agree in the fights this guy has been in he's looked awesome, maybe even a little better than that, but he's only 9-0 and hasn't really fought anyone who can even get past the hype of gamboa let alone actually giving him a good fight. There are so many things we don't know about this kid for him to be mentioned in the group of company he has so early. (Not talk on this forumn just talk in general) To me he's like lebron james was in high school, he's almost seems like a sure bet to be a star one day, but i'd really like to see him in a real fight before he's handed a title shot just on potential.

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Originally Posted by Mar

I know this opinion won't be popular but i think people are making way way to much out of this kid. Now i agree in the fights this guy has been in he's looked awesome, maybe even a little better than that, but he's only 9-0 and hasn't really fought anyone who can even get past the hype of gamboa let alone actually giving him a good fight. There are so many things we don't know about this kid for him to be mentioned in the group of company he has so early. (Not talk on this forumn just talk in general) To me he's like lebron james was in high school, he's almost seems like a sure bet to be a star one day, but i'd really like to see him in a real fight before he's handed a title shot just on potential.

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I kind of agree. I think his next fight against Darling Jiminez (who's a good fighter) should be a good indicator on how good a fighter he really is

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Originally Posted by Violent Demise

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Originally Posted by Mar

I know this opinion won't be popular but i think people are making way way to much out of this kid. Now i agree in the fights this guy has been in he's looked awesome, maybe even a little better than that, but he's only 9-0 and hasn't really fought anyone who can even get past the hype of gamboa let alone actually giving him a good fight. There are so many things we don't know about this kid for him to be mentioned in the group of company he has so early. (Not talk on this forumn just talk in general) To me he's like lebron james was in high school, he's almost seems like a sure bet to be a star one day, but i'd really like to see him in a real fight before he's handed a title shot just on potential.

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I kind of agree. I think his next fight against Darling Jiminez (who's a good fighter) should be a good indicator on how good a fighter he really is

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I agree with this two and just for clarification, I'm talking about down the line with this matchup. Who knows how far though, maybe after Jiminez if he looks good enough.

Its funny that you mention these two together amat because Gamboa's attitude reminds me a lot of Guzman at the same stage of his career. For a guy with less than 10 fights he's got that 'how are you think you could challenge me' sort of attitude & thats how I remember Guzman being. You could see the potential in Guzman as you can see it in Gamboa now!

As for the two fighting I would have to favor Guzman at this stage as he'd be more seasoned in the pro game & his defense is on par with Mayweathers IMO.

I would really prefer to see Guzman face Marquez. I mean Marquez ain't getting a Pacquiao rubber match straight away so why not fight the best competition out there like Guzman to try & strengthen his own legacy.

I'm really amazed more people aren't calling for a Marquez/ Guzman fight!

I think Gamboa is a great talent. I can't wait to see his up coming HBO fight

Guzmans an incredibly talented fighter but he can be beat as shown by Barrios (I had Barrios winning) but a conventional fighter wont beat him. I picked Soto to beat him cause hes also a talented fighter but Guzman was more effective and elusive. Mostly because Soto couldnt adapt. Pac imo would probably be the toughest fight out there for Guzman. I think Guzman is a bit too experienced now for Gamboa though Gamboa will go on to have a more sucessful career down the line.

As for Marquez-Guzman, I dont know why but that fight doesnt really interest me. not sure why cause it does make sence and I like both fighters.

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Originally Posted by BoomBoom

Guzmans an incredibly talented fighter but he can be beat as shown by Barrios (I had Barrios winning) but a conventional fighter wont beat him. I picked Soto to beat him cause hes also a talented fighter but Guzman was more effective and elusive. Mostly because Soto couldnt adapt. Pac imo would probably be the toughest fight out there for Guzman. I think Guzman is a bit too experienced now for Gamboa though Gamboa will go on to have a more sucessful career down the line.

As for Marquez-Guzman, I dont know why but that fight doesnt really interest me. not sure why cause it does make sence and I like both fighters.

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You had Barrios winning? I'm sorry but I disagree completely and Barrios is one of my favorite fighters. I ordered that PPV with Barrera-Juarez, that was a great fight but I had Guzman winning 9 rounds to 3 and thought the judging was awful. Barrios recieved a masterclass and aside from the last round and a couple rounds in the middle that Guzman took off I didn't think it was close.

I've never really seen Pac fight someone who uses the ring as an advantage before. Guzman has an awesome defense and excellent footwork. I remember he calls himself the "lil' Mike Tyson",.. but actually he's more like the "lil' PBF" imo. He traded punches with Soto in round 3, but evidently he didn't get tag with Soto's best shot. He made Soto fought his kind of fight and got him frustrated in late rounds with the pop-n-run strategy.

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Originally Posted by Pacstraightleft

I've never really seen Pac fight someone who uses the ring as an advantage before. Guzman has an awesome defense and excellent footwork. I remember he calls himself the "lil' Mike Tyson",.. but actually he's more like the "lil' PBF" imo. He traded punches with Soto in round 3, but evidently he didn't get tag with Soto's best shot. He made Soto fought his kind of fight and got him frustrated in late rounds with the pop-n-run strategy.

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Guzman spent a good part of the Soto fight standing toe to toe on the inside with Soto, he had the faster hands and got the best of nearly every exchange. He didn't move half as much that fight as he did the Barrios fight because he had two healthy hands to work with.

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Originally Posted by amat

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Originally Posted by Pacstraightleft

I've never really seen Pac fight someone who uses the ring as an advantage before. Guzman has an awesome defense and excellent footwork. I remember he calls himself the "lil' Mike Tyson",.. but actually he's more like the "lil' PBF" imo. He traded punches with Soto in round 3, but evidently he didn't get tag with Soto's best shot. He made Soto fought his kind of fight and got him frustrated in late rounds with the pop-n-run strategy.

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Guzman spent a good part of the Soto fight standing toe to toe on the inside with Soto, he had the faster hands and got the best of nearly every exchange. He didn't move half as much that fight as he did the Barrios fight because he had two healthy hands to work with.

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Hmmm.. :scratchchin: in that case..

I wish he would also go toe to toe with Pac and see who goes down. :cool:

This fight would be interesting, but at this point I think Guzman wins this... Gamboa is too technically flawed right now to beat Guzman. Gamboa is faster, stronger, hits harder, but he loops a lot of punches whihc Guzman won't have trouble defending, and though Guzman isn't exactly the textbook offensive fighter, Gamboa leaves his chin wide open for counters.

As for Guzman using footwork, I just don't see it, he usually is slick stays inside, and counters his opponent like James Toney. Gamboa can fight both going forwards and going backwards, people forget he is an amazing amateur fighter that definitely has the edge in footwork in this fight. That being said for the reasons I mentioned above Gamboa's clear physical advantages won't make up for his lack of finese against another good athlete in Guzman...

Watch Guzman's footwork versus Barrios when he had the hurt hand and had to use his feet for most of the fight. Or watch versus Fernando Beltran where he uses a lot of footwork. Also, even when he doesn't move his feet a lot he still uses his feet to position himself for angles. He doesn't use it much but that doesn't mean he doesn't have it.

And I wouldn't automatically assume Gamboa is faster in the hands or feet, there is no way to tell unless they are in the ring against one another but whoever has the advantage it isn't by much.

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Originally Posted by amat

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Originally Posted by BoomBoom

Guzmans an incredibly talented fighter but he can be beat as shown by Barrios (I had Barrios winning) but a conventional fighter wont beat him. I picked Soto to beat him cause hes also a talented fighter but Guzman was more effective and elusive. Mostly because Soto couldnt adapt. Pac imo would probably be the toughest fight out there for Guzman. I think Guzman is a bit too experienced now for Gamboa though Gamboa will go on to have a more sucessful career down the line.

As for Marquez-Guzman, I dont know why but that fight doesnt really interest me. not sure why cause it does make sence and I like both fighters.

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You had Barrios winning? I'm sorry but I disagree completely and Barrios is one of my favorite fighters. I ordered that PPV with Barrera-Juarez, that was a great fight but I had Guzman winning 9 rounds to 3 and thought the judging was awful. Barrios recieved a masterclass and aside from the last round and a couple rounds in the middle that Guzman took off I didn't think it was close.

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I thought it was a very close fight and i think I had Barrios by a point. No doubt Guzman looked sharper and is flashier but that didnt win rounds. Barrios pressed many of the rounds and Guz didnt do enough to win some of the close rounds. Ill have to go back and watch the fight though. I also thought Soto won more rounds than many people thought, though Guzman clearly won the fight impressively.

I thought the Barrios fight was closely contested but had Guzman winning by 2 or 3 rounds at least.

As for Guzman/ Marquez there is huge potential for this fight IMO. If Pacquiao decides to compete solely at 135 & relinquishes the Ring championship which is more than likely since he was starting to have trouble making the 130 pound limit; then a Guzman/ Marquez clash would be for the vacant championship. Pitting the #1 & #2 guys in the division against each other. It doesn't get much better than that

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Originally Posted by amat

Watch Guzman's footwork versus Barrios when he had the hurt hand and had to use his feet for most of the fight. Or watch versus Fernando Beltran where he uses a lot of footwork. Also, even when he doesn't move his feet a lot he still uses his feet to position himself for angles. He doesn't use it much but that doesn't mean he doesn't have it.

And I wouldn't automatically assume Gamboa is faster in the hands or feet, there is no way to tell unless they are in the ring against one another but whoever has the advantage it isn't by much.

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Don't get me wrong, Guzman is fast, but he is not in Gamboa's league speedwise. Gamboa is quite clearly faster, especially in handspeed.

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Originally Posted by Galaxy

I thought the Barrios fight was closely contested but had Guzman winning by 2 or 3 rounds at least.

As for Guzman/ Marquez there is huge potential for this fight IMO. If Pacquiao decides to compete solely at 135 & relinquishes the Ring championship which is more than likely since he was starting to have trouble making the 130 pound limit; then a Guzman/ Marquez clash would be for the vacant championship. Pitting the #1 & #2 guys in the division against each other. It doesn't get much better than that

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That'd be awesome.

GUZMAN'S BIRTHDAY WISH: "GET ME ARTHUR IN THE RING"

Undefeated World Boxing Organization Junior Lightweight Champion Joan Guzman will celebrate his thirty-second birthday today with family and friends at his home in Brooklyn, N.Y. "My real celebration was supposed to be this Saturday, but (Alex) Arthur is scared and running for the hills," said Guzman, referring to the postponement of his May 3 title fight against Arthur in Edinburgh, Scotland.

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Guzman is brilliant when he's healthy, he's smart, fast, knows all the angles and can make anyone look bad, he is in fact what Ishe Smith THINKS of himself.

Yuriorkis, is definately being set up for the fast track, I seen great hand speed, a killer instinct and some genuine power in both hands, I've also seen him get tagged flush and drop his hands, against Guzman it certainly wouldn't be good night, but it's a quick way to lose rounds.

First and foremost before I make any further judgement on Gamboa, I need to see him in a fight that lasts more than 2 rounds, we all know he has skills, but how's his endurance?

Watch his fight against Adailton De Jesus... if anything Yuriorkis picked up the pace as the fight went on, I think he is probably in fantastic shape, it is pretty evident just looking at him, and how he fights.

This to me is as mythical as a fight can be.
We can't even think down the road cause we still don't know how good Gamboa is I mean we've seen him fight but we gotta acknowledge the opposition.

I mean we just saw what Wayne did to Yoan.
Let's not forget the Bojados, Grants, Bobicks, Hoyes. ;)

The Jimenez bout should really show where he's at. Jimenez has seen world class so he will def. be a test for Gamboa.

That's true Mick and I know Jiminez is good, I was very impressed with his win over Anchondo. But I see Gamboa winning that and I don't think it's to much longer after that that he starts going for the title. I don't think it will be more then a year before Gamboa is competing at the top, he's certainly not going the traditional 20 fights before a title shot, I'd be surprised if he got to 15-0 before he got a title shot.

I agree with Amat... Gamboa is already 26, and turning 27 so he needs to get that title soon... I don't know how he will do against top opponents because in the pros he hasn't had to work hard against anyone yet.

And I downloaded his pro career last night and I had thought maybe Guzman was faster but no way, the more I watch Gamboa the more I am impressed. A lot of people don't like how cocky he is in the ring but it's because he's not being tested and as an amateur he was very sound and can slip just about anything.

Can't wait for this Jiminez bout honestly. I think he is going to make a huge statement.