Don't talk sh*t about Gamboa

[Beanflicker]

A lot of people here shit talk guys like Rigondeaux and Ward - two Olympic amateur champs - as being boring and talk about how guys like that are ruining boxing. Fair enough.

We also know how when an undefeated guy finally loses, people want to be the first to tell you how smart they were and how they knew they would lose and they weren't as good as everyone thought they were. Everyone's an armchair boxing expert.

So instead of kicking Gamboa while he's down and talking the usual shit, how about we talk about how awesome it is that a guy with his amateur pedigree and physical gifts chooses to throw bombs and make exciting fights instead of stinking out joints like Rigo and Ward. Talk about how much heart he has, how when he got hurt instead of grabbing and holding he chomped down on his mouth piece and started throwing bombs like Arturo Gatti.

Bravo to both guys. Great fight by two monster fighters.

I think Gamboa needs to get his ass back down to 130 though. I think Crawford's size really wore him down. A 7lb weight advantage is too much to be giving away at those lower weights.

[TitoFan]

Personally I enjoy Gamboa fights very much. The guy always forces the action... and with him it's either KO or be KO'ed. I don't remember any boring Gamboa fights. Between Rigo and Ward... I can't fault Rigo too much right now. The guy has unbelievable skills... and still needs someone to take him to deep waters. Ward I don't much care about. He's good... yeah... but he IS boring IMO. Something about the way he conducts himself and his career.

[generalbulldog]

I've always liked Gamboa's style. A loss is no big deal, the only ones that makes it a big deal are the new fans that came in with Mayweather. In fact they're making a big stink about it at the other boxing forums.

[DannyV297]

Gamboa realized by around the 4th and 5th that he couldn't hurt Crawford.

[Violent Demise]

Gamboa realized by around the 4th and 5th that he couldn't hurt Crawford.

Yet he hurt him in the 9th

[DannyV297]

Gamboa realized by around the 4th and 5th that he couldn't hurt Crawford.

Yet he hurt him in the 9th

Yes he did, and he tried to follow it up, but by then yuri had been pounded on enough to keep his efforts short-lived

[ruthless rocco]

Who was talking shit about Gamboa?

[Beanflicker]

Who was talking shit about Gamboa?

I haven't been on the forums to see, but like I said people love to shit on a guy when he finally loses and wanna come off as experts by saying they knew he sucked and knew he was gonna get his ass kicked, ect ect. Figured I'd try to get the jump on it.

If we all like exciting boxers who put it all on the line and entertain, we need to support the warriors even when they lose.

Gamboa showed big balls and even though he took a beating, would have fought on if they let him.

Gamboa has the speed and talent to stink out arenas and play the jab and grab game, but he jumps forward and throws bombs so he deserves respect.

[beenKOed]

I don't see why anyone would be making excuses for or talking shit about Gamboa, it takes two good fighters to make a great fight.
Gamboa gave it everything he had but Crawford was too much for him.
Gamboa should definitely go down a weight class because 99.9% of his punches were having little or no effect on Crawford. That's not an excuse, just a simple fact.

[ruthless rocco]

I'm not gonna shit talk him, but i do think that he stopped fighting the smart fight and started throwing wide looping bombs when he could have used his speed and footwork to control the pace and the distance. He really only got into trouble when he decided to throw everything at Crawford. Had he fought a more controlled fight I think he could have been far more effective, and maybe taken it to the later rounds unhurt and even got a decision win.

[Spicoli]

Every mistake and lapse of judgment made with much lesser opponents and lighter weight came to a head in this one fight. That's not talking shit, that's seeing the train coming

If we're honest, Gamboa never found his identity or fundamentals as a pro. He came in a free swinger with fantastic hand speed and went out on his back the same. Respect for that. I don't think Gamboa making 130 is realistic and he'll only go up

On a side note, fuck Ward and Rigo...congrats the Terrence Crawford!

[powerpuncher]

Definitely a FOTY candidate. This fight was awesome. Crawford impressed me. He proved to me that he is the real deal. Gamboa is good as always. He just needs to get back down in weight.

[generalbulldog]

Speaking of armchair boxing experts, where is ICB? Ain't no one more of an armchair boxing expert than that guy. He even said he could beat Wladimir Klitschko and Pacquiao inside the boxing ring because he's in top condition and swam a lot.

[J_Undisputed]

Truth be told I think a lot of us saw Gamboa making those fatal mistakes that would get him Ko'd in this fight. As Spicoli, said.. in those previous fights we saw lesser fighters catch Gamboa in between punches and yank his head down out of the cloud.

That being said. I was a big fan of Gamboa, then saw the outside of the ring nonsense and his desire seemed to slip. He used to have this fantastic head movement quick hands and a slick knack of countering longer arms with short stubby hooks. The last few times out it seemed like he just wanted to bait, counter get a win however possible and the collect his check. I fully expected him to get KO'd tonight. In fact earlier, within 5 rounds. Then HOLY CRAP... He resurfaces in the first four rounds and more or less has his way with Crawford. I thought wow, maybe he just needed to get inspired. He really showed all that potential he had before...

Now the part that chafes my @$$ is the fact that he could of have won this fight. He couldn't really hurt crawford but he was doing enough that he was winning rounds and out classing crawford. Why he started going to balls to the wall and leaving him self wide open for counters against a guy like crawford, just puzzles me. The first counter shot that crawford landed was inching closer and closer to landing and you could see crawford betting the farm on that one, but gamboa didnt have to get that loose and start telegraphing punches in bunches. He was doing fine before that. They say never fall in love with fighters, they'll break your heart every time.

2 more observations:
- Crawfords a likable champ. He's not quite as amazing and the HBO announcers would have us believe, but hes solid, skillful and almost re-hydrated to junior middle from 135.

- Would it kill the lazy @$$ ref to get a damn towel from one of the corners and wipe down the freakin Tecate logo? A good fight affected on both sides by the water on the logo. The pattern of droplets remained the same between many of the rounds.

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

I love the irony of the OP.