On the way to leap onto the Gamboa bandwagon......

[Myk_Myk]

I agree with Mar here. Either guy has potential to be great, yet both have shown that they have their weaknesses. I think Kellerman showed great insight when he talked about how hard it was to look objectively at these two fighters after that night. It may actually be that Juanma had the more impressive victory, but it's hard to reconcile against the excitement that Gamboa produced while beating an opponent that Juanma had just struggled with.

TitoFan made some great points as to why these two are probably a lot closer than our emotional responses lead us to believe. Plus, the chin issue with Gamboa having been dropped 4 times already was pointed out.

I'd like to add the fact that Mtagwa a Juanma had just fought 3 months earlier. I think it was too early for Mtagwa to fight again, especially at a higher weight class. Isn't Juanma in the same boat, especially since he was the one hurt late? Yes and no. Juanma is younger and can recover more quickly, plus he plumped right up to 126; while Mtagwa stayed right at 122. This indicates that Mtagwa was at a comfortable weight for their fight; while Juanma was ready to move up and perhaps weight drained.

I also think that Juanma was effected by fighting again so soon, and who knows what he would have looked like if he hadn't had such a hard fight so recently? After being rocked in his last fight and because he was moving up for the first time, he was probably testing the waters a bit at first. Also, have to wonder how he would have done against Mtagwa at 126?

Gamboa is an amazing athlete and his stock and credibility definitely rose more after the night, but Juanma's rose too, and he was already ahead. Gamboa has his incredible speed, reflexes, power, and killer instinct, but Juanma has more pro experience, a cooler head, maybe better technique, and lots of power himself. I'm of the mind that these two match up more evenly than the night's performances at first and emotionally suggest.