By Mark Vester

At the Sporthalle in Alsterdorf, Hamburg, Germany, WBA "regular" featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa (18-0, 15KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Jonathan Barros (28-1-1, 16KOs). The scores were 118-109, 118-109 and 116-111.

The fighters went right to the center of the ring at the start of the first round. A slow start with both of them going through a feeling out process. A lot of jabs were being exchanged as they were trying to measure each other. Gamboa started to let his fast hands go in the final 20 seconds to land some good punches.

Gamboa picked up the pressure in the second round. Gamboa started to use the jab to set up bigger punches. Barros did well at blocking and pikcing many of them off. In the third, Gamboa once again let those hands fly at the start. He started landing some good, hard punches. Barros was running for cover and trying to hold when Gamboa got in close.

In the fourth, Gamboa was stalking and looking to land something big. Barros was very much on the defensive. At the start of the fifth Barros fired off a few good punches. Gamboa returned back and they traded on the inside. Gamboa got off with a few good rights.

They were jabbing at the start of the sixth. Gamboa was sticking and moving for most of the round. Some inside fighting early in the seventh. Barros tried to land some combinations. Gamboa was too quick and was able to block them. Barros was getting braver and started taking more chances. Gamboa was not countering back but used defense to avoid most of the punches.

At the start of the eight, Gamboa dropped Barros with a good hook and a series of punches. Time was called for Barros' fallen mouthpiece. Once time was called back in, Gamboa went for the kill. He was pounding Barros from rope to rope with multiple combinations and power shots. Barros held a high guard and held each time until Gamboa got close. In the ninth, Barros again tried to mix it up with Gamboa. He couldn't get Gamboa off his game of sticking and moving.

In the tenth, Gamboa was still sticking and moving. Barros chasing and getting hit when he tried to get too close. There was a clash of heads when Barros rushed in and Gamboa grabbed him. Gamboa suffered a cut in the middle of his forehead. He stayed away from Barros until the bell.

Barros came out swinging in the eleventh. Gamboa went back on the plan of sticking and moving. Gamboa would trade to fight his way off the ropes when Barros would attempt to trap him. The twelfth and final round saw Barros again come out swinging and looking for a big punch. Gamboa let his hands go in the middle of the round and began to shake Barros up. Barros was game, fighting back and staying inside. They traded shots for the final ten seconds until the bell.

Still to come if Denis Bakhtov vs. Steffen Kretschmann.

Undercard Results

Middleweight Mohir Oral (28-2-2, 11KOs) stopped Juan Camilo Novoa (14-5-1, 12KOs) at 2:20 of the tenth round to win the WBA international title. Oral wins his third in a row since the knockout loss to Athur Abraham.

Heavyweight Juan Carlos Gomez (45-2, 36KOs) knocked out Alexey Mazikin (13-5-2, 3KOs) in three rounds. Gomez put him down four times before the fight was stopped. The final knockdown came when Gomez landed a hook right to the stomach.