Roach says Gamboa will kill Donaire.

[CubanGuyNYC]

Yeah totally true. Roach values speed and power too much.

Any casual boxing fan would overlook the style of Donaire. Donaire is soooo underrated. Okay Gamboa would come out swinging, so what. Donaire has great technique, an incredible boxing IQ, and awesome counter-punching ability

Speed and Power is not everything, boxing is a sweet science

I wouldn't exactly call Nonito underrated. He's often mentioned as the #4 P4P guy, behind Pacquiao, Mayweather and Martinez. If anything, people usually accuse Donaire of being overrated.

I think Nonito's excellent. (Obviously I'm not alone.) As I've pointed out before, I think the determining factor between Gamboa and Donaire, if they ever meet, will be strength. No one knows how Nonito will carry his ability into the higher weights. Yuri is strong, a beast. Donaire will have to deal with that, along with the speed, power and athleticism. And let's not overlook the fact that Gamboa is pretty ring savvy himself. In that regard, Yuri is certainly underrated....

[F l i c k e r]

I just read a comment that said Gamboa's defense is only second to Floyd.

Are you serious?! Gamboa's defensive stats look great because his opponents get blitzed to death and can't throw anything back while getting hit with everything, including the kitchen sink.

I think Nonito's power will carry up. Nonito isn't a true 118 fighter. He is obviously bigger than everyone there. And that's after he cuts weight. He's still bigger than everyone. He is most likely a natural 130lb guy. I don't know his exact walk around weight but he sacrifices a lot of useful muscle and weight to fight at those smaller weight classes.

Nonito's skill level is higher than Yuri's. That just isn't debatable. Out of all fighters today, Nonito is top 5 in skill. We are talking Mayweather, Hopkins, Ward as company. Combine that with his ring IQ and power. I don't see Yuri winning.

Even with his recent fights where he has calmed down his style. All that goes out the window when you get hit with a sledgehammer. He will revert to his natural swing for the fences style when he gets popped with a hard right straight. Then from then on, just wait for the left hook. Cause it will come and it will be over when it lands.

[CubanGuyNYC]

I just read a comment that said Gamboa's defense is only second to Floyd.

Are you serious?! Gamboa's defensive stats look great because his opponents get blitzed to death and can't throw anything back while getting hit with everything, including the kitchen sink.

I think Nonito's power will carry up. Nonito isn't a true 118 fighter. He is obviously bigger than everyone there. And that's after he cuts weight. He's still bigger than everyone. He is most likely a natural 130lb guy. I don't know his exact walk around weight but he sacrifices a lot of useful muscle and weight to fight at those smaller weight classes.

Nonito's skill level is higher than Yuri's. That just isn't debatable. Out of all fighters today, Nonito is top 5 in skill. We are talking Mayweather, Hopkins, Ward as company. Combine that with his ring IQ and power. I don't see Yuri winning.

Even with his recent fights where he has calmed down his style. All that goes out the window when you get hit with a sledgehammer. He will revert to his natural swing for the fences style when he gets popped with a hard right straight. Then from then on, just wait for the left hook. Cause it will come and it will be over when it lands.

Interesting observation about how Gamboa's defensive "stats" are skewed. You may very well be right. Nonetheless, I have indeed noticed myself that Yuri doesn't really get hit that often.

You're also probably right about Gamboa reverting to his natural style upon getting hit hard. However, Nonito would be dealing with his own challenges from a terrific and aggressive fighter possessing an arsenal of formidable attributes himself. Donaire wouldn't be alone in that ring. Let's not lose sight of that fact.

[537Bwouaye]

I just read a comment that said Gamboa's defense is only second to Floyd.

Are you serious?! Gamboa's defensive stats look great because his opponents get blitzed to death and can't throw anything back while getting hit with everything, including the kitchen sink.

I think Nonito's power will carry up. Nonito isn't a true 118 fighter. He is obviously bigger than everyone there. And that's after he cuts weight. He's still bigger than everyone. He is most likely a natural 130lb guy. I don't know his exact walk around weight but he sacrifices a lot of useful muscle and weight to fight at those smaller weight classes.

Nonito's skill level is higher than Yuri's. That just isn't debatable. Out of all fighters today, Nonito is top 5 in skill. We are talking Mayweather, Hopkins, Ward as company. Combine that with his ring IQ and power. I don't see Yuri winning.

Even with his recent fights where he has calmed down his style. All that goes out the window when you get hit with a sledgehammer. He will revert to his natural swing for the fences style when he gets popped with a hard right straight. Then from then on, just wait for the left hook. Cause it will come and it will be over when it lands.

And your point is? Offense is also a great defense. At the end of the day he doesn't get hit much, hence he has one of the best defenses in the game, no matter how you try to turn things around.

Also, Yuri is good at what he does. Most people with such crazy offensive style get hit back a lot. Gamboa is hard to find even when doing so. The stats don't lie, that's why Gamboa's face is always like brand new with tags even after a 12 rounder, as his boy Pretty Boy.

[KickAzz]

ya'll underestimating gamboa. gamboa is a cuban gold medalist and has amazing amatuer pedigree. of course this guy has skills. Ya'll act like gamboa is the reincarnation of valero.

[F l i c k e r]

Interesting observation about how Gamboa's defensive "stats" are skewed. You may very well be right. Nonetheless, I have indeed noticed myself that Yuri doesn't really get hit that often.

You're also probably right about Gamboa reverting to his natural style upon getting hit hard. However, Nonito would be dealing with his own challenges from a terrific and aggressive fighter possessing an arsenal of formidable attributes himself. Donaire wouldn't be alone in that ring. Let's not lose sight of that fact.

True. But also, Nonito is amazing against over aggressive fighters. Mostly because he has the power to hurt guys like that bad. So if Gamboa was to revert back to his aggression tactic. He'd get hurt and bad.

I think the main thing with Nonito is. He's never been in trouble. He's not affect by aggression, boxers, or hard hitters. I don't think he has fought a slick/illusive opponent. But Nonito just never been in any situation that's sketchy. Couple that with his skill, he doesn't over extend, he does sit back too much. So it's hard to say because of his offensive, this will happen. Or because he is too tentative, this will happen.

He's pretty much a ring general in every sense of the word.

And your point is? Offense is also a great defense. At the end of the day he doesn't get hit much, hence he has one of the best defenses in the game, no matter how you try to turn things around.

Also, Yuri is good at what he does. Most people with such crazy offensive style get hit back a lot. Gamboa is hard to find even when doing so. The stats don't lie, that's why Gamboa's face is always like brand new with tags even after a 12 rounder, as his boy Pretty Boy.

My point is, the comment about Gamboa seeming like he is some defensive genius is being taken out of context. Because obviously his lack of getting hit is caused by blitzing and overwhelming opponents. Not because he is slipping and dodging.

[Mr. Philadel]

I don't agree with Roach...I think it would be a classic....I got it a 50/50 fight...MAYBE slightly favoring Gamboa...but just a lil'....Donaire can rumble....Roach is sleeping on him!!

[CubanGuyNYC]

I think the main thing with Nonito is. He's never been in trouble. He's not affect by aggression, boxers, or hard hitters. I don't think he has fought a slick/illusive opponent. But Nonito just never been in any situation that's sketchy. Couple that with his skill, he doesn't over extend, he does sit back too much. So it's hard to say because of his offensive, this will happen. Or because he is too tentative, this will happen.

He's pretty much a ring general in every sense of the word.

I've seen just a few of Nonito's fights, all of them recent. I don't doubt your assertion that he's never been in trouble. I can say the same, however, about Gamboa.

I've seen all of Yuri's fights, and none have ever been in question. Gamboa's been down exactly four times in his career, all of them flash KDs. Yuri has never been hurt by a punch (one of his knockdowns was accompanied by an elbow). All the moments in question were caused by Gamboa being off balance.

Three of Yuri's knockdowns came earlier in his career, against admittedly lesser opposition. I think that actually explains a lot. Gamboa was being reckless against opponents he expected to destroy. The only time Yuri was down against a quality opponent was versus Salido, the guy that TKOed JuanMa.

There's no doubt in my mind that Nonito Donaire would get a dose of respect from Gamboa and his camp. The counter left hook would be prepared for (by an opponent with the skills and ability to actually do something about it). It would be a fight with frequent lulls and bursts of action. The more I think about it, the more I wish it to become reality....

[garfios]

Roach is an idiot.

Donaire has good timing and is a master at counterpunching. He'd catch Yuri coming in and spark him out. Donaire has insane power and with Yuri's fragile chin he would take him out.

With that statement I c that you don't understand boxing very well, first, just because you go down it doesn't meant that you have a fragile chin, Gamboa have as a matter of fact a granite chin, out all those 4 knockdowns only one is legit, throw in the fact that he is fighting stiff competition and in many cases big punchers right from the get go, and you can say that he is being tested, he has fought smallest and biggest and defeat them all, Donaire has being the biggest and the faster in all his fights, against Gamboa he will b the smallest, less powerful and slowest, still you think he will take Gamboa out, I'm not a betting man but I'll bet in this one.

[garfios]

True. But also, Nonito is amazing against over aggressive fighters. Mostly because he has the power to hurt guys like that bad. So if Gamboa was to revert back to his aggression tactic. He'd get hurt and bad.

I think the main thing with Nonito is. He's never been in trouble. He's not affect by aggression, boxers, or hard hitters. I don't think he has fought a slick/illusive opponent. But Nonito just never been in any situation that's sketchy. Couple that with his skill, he doesn't over extend, he does sit back too much. So it's hard to say because of his offensive, this will happen. Or because he is too tentative, this will happen.

He's pretty much a ring general in every sense of the word.



My point is, the comment about Gamboa seeming like he is some defensive genius is being taken out of context. Because obviously his lack of getting hit is caused by blitzing and overwhelming opponents. Not because he is slipping and dodging.

Defense is slipping and dodging, he is fast and gets out of the way of punches and he is an amateur Gold medalist from Cuba, first you don't make the team if you are not a good boxer, we haven't c the best of Gamboa yet, and you know why? Because he hasn't been challenge, last fight he toyed with Ponce and once he step up on the gas ponce took the easy way out, we all know that cut was not bad enough for him to quit but he did, Gamboa is an amazing little fighter, one of the best in the world right now.