The Cubans come-back
Por Hilmar Rojas Erazo 07/06/2013
This weekend will take the ring two Cubans fighters whom I had the opportunity to meet and see fight as amateur with the selection of Cuba.
Yuriorkis Gamboa and Erislandy Lara were very successful while they were members of the Antillean selection in the Olympic Games they participated. They both shined together with Guillermo Rigondeaux and Oldanier Solis, among others to be part of the unbeatable Antillean selection.
I always thought Lara had the best fencing and he always said that if he ever became professional, he would be world champion for sure. However, circumstances have been different and his colleagues got there first, but it does not mean I’ve changed my opinion.
On Saturday, Lara will have another opportunity to demonstrate that fencing I like so much when the fights for the WBA 154 Interin title. He will fight as under card at the Home Deport Center in California, and he will face the Mexican Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo.
Lara has a technical style, but his punch is not as accurate as it needs in professional boxing. He has 18 wins and a painful loss to Paul Williams.
On the other hand the “Perro” (dog) Angulo has a record of 22 wins, 18 by KO and 2 losses. He is the typical Mexican boxer who never steps back, is strong and wears down his opponents. After overcoming his legal problems he is coming back because he wants to get back what he has lost.
This should be a closed fight because both fighters style can make it a very worthy show for the fans.
The main fight of the night will be Marcos René Maidana vs Josesito López for the WBA Intercontinental welterweight title on Saturday at the Home Depot Center of California.
Maidana, former world champion has a record of 33-3, 30 KO’s y López 30-5, 18 KO’s.
On September 15 in Las Vegas, Maidana defeated Soto Karass by Technical KO and at the end of the year he knocked out the Mexican Ángel Martínez in Argentina. On the other hand Lopez knocked out Victor Ortiz last year and fell before Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez.
Lopez is like a non-stop throwing punches machine with constant attack without recoiling. He has strong fists, is very smart and strategic, does not fall into provocations and knows how get out of troubles, most of the time.
However, something that may enable the Argentinean take an early lead is the fact that the Aztec does not have a boxing fine style that could give Maidana the opportunity to not only to punish but also to move at will.
The “Chino” Maidana assures to be ready to finish the fight before the limit or go the whole distance as he is in full physical conditions to win.
However, the present owner of the Intercontinental belt should be watch out for Lopez punches and for his ability to surprise his opponent when attacks.
The third WBA title fight in Carson will be between the Venezuelan Johan Pérez and the Japanese Yoshihiro Kamegai, who might not be well known in part of the world but he is considered one of the best in his weight in Japan.
Kamegai is quite orthodox and has a frontal style. Pérez should take advantage of his speed and distance; he must, however hit very hard and to the mid zone to wear down the Nippon who seems like a hunter after hi spray and has a lot of stamina.
This fight for the WBA International welterweight title gives Perez a new opportunity to to regain his career and prove that he has what it takes to be a respectable contender in the division.
In Canada, there will be another Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa (22-0, 16 KO) who will fight Darley Pérez (28-0, 19 KO) from Colombia at the Bell Centre of Canada defending his WBA interim lightweight title.
According to Gamboa, his performance in front of the Filippino Michael Farenas was not good due a hand injury, besides the long time without fighting.
Pérez is a fighter who enjoys his favorite weapon the counter-fighting, causing his opponent to fall into his game. It is important that Gamboa avoids this and keep his defense tight.
In short, on Saturday there will be big WBA fights.
