Frank Stea
Senior Reporter
In Las Vegas
Undefeated Cuban star Yuriorkis Gamboa 22-0 (16KOs) won a tougher than expected unanimous decision over Michael Farenas 34-4-4 (26KOs) to capture the interim WBA super featherweight title.
In somewhat spectacular fashion, hip hop Star 50 Cent was lowered from the MGM Grand Garden Arena ceiling performing Gamboa’s walk-out theme song.
The fight was unexpectedly action packed with Gamboa receiving more trouble than anyone thought his opponent Farenas would give him. Three knockdowns were produced in the fight with both fighters tasting the canvas
Gamboa outboxed Farenas in rounds one and two but the Filipino was not afraid to open up and unload some nice shots to Gamboa.
Gamboa floored Farenas in round two with an uppercut with about 10 seconds left in the round. A Clash of heads in round three left Farenas with cuts over his right eye and Farenas also had a cut over his left eye from a punch.
A right hand by Gamboa in round seven sent Farenas’ glove to the canvas which resulted in a count by referee Tony Weeks, although Farenas recovered and traded with Gamboa in a nice back and forth exchange.
Farenas then momentarily rocked Gamboa with a left hand with moments to go in the round.
Gamboa had Farenas in trouble in round nine, before Farenas landed a powerful left hook that dropped Gamboa hard. The Cuban was able to recover and make it through the round.
Scored were 117-109, 118-109, 117-108 Gamboa.
Senior Reporter
In Las Vegas
In somewhat spectacular fashion, hip hop Star 50 Cent was lowered from the MGM Grand Garden Arena ceiling performing Gamboa’s walk-out theme song.
The fight was unexpectedly action packed with Gamboa receiving more trouble than anyone thought his opponent Farenas would give him. Three knockdowns were produced in the fight with both fighters tasting the canvas
Gamboa outboxed Farenas in rounds one and two but the Filipino was not afraid to open up and unload some nice shots to Gamboa.
Gamboa floored Farenas in round two with an uppercut with about 10 seconds left in the round. A Clash of heads in round three left Farenas with cuts over his right eye and Farenas also had a cut over his left eye from a punch.
A right hand by Gamboa in round seven sent Farenas’ glove to the canvas which resulted in a count by referee Tony Weeks, although Farenas recovered and traded with Gamboa in a nice back and forth exchange.
Farenas then momentarily rocked Gamboa with a left hand with moments to go in the round.
Gamboa had Farenas in trouble in round nine, before Farenas landed a powerful left hook that dropped Gamboa hard. The Cuban was able to recover and make it through the round.
Scored were 117-109, 118-109, 117-108 Gamboa.