HBO Boxing After Dark
It's All Good

By William Trillo
Photos: Bret "The Threat" Newton


This past Saturday night Gary Shaw & Ahmet Ohner combined promotional forces and took a page right out of the old school book and put on a show that harkened back to the days of  yesteryear. The show was in Nevada but it was about 45 minutes from the Las Vegas strip. The sleepy border town Of Primm, Nevada played host to HBO's BAD and the old school Buffalo Bill Casino was the perfect setting for this triple header throwback night. 
 
On the card were 3 up and comers who had the chance to display their wears, and display them they did.
In the Main Event the much heralded Super Feather Yuriorkis Gamboa (10-0, 8 KO's)) took on Darling Jimenez( 23-2-2,14 KO's) in a battle for the vacant WBC Intercontinental belt. With 450 fights in the amateur ranks this was set to be Gamboa's breakout fight in the pro ranks and much was expected of the finely pedigreed Cuban charge.
 
There can be no questions about the ability of this fighter but the performance left a few questions and even his promoter Ahmet Ohner was a bit dismayed with his unanimous decision win. After the bout Ohner told Pound4Pound, "I was not happy with Gamboa's performance tonight. He is a good fighter and I expect him to be a World Champion one day, but he was playing around too much tonight and that's why he got dropped. It's time to get him and a new coach and after tonight's performance I am replacing his trainer, he has a lot more he needs to learn." 
It was clear that Gamboa was leaps and bounds better than Jimenez, but with his hands at his side for a good portion of the fight Gamboa left himself open for disaster and it almost happened midway into the bout as he found himself tasting the canvas, a place no one expected him to be.
 
Gamboa recovered and went on to take a unanimous decision and while showing glimpses of brilliance he also proved to be a bit too cocky for his own good and only time will tell if his change in trainers will vault him to the next level.  
 
Opening the televised show was light middleweight James Kirkland (22-0,19 KO's) who was facing Eromosele Albert(21-2, 10 KO's) in a tussle for a vacant NABO belt. If you went to the kitchen for a slice of pizza or if you blinked it's possible you missed the entire fight. Kirkland came out and went to work right away. Albert was bounced from one side of the house to the other and 66 seconds was all Kirkland needed to show he means business.
 
The Southpaw Kirkland was fired up for obvious reasons and he said he is ready to take on all comers at 154.
 
I have no doubt's Kirkland is the real deal but before he anoints him the next best Jr. Middle, allow me to introduce you to Alfred Angulo.
 
The second bout of the televised card was for another vacant 154 strap, this one being the WBO Intercontinental version. It featured the young and relatively unknown Alfredo Angulo (13-10 KO's)  who was taking on a seasoned vet in Richar Gutierrez 24-2, 14 KO's).
 
Without a doubt, this war was the fight of the night and Angulo is no longer a well kept secret. The man nicknamed El Perro (The Dog) put on a pit bull type performance that will leave many in his weight thinking twice before they step into the ring with him. 
 
With that said, take nothing away from Gutierrez who not only chose to go toe to toe with the tough Mexican Olympian, but had him hurt pretty good at the start of round five and it appeared Angulo was close to going down. Like I said, "IT APPEARED". Within seconds Angulo regrouped and proceeded to take the wake up call seriously and he went on a full on attack that forced the ref to shut this one down in that same fifth round at the 2:58 mark.
 
It was gutsy, impressive and it put Angulo on everyone's radar now. 
In a perfect world Angulo and Kirkland would be stepping in against each other shortly, but something tells me it will be a while before we see these two go mano a mano.
 
The entire off TV card was a treat for the fans in attendance with all fighters putting on a fine show. The one to watch is newcomer Super Feather Rico Ramos who won second pro fight with second round KO over Dennis Moreno.
 
In other bouts Mickey Bey and Wilson Alcorro opened the show with a free swinging affair that saw Mickey Bey take a clear unanimous decision 100-90, 99-91,99-91.
 
Bantamweight Chris Avalos pummeled Alvaro Muro with everything but the kitchen sink and then one crisp right hand sent Muro to the canvas and the ref brought the fight to a justifiable end at 1:36 of round one.
 
Super middle Dion Savage made Tim Taylor's pro debut a forgettable one as an overhand right by Savage was just that, and the ref decided Taylor will have to fight for a victory on another day,. Time of stoppage was 1:05 of round 1.
Questions Or Comments? Email Will "The Thrill" Trillo
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