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 Gamboa, Angulo, Martinez win on tripleheader
Ringside report by Francisco Salazar
Undercard by Edgar Gonzales
Photos by "Big" Joe Miranda
Featherweight Yuriorkis Gamboa’s game plan of all offense, and then some, almost cost him his unbeaten streak last night when he found himself on the canvas for the second time as a professional at the hands of Marcos Ramirez.
That same game plan, however, ironically assisted him in getting back into the fight and scoring the eventual stoppage.
Gamboa came back to stop Ramirez in the second round before an overflow crowd at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Calif. The bout headlined a tripleheader HBO Boxing After Dark card, presented by Gary Shaw Productions and Ringside Ticket, Inc.
Gamboa has been on the fast track since making his professional debut in April of last year. In his last bout, Gamboa scored a sensational first round stoppage over Al Seeger in July. Prior to the Seeger fight, Gamboa changed trainers after being knocked down by super featherweight Darling Jimenez in May. He would go on to win the fight by unanimous decision but his performance was criticized by media and boxing insiders. Ismael Salas became Gamboa’s new trainer after the Jimenez bout.
 Ramirez was also unbeaten entering this bout, but was considered a huge underdog. Ramirez has mostly fought in the Midwest and has only fought on national television a few times.
It started out well for the 2004 Gold Medalist, even if he did come out with reckless abandon against Ramirez. However, a counter left hook dropped Gamboa to the canvas. Television replays showed that it was Ramirez’ left elbow that landed on the chin.
Both fighters traded wild shots until the bell sounded to end the first round.
Both fighters went right at it again to start the second round. Although Ramirez did not back down, Gamboa hard shots began to take its toll on Ramirez.
A right uppercut by Gamboa got through Ramirez’ gloves and connected to the chin, dropping Ramirez to the canvas. After getting up, Gamboa went in for the kill as Ramirez did what he could to fend off his opponent.
Gamboa went straight at Ramirez and landed a four-punch combinations that culminated with a left hook to the body that dropped his opponent. Ramirez struggled to get up and was eventually counted out by referee Jerry Cantu at 1:41 of the round.
His background as a strong amateur fighter and the talent he exudes could lead him to a world title. However, questions will arise as to whether he is ready with the recent knockdowns he has suffered and flaws in his defense.
He quickly dismisses those claims last night.
“My quality as a fighter speaks for itself,” said Gamboa, who is co-promoted by Ahmet Oner and Gary Shaw. “My amateur background and what I have done shows what I can do. When I hurt my opponent, I know they can not continue.”
Gamboa, from Miami, FL by way of Guantanamo, Cuba, goes to 12-0, 10 KOs. Ramirez, from Kansas City, KS, falls to 25-1, 16 KOs.
 Angulo stops Tsurkan
In the second main event bout, junior middleweight Alfedo Angulo earned a hard-fought 10th round stoppage over Andrey Tsurkan.
Angulo was coming off an impressive performance in his fifth round stoppage victory over Richard Gutierrez in May.
Tsurkan, a winner in seven out of his last eight bouts before the Angulo fight, had pulled off recent upsets over contenders Jesse Feliciano and Hector Camacho, Jr.
Angulo, with deceptively quick hands, was able to land against Tsurkan as he would switch from a conventional to a southpaw stance.
Tsurkan was able to sneak in counter left hooks to the head of Angulo in the early rounds. However, Angulo landed hard shots to the head in the final 30 seconds of the second round. Tsurkan’s face began to show more swelling across his face at this time.
Angulo began to be assertive to the body, landing the more effective punches in an attempt to break down Tsurkan.
Tsurkan began to counter more in the middle rounds. He would start rounds well by landing hooks to the head of Angulo and using angles to find more openings. However, momentum would swing towards Angulo during these rounds as he was able to have Tsurkan engage with him in the middle of the ring. This is where Angulo would do more damage on Tsurkan.
In the later rounds, Angulo’s punches began to affect Tsurkan more. Angulo looked as though he grew stronger with each passing round and Tsurkan’s punch output dropped.
 But Tsurkan hung in there and showed heart in fighting back against the hard-hitting Angulo. There were times when Tsurkan looked out on his feet in the last two rounds.
It all came to an end in the final round as Tsurkan was battered against the ropes. Tsurkan’s corner wisely threw in the towel, prompting referee Tony Crebs to stop the bout at 2:27. After the bout was stopped, Angulo hugged Tsurkan and spoke in his ear words of respect and encouragement.
Angulo threw 1211 total punches, connecting on 400 of them. Tsurkan threw 729 total punches, landing 143 of them.
“This was one of my toughest fights so far,” said Angulo, who has now stopped his last 10 opponents. “He was a great opponent, but he could not keep up with me. I got stronger with each passing round.”
Angulo, from Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico and now residing in Downey, CA, improves to 14-0, 11 KOs. Tsurkan, from , falls to 26-4, 17 KOs.
 Martinez stops Bunema
Sergio Martinez stopped contender Alex Bunema after the eighth round, when Bunema was unable to continue. With the victory, Martinez claims an interim world title.
It was a one-sided fight that saw Martinez way too fast for the slower and flat-footed Bunema.
After the first round, Martinez had his way with Bunema, who earned the opportunity to fight for this interim world title when he stopped Roman Karmazin and Walter Matthysse in his last two bouts.
Throughout the bout, Martinez landed jabs at will and hard left hands to the head that snapped back the head of Bunema.
Martinez scored a knockdown in the third round when he landed a three-punch combination to the head, culminating with a left hand that put Bunema on the canvas. Bunema got up, more embarrassed than hurt from the knockdown.
Bunema tried to get off with right hands as Martinez almost invited Bunema to throw at him. Later in the bout, Bunema attempted to inch closer towards Martinez to land right hands. He was able to land more counter right hands to the head, but Martinez would make him pay for those later in the round.
After the eighth round, the bout was stopped by referee Raul Caiz, Sr. on the advice of the ringside physician.
 Punch stat numbers reflect the total domination by the Argentine fighter. Martinez landed 212 out of 518 total punches, while Bunema only landed 31 out of 216 total punches.
“This was a very easy bout for me,” said Martinez, who has won his last 28 bouts since being stopped by Antonio Margarito in 2000. “I was in the best shape of my life and very well-prepared.
Martinez, from Madrid, Spain by way of Buenos Aires, Argentina, improves to 44-1-1, 24 KOs. Bunema, from Memphis, TN by way of Kinshasa, Congo, drops to 30-6-2, 16 KOs.
Undercard results
Jr. welterweight Jesse Vargas (2-0), promoted by Mayweather Promotions showed being trained by the Mayweather family pays off. Vargas was in command against much taller Trenton Titsworth (2-3), landing several uppercuts and one-two combinations.
We have seen strange things in boxing, like Mike Tyson biting Evader Holyfield's ear, but tonight Vargas was kissed on the ear and licked on the face by Titsworth.
Vargas took offense at the smooch and punched Titsworth as the referee broke up the hugging, sending Titsworth to the canvas. Referee David Denkin deducted one point from Vargas and two for Titsworth, for holding behind the head, and another for the complete lack of professionalism.
Vargas won by unanimous decision 39-34 x 3.
Argentina's Carlos Abregu (24-0, 21 KOs) stopped Robert Valenzuela (40-29, 4 KOs) from Sonora, Mexico at 54 seconds of the sixth and final round of a welterweight contest.
Abregu dominated the entire bout with his jab forcing his opponent to step back not allowing Valenzuela to land a telling blow. Abregu recently signed by Gary Shaw Productions proved his a worthy boxer.
In a super middleweight bout, Arkansas’ Jon Nelson (6-0) landed some great overhand rights and uppercuts during the first round, taking a unanimous decision over Florida's Robert Campbell (2-1).
Being Campbell's third fight, he showed he was not comfortable exchanging punches and played defense through the scheduled six. Nelson's speed and slight ring experience made the difference.
The judges scored it 60-54 for Nelson.
Ariz Ambriz (6-0, 4 KOs) from Azusa was in command for all four rounds, over Dion Nash (5-4).
Ambriz was getting frustrated while looking for the knockout but was unable to pull it off. Still, his speed and accuracy was enough to convince the judges who scored it 40-36 x 3.
In the last and final bout of the night, Escondido's Dashon Johnson and Azusa's Alan Velasco started the bout like a street brawl. Both fighters exchanged wild punches while dancing all over the ring. Despite two knockdowns scored by Johnson in the second round, Velasco rallied in the last four rounds to tighten up the fight.
Judge Marty Denkin scored it 57-55 for Velasco and judges Tony Crebs and David Denkin scored it 56-56, ending the street brawl with a majority draw.
Ringside notes
- Aside from Gary Shaw Productions and Patrick Ortiz’ Ringside Ticket, other promoters on this card were Lou DiBella Entertainment, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing Promotions, and Arena Boxing Promotions.
- Welterweight champion Antonio Margarito, junior middleweight contender Sergio Mora, bantamweight contender Yonnhy Perez, and former world champion Carlos Baldomir took in the action from ringside.
- Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman, and Lennox Lewis called the action from ringside for HBO. As has been the case in the past, Lewis signed autographs and took pictures with fans after the card ended.
- Ring announcer was during the HBO telecast was Jake Gutierrez, while Michael Vale was the ring announcer during the non-televised portion of the card. – Francisco Salazar
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