Gamboa Destroys Kebede

Featherweight prospect Yuriorkis Gamboa (6-0, 5 KOs) had an easy time tonight destroying 33-year old Samuel Kebede (25-2, 14 KOs) in the 2nd round at the Estrel Convention Center, Neukoelln, in Berlin, German. Gamboa, 25, the 2004 Olympic flyweight gold medalist from Cuba, knocked Kebede down twice in the 1st round and then once more in the 2nd round, prompting for referee to move in and put a halt to the one-sided affair. Gamboa knocked Kebede down with a chopping right hand seconds into the fight.

After receiving a standing eight count, Kebede resumed fighting and taking terrific punishment from Gamboa, who fought most of the fight with his hands at his sides, using little defense – because Kebede was throwing zero punches – and pot shotting Kebede at will with hooks, body shots and powerful right hands. Late in the first round, Gamboa knocked Kebede down with another chopping right hand. The round ended with Gamboa blasting away at a defenseless Kebede whose face was red from the numerous shots he’d absorbed in the round.

At the start of the 2nd round, Gamboa staggered Kebede with a 1-2 combination followed by a straight right hand. From there on, it was target practice for Gamboa as he landed 50 consecutive shots without any return fire from Kebede, culminating with a right uppercut that sent Kebede to the canvas for the final time. Upon getting up from the knockdown, the fight was stopped and Kebede staggered to his corner.