By Dan Ambrose: Super featherweight contender Yuriorkis Gamboa (9-0, 8 KOs) demolished his overmatched opponent Johnnie Edwards (13-2-1, 7 KOs) in a 1st round TKO last night to win the vacant NABF super featherweight title at the Xtreme Indoor Karting, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Gamboa, 26, a former 2004 Olympic Gold medalist for the Cuban national team, knocked Edwards down in the first 30 seconds of the fight after connecting with a left hand to the head.
Upon getting up, Edwards was met with succession of left hands from Gamboa ending with two rights that dropped Edwards for the second and final time in then, prompting for referee Brain Garry to move in and halt the fight at 1:34 of the 1st round. It was an impressive fight for Gamboa, who appears almost destined to challenge for a championship in the next year or two.
At the start of the fight, Gamboa came forward and landed a big left hook that knocked Edwards backwards towards the ropes. Gamboa then followed up with left and right hooks, which Edwards had no answer for as he was driven across the ring. Seconds later, Gamboa landed a left-right combination followed by a big left hook that dropped Edwards to the canvas. Edwards got to his feet, looking more shocked than hurt, and the action was allowed to resume by the referee.
Gamboa quickly followed with seven consecutive left hooks to the head and midsection, followed by two right hands that dropped Edwards to the canvas for the second and final time in the round. Edwards made it to his feet, staggering badly as he attempted to walk. The referee immediately stopped the fight when he observed how hurt Edwards was from the knockdown. The time of the stoppage was 1:34 of the 1st round.