By Dan Ambrose: At the final press conference today between WBO lightweight champion Terence Crawford (23-0, 16 KO’s) and Yuriorkis Gamboa (23-0, 16 KO’s), Crawford looked like a giant next to the 5’5” Gamboa, and it’s hard to look at the two of them and see them as being in the same division. Crawford is talking about having some secret plan that he’s going to use to try and dominate Gamboa. It’s difficult to imagine what he’ll do besides holding him when he gets in close.
Gamboa has moved up in weight from the featherweight division after starting his pro career in 2007. As good as Gamboa is, he might be beaten on size alone on Saturday night unless he can crowd the tall, and skinny Crawford.
Gamboa is going to need to find a way to get in close on Saturday night to land his shots against the 5’8” Crawford otherwise he’s a goner. Gamboa may not get knocked out, because Crawford isn’t a big puncher. But unless Gamboa can stay near enough to land his shots, he’s going to end up losing badly.
Crawford said in a press release, “He needs to be ready for whatever I bring. I’m going to bring a few things to the table that I’m going to show on Saturday. I see the fight going in my favor and feel this is my time and I’m not going to take no for an answer. This is probably going to be my last fight at 135 pounds before moving up. My long term goal is to eventually move up to 147 and remain one of the best up there after fighting at 140 pounds.”
Former WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns had problems landing his shot against Crawford when he worked into punching range because Crawford had the better hand speed and was able to connect with shots each time Burns looked to land. Gamboa is a little faster and more compact that Crawford. If he’s the better athlete with the superior hand eye coordination then it won’t matter that Crawford is the bigger and taller fighter of the two. Gamboa will be like Mike Tyson facing a taller fighter. Tyson was always the shorter guy, but he had no problems connecting on his shots against bigger heavyweights.
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