Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. Roger Gonzalez: Round By Round

The Friday Night Fights main event for Jan. 9 showcases electric Cuban defector Yuriorkis Gamboa in a ten-round featherweight fight against Roger Gonzalez. The action comes to us from Buffalo Bill's in Primm, Nevada.

Gamboa is 12-0 with 10 KOs and is clearly the favorite of the fans in attendance. Gonzalez is 27-2, but both of his losses cam by knockout.

Round One

It's a cautious opening that feels like the calm before the storm. Gamboa reaches with some jabs and a left hook. The fans already seem a bit restless but are supporting Gamboa. He shows off some hand speed with a flurry along the ropes. Another combo in the corner has Gamboa comfortably winning the round.

Franchise: 10-9 Gamboa

Round Two

Gonzalez throws a big right hand early in the second and knocks Gamboa down! That was a well-timed shot. Gamboa looks okay and starts throwing left hands. He backs Gonzalez into a corner and goes to work. He's throwing nice combinations to the body and head. Gonzalez reaches with a few jabs. Interesting turn of events, for sure.

Franchise: 10-8 Gonzalez

Round Three

Gamboa comes out fired up but Gonzalez tries to show he's unfazed. Nice uppercut along the ropes by Gamboa. Gonzalez misses with a left and very nearly pays the price. Left-right combo by Gamboa finds the mark. Gonzalez turns southpaw but is not throwing much right now. Gamboa tries one last flurry to close out the round.

Franchise: 10-9 Gamboa

Round Four

Wasting no time, Gamboa fires away with Gonzalez waving him in and covering up. They trade in the center and the ref tells Gamboa to get his punches up. Gonzalez gets the same warning a second later. Gamboa is trying to find some holes in his foe's defense as he stays busy. The ref tells Gamboa not to push as the bell sounds.

Franchise: 10-9 Gamboa

Round Five

Nice counters by Gamboa as Gonzalez is picking it up a bit. Gamboa is staying active but his accuracy has gone south. He sneaks in a left to the head and one to the body. Gamboa scores with a right-left combo and backs away. He plays to the crowd with a little showboating. Big swing and a miss by Gonzalez, who was going for broke there.

Franchise: 10-9 Gamboa

Round Six

Gonzalez is averaging just over four landed punches a round, and that's simply not going to get it done. Gamboa dazzles with punches from multiple angles and both hands. Gonzalez throwing an occasional left hand. He throws his first combo in ages and they tie up. Gamboa's footwork is very good and he shows no signs of tiring.

Franchise: 10-9 Gamboa

Round Seven

Bernard Hopkins chimes in from the studio advising Gamboa to keep his hands up, especially at close range. A couple of shots look low in an exchange in the center of the ring. Gamboa is still mixing up his head and body attack and doing some more showboating. Now Gamboa comes forward behind multiple left hands. He batters Gonzalez along the ropes to put an exclamation point on that round.

Franchise: 10-9 Gamboa

Round Eight

Gamboa pushes the pace right away with numerous shots to the body. The fight gets dirty when it's in close. Gonzalez barely avoids a wild right hand but can't counter. The ref cautions Gonzalez again for a low blow. Gonzalez scores with a right hand but it probably wasn't enough to win him the round.

Franchise: 10-9 Gamboa

Round Nine

Gonzalez can't track Gamboa down, and the Cuban throws thudding left hands to the head and body. He just misses with a pair of right hands and there's a bit of wrestling. Gamboa is warned again for pushing his foe back across the ring. Nothing much of consequence lands during the final minute of the round.

Franchise: 10-9 Gamboa

Round 10

They touch gloves for the final round. Nice connections with both hands by Gamboa. Gonzalez showing some more fire now that the fight is winding down. Gamboa backs Gonzalez up and throws a series of power shots. One minute to go and Gamboa is going for it. Gonzalez' mouthpiece flies as he gets hit with a series of shots and the ref calls a stop to it. Teddy Atlas feels like the stoppage was a little quick, though Gonzalez didn't seem to have much left in the tank.

The winner by TKO at 2:12 of Round 10... Yuriorkis "El Ciclon" Gamboa.