Iida retains WBA super flyweight title
Posted: Sunday July 26, 1998 01:58 PM
NAGOYA, Japan (AP) -- Japan's Satoshi Iida, taking command in the
later rounds, pounded out a unanimous decision Sunday over bleeding
Nicaraguan challenger Jurio Gamboa to keep his World Boxing
Association super flyweight title.
There were no knockdowns in the 12-round bout before 8,000
spectators at Nagoya City Gymnasium in central Japan. Judges Francisco Sandoval of Venezuela, Orlando Sam of Panama and Lou Tabato of the United States all scored it 115-113 for Iida.
The 26-year-old Gamboa, the No. 1 WBA super flyweight contender,
kept pressing forward and attacking the 28-year-champion Iida with
sharp left hooks and uppercuts in the early rounds. Gamboa often
forced Iida into the corner and punished him with a series of hard
blows.
But in the third round, Gamboa suffered cuts below his right eye
from Iida's head butting. American referee Rafael Ramos penalized
Iida one point. After the injury, Gamboa bled badly, affecting his fighting.
"I couldn't see the champion because of bleeding from injuries
around my right eye," he said. "Iida is a good champion, but I
had the confidence to win. ... It is regrettable that I couldn't
beat him."
In the sixth, Iida stopped backpedaling and took command,
attacking Gamboa with a series of lefts and rights. Iida concentrated his attack on Gamboa's bleeding eye, but couldn't land decisive blows. Both fighters appeared tired in the late rounds and clinched frequently.
"Since Gamboa attacked me with strong punches, I kept my eyes
on Gamboa's punches until the last moment," Iida said.
It was Iida's 25th victory, including 11 knockouts, against one
defeat and one draw. Gamboa suffered his third defeat against 23 victories, including 14 knockouts. Both weighed 115 pounds, the super flyweight limit.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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