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Wednesday, January 14, 2004
It’s time to quit
By Rommel C. Manlosa
FORMER World Boxing Association minimum-weight champion Joma Gamboa will hang his gloves for good after failing to win the World Boxing Council junior flyweight belt from Mexican champion Jorge “Travieso” Arce last Sunday.
But, Gamboa, who had fought seven world championships, will not totally detach himself from boxing as he vowed to help hone the skills of upstart fighters when he becomes assistant to longtime trainer Juanito Ablaca.
Gamboa had already said he would retire if he loses the fight and his decision came after his second round TKO defeat to Arce in Mexico City last Jan. 10 (Sunday here).
Earlier, Gamboa wanted to retire after failing to retake the WBA belt, when he lost to Keitaro Hoshino for the second time in January of 2002.
But he was given another shot at the world title, this time against Arce, after winning two of three bouts.
In May 2002, he had a technical draw with WBC international light flyweight champion Juanito Rubillar, followed with a victory over Daisuke Iida in November of that year and another victory over Rodel Quilaton in September last year.
The battle-scarred Gamboa leaves the pro ranks with 33 wins, eight defeats and two draws with 22 victories coming by way of knockout and the reputation of taking the most shots at a world title.
Gamboa fought and lost to Saman Sorjaturong for the WBC 108-pound belt in 1996. He also lost to Pitchit Sithbangprachan for the WBA belt in 1999. He lost to Noel Arambulet in 1999 and but won a rematch in 2000 for the WBA 105lbs title then lost the belt to Keitaro Hoshino in December of 2000. He fought Hoshino again in 2002 for the vacant belt.
He also became the WBA 105lb interim titlist when he knocked Satoru Abe in 1999 before acquiring the regular belt when Arambulet was stripped for failure to make the 105lb weight.
Among the notable victims of Gamboa was the former WBA minimum weight champion Carlos Murillo in 1997 at the latter’s country, Venezuela.
(January 14, 2004 issue)
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