Fight Night Coverage: Gamboa vs Salido - Peterson vs Rios - Morales vs Limond

The HBO telecast is on the air. Updates will start shortly.

Looking forward to the opener. On paper this is a fairly even match-up.

Rios has a 12 pound weight advantage tonight. 151 to 139.

Why does an eliminator need to be 12 rounds? Everything these days is 12 rounds. Championship rounds have now become routine.

Wish they would go back to 15 rd world titles

Peterson digs a nice hook to the body early on. Rios is currently edging forward, as Peterson circles from the outside. Peterson slips away as Rios tries to hook to the body. Peterson with a quick combo. Peterson with a jab. I’ll just call him LP from now on. That’s quicker. Rios edges forward, only to eat a combo from LP, who quickly slides away. Rios with a little uppercut on the inside. LP with a 1-2, followed by a body shot. LP with a hook. LP again with a 1-2, and a body shot. Another nice combo from LP. He’s just beating Rios to the punch over and over. LP looking comfy as he circles away from Rios who’s having trouble setting his feet and letting his hands go.

Three consecutive uppercuts land for Rios. He seems to have found an opening.

LP 1-0 up on Harold’s card. That was an easy one to score.

Rios is edging forward, and gets into range only to be tied up. LP looking very comfy so far. Rios though getting a bit done finally. He’s had a good last 15 seconds and just landed a nice uppercut. Peterson now pushes forward, and lands his own little uppercut. The action is in the middle of the ring now. Fighters shoulder to shoulder. Rios lands a nice combo. Rios follows it up with a right. Peterson bangs him back in response. Both fighters in the middle of the ring exchanging here. Rios with a nice right. Peterson fires back. Good action here. Peterson pushes Rios back with a hook, only for Rios to fire back with a right hand. Rios with a 1-2 upstairs. Peterson with a jab. Rios tries to dig with an uppercut. Peterson with a combo. Final few seconds tick away with more action. Great pace. Excellent round.

Terrific round. Rios finding a home with that right hand, in between and around the guard of Peterson.

Action in the middle of the round to start round 3. Harold has it 1-1. Rios with a hook. Rios digs the uppercut. LP bangs home a right hand. There’s a lot of contact in this fight. One has to wonder how much of an effect the weight advantage Rios has will help as the fight moves on. Rios with a jab into the guard, but follows it up with a body shot. Rios with an uppercut. Rios with another uppercut. Another one. LP taking them well, and pushes forward with his own shots. he’s trying to push Rios back. he sticks a jab in, and follows up with an uppercut. Rios lands a heavy combo in response. Rios with a jab. Terrific pace continues. Rios with a body shot that may have strayed low. Peterson with a right. Rios bangs him back with a 1-2. Rios with a left hand. Rios pressed LP into the ropes for a second. he bangs in another combo. LP fires back. Rios bangs back with a combo. “These are such hard shots being exchanged in combination in the middle of the ring.” – Kellerman. This is a great fight so far. Peterson with a nice combo. Peterson with a couple of hooks. Rios fires back. Terrific stuff here. Another great round. No clinching, just high quality exchanges.

Was Peterson hurt there or was he just caught taking a step back?

Either way, these shots are landing for Rios.

Rios threw 131 punches in the 3rd. Harold has it 2-1 Rios.

Rios pressed forward. LP moving to his left. Rios digs an uppecut in close. Action in the middle of the ring as usual. Peterson witha combo. Rios with a jab, followed by a heavy right. LP fires back, and Rios responds with an uppercut. You have to wonder if LP can win this type of fight. It seems he’s really playing into what Rios does best. Rios bangs home a combo that buzzes LP. LP looks hurt. Rios pressing hard now. Rios pouring it on. Combos are landing. LP is hurt. He’s trying to fight back though. he’s getting the worst of it. Rios with another left. LP is not looking good here. he manages to force a clinch. There’s 1 minute left int he round. LP fires back with with a combo. Rios looking a little arm weary perhaps after that big flurry. LP manages to tie him up. LP has his legs. Action in the middle of the ring. Rios is getting the better of it. He just landed a nice right. He landed an uppercut, and worked the body as well at the end of the session. A big big round for Rios.

Razor Ruddock reference!

Gorgeous counter left by Rios. That was textbook.

Peterson is on the move to start the round. Moving left, moving right. Rios pushes forward and is tied up. Peterson backing away, trying to work the jab and keep space. Rios manages to land a right. Rios pushing forward, trying to close the distance. he’s now got LP against the ropes, but LP slips away. Rios with a jab. Now the action is back in the trenches in the middle of the ring, shoulder to shoulder. LP trying to dig to the body. Rios with a right hand over the top that landed. Rios with a little hook on the inside. LP fires back with a left. LP now slips away to his left. Now he slides away again as Rios follows. Action back in the middle. HUGE counter left hook. LP is up quickly, but that was a heavy knockdown. There’s the bell. LP threw a hook, and Rios fired back.

It’s eye for an eye in there. Or third eye for third eye.

This could get dirty quick if Peterson is as discouraged as he seems be.

Action in the middle of the ring to start the 6th. LP isn’t on the move. He’s banging on the inside. Rios is getting the better of it. He’s digging the heavier shots in close. LP ties him up. Now the action moves to the ropes. LP with a couple body shots. Rios responds with his own body show. Rios with a jab. LP digs a hard hook to the body that strayed low. Rios immediately fires back. Rios with a right to the body. LP lands low again. That was real low and it drops Rios. Rios is up quickly and look like he’s ready to go. That was the second low hook in succession. The ref is warning Peterson. One more and he’ll take a point. 1:20 to go in the round. Rios goes right after LP. LP whacks him back with a combo. LP goes low again. We’re going to have a point deduction here. Rios pushes forward, and digs an uppercut. LP lands low again. We’ve got another break in the action and another point deduction. Rios back at it though. he’s digging shots, getting his jab through. LP trying to fire back. Rios fires an uppercut at the bell. There’s the bell.

Harold gave the round to LP. With the deductions, it’s a 9-8 round on Harold’s card.

Action in the middle of the ring. Rios digs a body shot. LP bangs home a combo. Rios with a hard right hand. Rios with a nice combo. They are trading in the middle of the ring. That’s likely not going to favor LP. He digs with a hook tot he body. Now he fires a combo. LP a hook. Rios with a nice uppercut. LP with a left to the body. LP with a hook. Rios bangs back on the inside. LP with a combo. LP looking reasonably comfortable exchanging here. Nice exchange. Rios with a heavy combo in respond to solid work from LP. Rios with another heavy combo that landed. LP fires back and it’s low… and he’s been DQ’d.

That’s a shame. Terrific fight while it lasted. Bit tough for Rios, who was on his way to a W, possibly by stoppage. He’ll have to settle for a DQ.

Gamboa and Salido are both at 140. A pound more than lightweight Anthony Peterson weighed in tonight.

The fighters are in the ring.

Just checked on Morales/Limond. Still no sign of the fighters. It’s just Sheridan and Ricardo talking still.

Salido trying to work the jab, while Gamboa circles away. Each time Salido steps forward, Gamboa bounces back a little. He now fires a right hand, but is short. Gamboa lands a hook, after missing with a 1-2. Gamboa digs to the body on the inside, and there’s a clinch. Salido trying to edge forward and throw a jab, but he’s whacked witha right hand by Gamboa. Gamboa now with a combo that pushes Salido intot he ropes. Gamboa pops on another couple shots, as Salido eventually moves away and back to the middle of the ring. Gamboa jumps in with a combo. The difference in class is clear here early. Gamboa just so much quicker. He’s looking very comfy as he circles, and pops in shots. He fires a straight right to the body that lands. Now he slides away. Salido tries to fire a right but it’s blocked. There’s the bell.

Still nothing happening with Morales/Limond.

Salido’s corner telling him to relax and throw more punches.

salido is going to have to catch him between combos

Salido tries to push forward, but he’s beaten to the punch by Gamboa, who lands before slipping away. Salido follows and tries to flurry to the body before getting tied up. Gamboa now edges forward, and Salido fires to the body. Gamboa with a 1-2, but both shots are short. Gamboa with a jab that’s short, and he blocks a right hand from Salido before forcing a clinch. Salido trying to push forward inside and work the body. He wings a right, but it’s blocked. Gamboa jumps in with a combo. He’s got his hands down at his waist as he tries to goad Salido into opening up. Now there’s another clinch. Gamboa tries to jump in with a right, but misses over the top. he lands a really nice crisp uppercut as Salido was caught coming in. Now there’s another clinch. Salido tries to dig to the body. Gamboa ties him up. Gamboa jumps in with a 1-2. Gamboa just short on a combo before the bell.

2-0 on Harold’s card for Gamboa.

Gamboa bangs home a combination. Gamboa with a hard shot to the body, followed up with a combo that lands. Salido immediately backed up as Gamboa tried to press his advantage. Gamboa now moving on the outside as Salido follows. He’s bouncing on his toes, before stopping to fire a hook that misses. He pops a jab in though. Salido tries to fire back, but he’s tied up. Gamboa pops the left hand. Salido misses with a hook. Salido misses again and Gamboa pops him before forcing a clinch. Gamboa now moving to his left on the outside. Salido having trouble getting into punching range. Gamboa misses with a hook, and Salido tries to counter but misses. Every once in awhile, Gamboa gets a little wild. Gamboa sticks in with a left. Salido lands a right hand. Gamboa with a jab. They both miss shots, and then there’s a good exchange of body shots before the bell.

Some nice shots by Salido

3-0 on Harold’s card. There’s a slight cut on Salido’s left eye according to Bob Papa that was possibly caused by a head clash.

Salido tries to get inside, but is tied up. Salido edges forward and is short with the jab, but lands to the body. Gamboa lands a nice combo. Gamboa with another nice combo. Salido grabs onto Gamboa’s arm, and forces a break. Salido edging forward and gets inside, before Gamboa ties him up. Salido misses over the top with a right hand. Salido again just misses over the top with a right hand. Gamboa ties him up, and Salido bangs him to the body with his free hand. Salido keeps pushing forward. Gamboa backing up comfortably though, and forces a clinch. There have been plenty of those. Gamboa pops in a left hook. he’s got his hands down as he backs away. Salido follows, and eats a jab as Gamboa slips away. Gamboa jumps in and forces another clinch. A little too many clinches for my liking, and Gamboa is initiating plenty of them.

I missed a bit of the round checking on the other show. We’re about a minute in. Salido is banging the body, while Gamboa holds on the inside. Salido now misses with a right hand, before stumbling with the help of Gamboa. Joe Cortez tells Gamboa to keep it clean. Gamboa sticks the jab. Now he sticks in a little uppercut, before retreating away as Salido follows. There’s another clinch. This is not thrilling stuff. Salido lands a little right hand. Salido follows as Gamboa moves to the side. Gamboa is short with a right. Salido tries to wok the body but is tied up. Another clinch. And another. Gamboa is short with a right hand. There’s the bell. Not thrilling stuff here.

like the effort salido is puttting forth

Juan Manuel Lopez is in attendance. He’s in a suit taking in the action. Will we see him in against Gamboa before they’re both old men? One can hope.

Gamboa just had a nice little spurt. Landed a couple of combos. Now Salido lands a right hand. Gamboa is short with a right hand. Action in the middle fo the ring. Salido trying to dig to the body, while Gamboa tries to respond with an uppercut although it didn’t appear to land. Gamboa with a jab. Salido with a right ot the body. Salido tries to push forward, and Gamboa looks for the counter right but Salido manages to avoid it. Gamboa with a 1-2, and there’s a clinch. Salido tries to dig to the body, as Gamboa tries to time him with an uppercut in response. A nice exchange in the middle of the ring with both guys landing shots. Gamboa looking a tad sloppy here. Salido with an uppercut. Salido trying to push forward and gets tied up. There’s the bell.

good fight

Gamboa opens up to start the 7th, pushing forward and backing Salido into the ropes with a combo. Salido comes back and there’s a clinch. Salido misses with a right. Salido trying to work the body as Gamboa slides away. Gamboa jumps in and there’s a clinch. Salido is plugging away, and he’s firing to the body and that’s really what he needs to be doing, but he’s not really getting enough done to grab rounds. There’s another clinch. Gamboa with a right hand to the body. Gamboa slips under a right hand from Salido. Salido pushes forward, fires a right hand to the body as is tied up. Salido pushes forward, fires a right hand which might have landed. Gamboa slides away to his left. Salido determinedly pressing forward. he’s short with a right hand though. Salido misses with a hook. Gamboa steps in with an uppercut, and there’s a clinch. Gamboa with a jab, and another jab. Then Gamboa pops Salido just at the bell, maybe a little after it.

Harold has it 6-1.

Gamboa with a nice uppercut. He lands a good uppercut. Only for Salido to fire back and drop Gamboa!! He’s up very quickly. Kellerman thinks he might have slipped on the logo. Salido trying to press forward though. Gamboa sticks a left hand. Salido lands a little shot on the inside. Salido with another couple of shots in close that land, and Gamboa forces a clinch. Gamboa looking a little out of sorts now. he fires back thoguh and slips away before forcing a clinch. he’s on his toes and bouncing. Gamboa sticks a jab. Salido misses with a right. Salido presses forward as Gamboa moves away to his right, before forcing yet another clinch. Gamboa on the move here. Salido closing the distance, and banging to the body, before he gets tied up. Salido marching forward. Gamboa on the move, tries to lands a jab. Now he fires a combo in close. There’s another clinch. Salido pushes forward. Gamboa with a quick right hand. There’s the bell.

Round 9…

Bob Papa mentions that Gamboa’s punch output has dropped in each of the last 3 rounds. Salido jumps in with a hook that lands. he’s quickly tied up. Gamboa with a right that’s short, and they get tangled and both fighters go down. Joe Cortez gets them back on their feet. Gamboa moving to his right. Now to his left. he sticks the jab, but it’s not really crisp. He now fires a hook. There’s a clinch. Gamboa is not having things nearly as easy as many predicted. Salido pushes forward, and Gamboa slides away before clinching again. Salido trying to work inside and gets tied up. Another clinch. Gamboa appears hesitant to really get into range and let his hands go. He’s doing a lot of one at a time and get out of there type of stuff. When he does throw combos, he’s not sitting down on his shots much. Now he fires a combo as Salido tries to push forward. Salido tries to dig on the inside. Salido pushes forward as Gamboa flurries upstairs before slipping away. And another clinch.

Harold has Salido winning the last couple of rounds. 86-84 for Gamboa on Harold’s card.

Salido fires a 1-2, and there’s a clinch. Gamboa now on the move, and another clinch. Gamboa is just throwing arm punches here. Salido is not landing clean much, but he’s pushing forward and working the body as much as he can. Now there’s another clinch. Gamboa misses with a combo, and quickly hooks Salido’s arm on the inside. This is getting kind of messy. Just not much cleaning landing. Too many clinches. Now they clinch along the ropes. Gamboa is short with a right hand. Salido responds with his own right. Now there’s another clinch as Gamboa pushes Salido up agains the ropes. More holding. Cortez getting in there. Gamboa witha hard left hand. That caught Salido. Salido is a little buzzed. Gamboa tries to follow up, but Salido looks okay. Now Salido fires a shot and slips on the canvas. He’s quickly up. Final seconds tick off in the 10th.

Harold has Gamboa back up by 3 points.

Gamboa fires a 1-2. He caught Salido with a shot there, and backs him into the ropes. He tries to press his advantage, and Salido ties him up. There’s a clash of heads. Salido’s cut and it looks really nasty. The doctor takes a quick look and gives him the go ahead to keep going. He gets right back in there and tries to mix it up. There’s another clinch. Salido tries to push forward. Gamboa ties him up. Gamboa misses with a right hand. he’s on his toes again, slipping away to his left. Now he pops Salido with a good shot. And another. Gamboa looking in control again. Salido tries to fight back and bangs the body, before they clinch. Gamboa with a jab. The blood over the left eye from the head butt looks like it’s bothering Salido. Gamboa jumps in with an uppercut. Gamboa having things very much his own way this round. Salido trying to battle back, but not having much luck. He misses with a right, and I think got caught by an uppercut. There’s the bell.

gamboa showing great stamina

Early in the round, Salido gets dropped. He was up right away. Max thinks it might have had something to do with slipping on the logo again. Gamboa jumps in with a nice 1-2 combo. Gamboa with another nice shot. Salido backing up in a bit of trouble ehre. Gamboa bangs home a right hand. Down goes Salido. What happened there. Cortez is saying Gamboa hit Salido while he was down. Salido is sitting on the canvas, as the doctor comes to talk to him. Salido is up. Gamboa is going to be docked 2 points here for that. 1:33 left in the round. Action resumes. That of course still counts as a knockdown. We’ve got a minute to go. Salido trying to bang away on the inside. Salido keeps battling, and there’s another clinch. Gamboa appears content to cost out the remaining seconds. he does catch Salido on the way in. And he catches him again. There’s another clinch. There’s the bell.

That was a nasty rabbit punch

Replay of Salido’s knockdown. He ate a right hand. Slipped a couple shots and landed an overhand right that dropped Gamboa.

Gamboa’s first kncokdown. His glove touched after an exchange. Not sure Gamboa really landed anything there.

The second knockdown by Gamboa. A 1-2 dropped Salido. He was clearly on the canvas when Gamboa comes in and hits him on the back of the bead. Bizarre move by Gamboa. That was as blatant a foul as you’ll see.

Easily been DQ’d

116-109 across the board. I think. I missed the second score.