Ft. Lauderdale -- Cuba's Yuriorkis Gamboa needed just 94 seconds to knock out Johnny Edwards (13-2, 6 KOs) in a bout for the vacant NABF junior lightweight title in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Gamboa (9-0, 8 KOs) swarmed over Edwards from the opening bell, dropping him twice before the fight was stopped. Gamboa, who is lightning quick, ended the fight with a single right cross.
Gamboa won the title while the man who was the first-ever NABF junior lightweight champ was in attendance -- Frankie Otero. Otero, who also happens to be Cuban, won the initial title in 1971 against Kenny Weldon. Also in attendance was New York Mets pitcher Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, retired ex-champ Hector Camacho and former light heavyweight champion Glen Johnson.
Bantamweight Yan Barthelemy, an Olympic teammate of Gamboa's, scored a six-round unanimous decision over Antonio Conchero Diaz (9-9-1, 6 KOs). Barthelemy (5-0) put Diaz down with a left hook in round five but was penalized a point for holding behind the head in the same round. Scores were 59-53 on all cards. Gamboa and Barthelemy won gold medals for Cuba in the 2004 Olympics.
In the other featured bout, welterweight Richard Gutierrez (22-1, 13 KOs) outpointed Jose Varela (23-3, 16 KOs) over ten rounds by scores of 99-91, 98-92, 98-92. Other results included, Derrick Wilson W4 Dan Calafell and Juan Novoa W6 Jose Pena.
The show was promoted by Luis DeCubas and Ahmet Oner's ArenaBox, from Germany. It was ArenaBox's first promotion in the United States.
-- CASSIDY