Gamboa keeps interim crown

Joma Gamboa retained his WBA minimumweight interim title with a rousing unanimous decision over Japanese light flyweight Atsushi Sai in Hachinoho, Japan over the weekend.

Gamboa, the Philippine Sportswriters Association professional boxing awardee in 1999, knocked down the Japanese challenger with a vicious left hook in the fourth round and completely dominated the fight the rest of the way.

The little Filipino won the interim crown from Satoru Abe in Nagoya last Dec. 4 via a sixth round knockout and defended his title against Sai who had a ring record of 14 wins against 2 defeats and 1 draw with seven knockouts to his name.

Going into the fight, Gamboa sported a record of 27 wins, 5 defeats and 1 draw with 20 KOs.

All three judges, two Japanese and a Thai scored it for Gamboa, 117-111, 115-112 and 116-114.

Gamboa's manager Joe Koizumi, who once turned Luisito Espinosa into the WBC featherweight champ-ion, has handled Gamboa's career effectively and taken a once-beaten fighter and turned him into one of the best in his division in the world.

Koizumi is arranging a title rematch with Arambulet sometime in July in Japan and Gamboa has vowed to knock him out and avenge his last controversial defeat in Arambulet's hometown.

Gamboa fought for the interim title after Arambulet backed out of a title fight against the Filipino because of illness and the WBA ordered Gamboa to fight Abe of Japan for the interim crown with the winner getting a crack at Arambulet. (Viva Vintage Sports)