Possible bout between Juanma and Yuriorkis Gamboa
Boxing fans looking for some action in the lower weight classes could be in for a treat in coming months.
WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez, “Juanma,” has spoke about a possible unification bout with WBA/IBF titlist Yuriorkis Gamboa in 2011.
Peter Rivera of Puerto Rico Boxing, which co-promotes Lopez, said that the fight would likely be in New York City in June to coincide with the popular Puerto Rican Day Parade.
Rivera has been speaking with Top Rank, which also promotes Juanma, and the two have starting plotting a course of action with Gamboa. Presently Lopez is scheduled for a 6 November title bout against
Rafael Marquez. The bout was originally set for earlier, but was pushed back due to Marquez injuring his finger.
If Juanma retains his belts, Rivera spoke of a return to the ring in February that would include Gamboa in a co-feature. The idea would be to showcase both fighters in the same card in an unofficial lead
up to a meeting between them in June.
"This is the plan that we've had from the beginning. Even Juanma has long known about this,” Rivera said. “We want people to have the chance to see them both on a card before they fight in June. It's
a big fight and it makes sense to have one show in Puerto Rico and then go to New York in June.”
Gamboa is coming off a successful title unification against Orlando Salido. He won a unanimous decision after twelve rounds.
Following the fight, in which he was awarded the IBF title and became WBA “super” featherweight champion, the WBA mandated a bout between him and super WBA champion in recess Chris John, who is currently
out of commission with a rib injury.
John beat Juanma in 2006, and in a bout with Gamboa would receive the majority of the purse as he has been defending his title since 2003.
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