17.05.08 – photos: ARENA Box-Promotion – With 128.5 lbs. super featherweight phenomenon Yuriorkis Gamboa showed himself in excellent condition for his shot at the vacant WBC international championship at the weigh-in at Terrible’s Primm Valley Casino Resort. His opponent Darling Jimenez weighed in at 131 lbs. “I wouldn’t care if Jimenez weighed 150 pounds”, stated Gamboa. “I’ll beat him anyways..”
Alfredo Angulo (154 lbs.) will go into his fight for the vacant WBO intercontinental junior middleweight title slightly heavier than his opponent Richard Gutierrez (152 lbs.). The third part of the giant HBO Boxing After Dark tripleheader is for a vacant title as well. James Kirkland (154 lbs.) will face Eromosele Albert (152.5 lbs.) for the NABO junior middleweight championship. Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC and ARENA Box-Promotion HBO will broadcast the three main events tonight starting at 9:45p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT).
“Las Vegas is definitely worth a trip”, states Gamboa. “All the lights and casinos – it just seems unreal. Of course, there’s nothing comparable to this in Cuba. I won’t want to live here but I will hopefully be back soon for big fights in the MGM Grand or Mandalay Bay. I want to get my hands on the world championship belt as soon as possible.”
His promoter Ahmet Öner, CEO of Hamburg based ARENA Box-Promotion, is confident that his jewel from the Caribbean got what it takes to make it all the way to the top. “Gamboa is already ranked on No. 4 in the WBC and No. 3 in the WBA”, explains Öner. “Of course, we have to start talking about a world title although it’s only his tenth professional fight coming up this Saturday. By the way, Gamboa made it faster to an HBO main event than Oscar De La Hoya who needed 12 fights and Floyd Mayweather who even needed 18 fights before grabbing HBO’s attention. Gamboa is an exceptional talent. I am convinced that he got what it takes to become world champion before the end of this year.”
It won’t be an easy way though starting with powerful Darling Jimenez (23-2-2, 14 kos) who knocked out no other than former world champion Mike Anchondo in his last fight in only three rounds.
“I will not underestimate this opponent”, says Gamboa. “But I won’t leave him any chance either. I didn’t come to Nevada for playing but to win my next title and continue my way to the top.”
By beating Jimenez reigning NABF champion Gamboa could win the WBC International championship which had been vacated by none other but Manny Pacquiao before ‘Pacman’ beat Juan Manuel Marquez for the WBC world championship on March 15th.
Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC and ARENA Box-Promotion the “Night of the Rising Stars” at Terrible’s Primm Valley Casino Resorts features a tripleheader including Gamboa vs. Jimenez and the world class junior welterweight bouts James Kirkland vs. Eromosele Albert and Alfredo Angulo vs. Richard Gutierrez.
