Yuriorkis Gamboa could be at Saturday's Manny Pacquiao-Tim Bradley title matchup that is being promoted by Top Rank, despite legal issues between himself and the fight promoter.
Bob Arum said Julio Cesar Chavez could fight Brian Vera next, and eventually, Andre Ward.
Gamboa may attend Pacquiao-Bradley fight
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LAS VEGAS -- Former featherweight titleholder Yuriorkis Gamboa has two seats for Saturday night's welterweight title fight between Manny Pacquiao and Tim Bradley, which is being promoted by Top Rank. Whether or not Gamboa actually shows up is another story. A former Cuban Olympic gold medalist, Gamboa pulled out of a scheduled, Top Rank-promoted lightweight bout in April with Brandon Rios, who instead won a controversial split-decision over replacement Richard Abril. Top Rank filed a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court in Las Vegas for breach of contract against Gamboa, claiming that his move cost the company $1 million. Top Rank retained lawyer David Marroso, who is a senior attorney with the Los Angeles-based O'Melveny and Myers law firm. Marroso's partner, Daniel Petrocelli, gained a wrongful death conviction against O.J. Simpson in 1997. Gamboa later filed for dismissal of the suit through attorney Sekou Gary, who told RingTV.com that Gamboa's contract with co-promoter Arena Box was not valid, and, by extension, neither was the one wtih Top Rank. Click here for the motion obtained by RingTV.com. The conflict played out in public as a series of Gamboa no-shows at events to promote the fight against Rios, including press conferences in Miami and Los Angeles, which left Rios at the podium alone to taunt Gamboa with posters labeling him a coward. In an exclusive interview with RingTV.com, Gamboa cited contractual issues and an unsigned bout agreement among his reasons for skipping the events. Gary said that Gamboa refused to face Rios unless he was "operating under terms that are satisfactory," regarding his contract with Top Rank and Ahmet Oner of Arena Box. But Top Rank CEO Bob Arum believes Gamboa regrets his actions, which the promoter chalks up to bad advice. "He'll be at our fight this weekend. Of course there's communication, because I think that he realizes those people are full of s--t," said Arum. "He blames it all on them. So he's on his way in here, and you'll see him at the fight on Saturday."
Photo by Chris Farina Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com
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