Garden winners need to meet
Mark Staniforth, PA Sport
By any standards, Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa are two of the hottest prospects in boxing.
This Saturday they will fight in the same Madison Square Garden ring - sadly, not at the same time.
Both Lopez, the electrifying, 26-year-old WBO super-bantamweight champion, and Cuba's brilliantly talented Gamboa, the WBA featherweight king, will put their titles and their unbeaten records on the line.
Their respective opponents (Rogers Mtagwa and Whyber Garcia) are mere scrabble names when it comes to the bigger picture - a showdown no boxing fan would want to miss between Lopez and Gamboa down the road.
Lopez, who first established himself at the top level with a stunning first-round knockout of champion Daniel Ponce de Leon in June last year, has made no secret of his desire to move up in weight after one more fight.
Gamboa, however spurious his title belt - Indonesian featherweight Chris John appears to hold the very same title - is waiting for him.
"I know without winning this fight I can't get to the bigger fights, Juan Manuel Lopez among them," admitted Gamboa this week. "So I am completely focused on this fight and I am going to do everything possible to win.
"I think he (Lopez) has a God-given ability and you can't deny that. He became a world champion because of those attributes and I recognise those skills. I think a fight between us would make a great fight."
The sharp-punching, stealthily attacking Lopez still talks of himself as a humble up-and-comer, despite the almost ridiculous ease with which he has won his four fights since he wrested the crown from Ponce de Leon.
He, too, is already eyeing a showdown with Gamboa which many believe has the makings of the first of the next-generation super-fights once the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto have retired.
"I do look forward to fighting him (Gamboa) in the future," said Lopez. "I am doing this and one more fight at 122lbs then looking forward to going up to 126lbs. If it can be made it would be a great challenge.
"I have had the opportunity to see him fight a few times and I know how he fights and what he likes to do. There is no doubt in my mind that when we fight I will beat him but it will be a tough fight."
Purists of a sport which has become increasingly beleaguered of late with the rise of mixed martial arts and the lack of any more than a handful of globally recognised star names will pray Lopez and Gamboa provide salvation.
But their promoters are right not to rush into a contest which will almost certainly leave one or the other tarnished. Instead, they have the opportunity to raise the stakes by establishing themselves even more in their own right.
"We take one step at a time and when the time is correct we move ahead," added Lopez. "I know I'm not a rookie any more but I'm not at the elite level yet and I need a big fight that will put me at that level."
For Lopez that could mean a last fight at super-bantam against Mexican warrior Israel Vazquez, coincidentally also due to fight on Saturday night in Los Angeles for the first time since his epic trilogy with Rafael Marquez.
Gamboa, meanwhile, really ought to settle a ridiculous political issue by enticing John into a pay-per-view showdown following the Indonesian's recent unfinished business win over Rocky Juarez.
Then the roads ahead will be a little bit clearer for two fighters in whom the sport has rightly invested a lot of hope - two fighters who, retaining focus, can go on to become the pay-per-view superstars of the future.
Also on a good card at the Garden's WaMu Theater is Cuban heavyweight Odlanier Solis, hailed by many, including David Haye at one time, as being part of the future of the heavyweight division.
Solis has done nothing wrong since turning professional, winning all of his 14 fights, 10 by stoppage, but still lacks the big-name scalp to transform him into a genuine contender in a poor division.
Solis should edge a little closer to that status on Saturday when he faces veteran Puerto Rican Fres Oquendo, a recent winner over the even older comeback kid, Bruce Seldon, but with no business in making Solis break much sweat. |
Bookmakers
Its good to see both Lopez and Gamboa are making the right noises though about a match up.
