John vs Gamboa Featherweight Unification Talks To Begin
By Lem Satterfield
Adviser Sampson Lewkowicz is ready to begin negotiations for a featherweight unification between fellow unbeatens Chris John and Yuriorkis Gamboa. Lewkowicz plans to meet with Top Rank CEO Bob Arum on Wednesday at his Las Vegas office. John is the WBA's "super champion in recess" at featherweight. Gamboa is the WBA's regular "super champion at featherweight," and also holds the IBF's title. Both sides are hoping to reach a deal for an early March showdown on HBO.
"I will talk to Bob Arum tomorrow at 10 a.m.," said Lewkowicz. "I need to see what is there before I say anything. I need to negotiate and we will see."
Lewkowicz also makes it clear that John's American promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, will step aside in order to ensure negotiations go smoother. Top Rank is involved in a long standing rivalry with Golden Boy. The WBA has mandated that their match up take place by April 19. In the event of a purse bid, John would receive the favorable split of 55 percent to Gamboa's 45 percent.
"[Golden Boy CEO] Richard Schaefer is the American promoter who allowed me to go and to talk with Top Rank's Bob Arum because he doesn't want to interfere in the future of the fighter, Chris John, because of the relationship between Top Rank and Golden Boy," said Lewkowicz.
"Richard Schaefer does not want to hurt any chance of the fight happening, which is very honorable of him. That is the truth. He doesn't want to interfere with the future of the boxer, Chris John, who believes that he can knock him [Gamboa] out. He believes that he will knock Gamboa out because of the styles."
Lem Satterfield is the boxing editor at AOL FanHouse and the news editor at BoxingScene.com. To read more from Lem Satterfield, go to AOL FanHouse by Clicking Here.
