Juanma vs Gamboa Likely For June in NYC, Says Rivera

By Jhonny Gonzalez

There have been some comments from WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez about a possible unification with WBA/IBF champion Yuriorkis Gamboa in early 2011. Juanma's co-promoter, Peter Rivera of Puerto Rico Best Boxing, says the fight is likely for the month of June in New York City, around the time of the popular Puerto Rican Day Parade.

Rivera has been in contact with Juanma's other co-promoter Top Rank, and they have discussed the course of action to create the fight with Gamboa. Juanma is scheduled to fight Rafael Marquez on November 6. If Juanma retains his title, Rivera says he would return to the ring in a potential February doubleheader in Puerto Rico. Gamboa would appear in the co-headliner. The doubleheader would be the final showcase for both before a June meeting.

"This is the plan that we've had from the beginning. Even Juanma has long known about this. 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," Rivera told Carlitos Narvaez.