By Elisinio Castillo
Former world champion Yuriorkis Gamboa is looking to avoid a full year of inactivity, and the Cuban Olympic gold medal winner will return to the ring on December 17.
One of the most talented boxers of his generation, Gamboa will face an opponent to be determined in Saint Denis, France, to give continuity to a career that saw no action since December 19, 2015.
"We are looking over a group of potential opponents,'' said Gamboa to George Ebro. "When the time comes we will disclose it, but we can assure everyone that I fight on December 17 in Europe."
Gamboa is training under the orders of renowned trainer Ismael Salas, who was at his side in his best days as a professional and intends to bring him back to a higher level.
"We are happy, because this is a fight that will prepare us for better things in the future, '' he said from Las Vegas." On Tuesday night we had confirmation of this clash, but we are already advanced in the preparation."
Salas, who has trained many champions in various latitudes of the planet, is confident that Gamboa's months outside the ring will not make a dent in his fighter and said that for that have been doing a series of hard sessions with sparring partners.
"We'll have quite moved on with hard work, thank God, '' Salas said. "We will study whatever boxer is presented, but I repeat that Yuri is in tremendous physical shape. He has never stopped training. ''
Gamboa has not fought regularly with only five fights in five years - and the last came on December 19 of 2015 with a decision in Verona, New York over Hylon Williams Jr. by unanimous decision.
With a style made for television, the 34 year old Gamboa is hoping to fight three or four times in 2017.
"December 17 is just the beginning of new chapter in his career," Salas said.
