Yuriorkis Gamboa Reportedly Signed By Promoter Don King

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BoxingScene.com has been advised by more than one source that hot featherweight Yuriorkis Gamboa (11-0, 9 KOs), who won a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics, signed a promotional deal with Don King. Gamboa was being co-promoted in America by Arena Box, based in Germany, and Gary Shaw.

When contacted for comment, Gary Shaw told BoxingScene that he heard the same information. He was baffled as to why Arena Box and Gamboa would make such a move.

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"I heard the same thing, that Ahmet Öner [Arena Box head] made a deal with Don King for Gamboa. I did everything right by the kid. I put him on HBO. I'm putting him on HBO again in October," Shaw said.

Both BoxingScene, and Shaw, also heard that King contacted HBO to inform them that he signed Gamboa. Don King was unavailable for comment.

According to Shaw, Gamboa will still appear on his HBO date of October 4, facing Marcos Ramirez (25-0, 16 KOs) as part of a televised triple-header.

The signing of Gamboa would be King's second high profile signing in less than a month. He picked up free agent, and former three-division champion, Marco Antonio Barrera a few weeks ago.

Comments

KJBMon Sep 15, 2008, 9:41 PM UTC

**how realistic would a Barrera vs Gamboa fight be as both are under DK now? If they somehow made that fight it would definitely be interesting. Barrera has the experience, but Gamboa has the youth and the talent. It would **** for MAB and his fans if he were to come back only to go out on one more loss. If properly promoted it could be very successful.

MJ406Mon Sep 15, 2008, 9:25 PM UTC

My thoughts exactly. Seriously, do these fighters realize the lack of ANYTHING DK has done for ANYBODY he has that is not a heavyweight the past several years? Only Cory Spinks got a little attention from DK, and that was because he could sell tickets in St.Louis. Devon Alexander, anyone? This is horrible news. yeah really, what happened to Alexander? he had a very good showing vs Corley on the Jones/Trinidad under card. fought again in March and hasn't fought since very disappointing, not to mention puzzling as Devon should really be getting more fights it. especially at only 15-0 Gamboa should do well under King, hopefully as DK has done his fare share of good for the sport .... wasn't it him that set up the Middleweight Unification at MSG? and he also turned a good PPV profit out of a pretty much meaningless catch weight bout of Trinidad vs Jones. yes the names sold the event, but King promoted it so oh yeah Don has a negative reputation as far as his business ethics go, but he's put on some huge fights and made for some unforgettable promotions (Thrilla in Manila and Rumble in the Jungle) for all you thinking Gamboa threw his career away .. Don King wouldn't be THAT stupid to muck up an opportunity this big. he's got probably the hottest (or 1 of) in boxing, and it would be absolute stupidity if King didn't take full advantage by putting Gamboa in with whomever to get Gam to the top **how realistic would a Barrera vs Gamboa fight be as both are under DK now?

KJBMon Sep 15, 2008, 9:19 PM UTC

Not that I'm a big fan of Gary Shaw or anything, but it seemed to me Shaw was doing a very good job with him, fighting the right opponents (good ones too) and getting him exposure on ESPN, HBO and Showtime. Not sure what Don King has planned but lets hope he has the kid fighting good opposition and frequently. I agree they were doing a very good job of bringing him along. Not too fast, but they were giving him good opposition for his experience level, and they were doing it frequently. Considering Yuri's age and ammy pedigree, I would think this next opponent would be the last step at this stage, and he would move forward to challenging world ranked opponents. Don King will probably continue on that path, but it needs to be done properly, if he gets thrown in with the wrong guys too soon it could ruin him. Don King does seem to be getting a lot of good signings, I just wonder if he is gonna make good on his promises.

venerablefistMon Sep 15, 2008, 8:43 PM UTC

Noooo i would have been happy if he went with bob arum you got to look at results and arums fighters usually become top p4p fightera

AvenueMon Sep 15, 2008, 6:49 PM UTC

the beginning of the end for a young great fighter

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