By Jhonny Gonzalez

The World Boxing Association has made Yuriorkis Gamboa the top contende rin line to fight WBA super featherweight champion Takashi Uchiyama of Japan.

Gamboa (22-0, 16KOs) returned in December, after a 15 month layoff, and won a twelve round decision over Michael Farenas to captured the WBA's interim-title. Uchiyama (19-0-1, 16KOs) came back on December 31 and stopped mandatory challenger Bryan Vasquez in the eight round.

The question now is whether Gamboa will stick around long enough for the WBA to order the fight. The Olympic gold medal winner is already looking to move up the lightweight division in his next fight. He wants to pursue matches with lightweight champions Adrien Broner and Ricky Burns.