Yuriorkis Gamboa isn’t still hanging around just to hear tales of the boxer he used to be, but rather the great fighter he can still become.
Few are giving the Cuban export any shot at pulling off an upset in his upcoming vacant title fight versus Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis (22-0, 21KOs), a now former two-time 130-pound titlist who aspires to become a two-division title claimant. The opportunity to achieve that goal at the tender age of 25 will come in their Dec. 28 Showtime-televised headliner, live from State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
The event marks the first time since 1998 that the city will play host to a major title fight. For the perceived underdog, it’s the chance to return to the title stage for the first time in nearly a decade.
“December 28 will be a great war,” Gamboa (30-2, 18KOs) guaranteed during a formal press conference to announce the event Tuesday in Atlanta. “Two great warriors in the center of the ring, may the best man win.”
The quote may sound token, but it’s also a reminder that a live body will be manning the corner opposite Baltimore’s Davis on fight night. The bout will represent Davis’ official entrance into the lightweight division, having fought above the junior lightweight limit a number of times in the early stages of his career but always with the intention of establishing his presence as a top 130-pound boxer.
Two title reigns later, the 25-year old southpaw has set his sights at lightweight, where Miami’s Gamboa—a 2004 Olympic Gold medalist for Cuba and former two-division titlist—has competed at or near for the better part of the last seven years.
Still, not since 2013 has Gamboa emerged victorious in a sanctioned title fight, outpointing Darleys Perez for an interim lightweight belt. Both of his career losses have since taken place, stopped in the 9th round of a back-and-forth war with unbeaten Terence Crawford in June 2014 and suffering an upset 7th round stoppage at the hands of veteran spoiler Robinson Castellanos in May 2017.
Four wins have followed, including a two-round blitzing of Roman ‘Rocky’ Martinez this past July, on the undercard of Davis’ homecoming knockout win over mandatory challenger Ricardo Nuñez. The pair of early knockouts help set up a head on collision, even if many remain skeptical of the Dec. 28 meeting evolving into a competitive affair.
“Critics make mistakes,” notes Gamboa. “I proved against (Martinez) that I had a lot left in the tank–no pun intended. My goal is to prove that I belong here.
“In my heart and my soul I already know it.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
