Top Rank is finalizing a deal to become the co-promoter of interim featherweight titlist Yuriorkis Gamboa and heavyweight prospect Odlanier Solis with Ahmet Öner's Arena Box, Bob Arum told ESPN.com. Gamboa and Solis won 2004 Olympic gold for Cuba before defecting. "I know Gamboa is very exciting," Arum said, adding that Top Rank president Todd duBoef was handling the deal with Öner. If finalized, Gamboa would defend on Top Rank's July 25 Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.-headlined pay-per-view card in Mexico. Originally ticketed for Cancun, it's been moved to another resort city, Nuevo Vallarta, Arum said. An August Showtime fight between Gamboa and unified junior featherweight titlist Celestino Caballero had been discussed, but the promoters and network were about $200,000 apart. Solis' first bout under the new arrangement would be June 27 in Atlantic City, N.J., on the untelevised undercard of another Top Rank PPV show.
smart move on Oner's part, he's got absolutely no pull in the states without a co-promoter and top rank knows how to build prospects
That incident with Danny Williams was disgusting. I still wonder why this guy is not in prison somewhere.
It's interfering with a state sanctioned athletic event, not terribly far removed from going into the ring.
As for Gamboa, I'm uncertain what to think about this. There are some good fighters in Top Rank's stable for Gamboa down the line, e.g., Luevano and Soto. However, I hope Arum keeps him fighting on the networks frequently and doesn't stick him on these Latin Fury cards often. Paying for a JCC, Jr. fight sits poorly with me unless there is a spectacular undercard.
Rather unexpected but excellent news. I think Golden Boy holds all the cards in the US, but Top Rank is still very strong in the Latino market, so it's obviously good to have Gamboa and Solis under the TR banner at least for a few fights. It all depends where Solis and Gamboa can go, because if they are both on their 100%, they are bigtime PPV potentials with Gamboa having a realistic chance of reaching those heights.
