Cuban superstar Yuriorkis Gamboa (22-0, 16 KO’s) will face Darley Perez, himself unbeaten (28-0, 19 KO’s), on June 8 in the co-feature of an HBO event headlined by Chad Dawson and Adonis Stevenson. That fight will be for the light heavyweight title, and will take place in Montreal, Canada at the Bell Centre.
Although Darley Perez has faced some tough competition previously, Gamboa will easily be his stiffest test to date. Whoever comes out with the victory is likely in line for a major opportunity, and Perez is well aware of that. He feels he is ready for the step up in class, and that it is coming at the perfect time
“I wouldn’t dare take Gamboa lightly, I’ll train hard for a tough fight and he’d be well-advised to do the same because I’m a top fighter. I will prove to everyone that I am a world-class fighter and the rest of the world will figure out what I already know after June 8th,” said Perez.
Yuriorkis Gamboa is one of the best fighters to emerge from Cuba, and he looks to continue the roll he has been on.
“I keep looking to prove my worth and will now do so in trying to win a 4th world title in a third weight class, the lightweight division,” Gamboa said. “I like challenging myself. June 8th I plan on showing my best yet again.”
Curtis Jackson (AKA 50 Cent) serves as the promoter for Gamboa and believes the fight will be competitive and fan friendly.
“The fight on June 8th between Yuriorkis Gamboa and Darley Perez is going to be very exciting.” he said. “Gamboa has been training really hard and his fighting style is aggressive while Perez showcases a calmer demeanor in the ring which will make for a very competitive showing.”
Gary Skaw, who co-promotes Perez, believes his fighter is ready for Gamboa, while acknowledging that he will be a significant underdog going in. However, he believes part of that is due to the public just not being as familiar with his fighter and his abilities.
“You have to understand that we’ve been waiting on an opportunity like this for Perez to make his mark. Some may feel like it is Darley’s chance to pull off the shocking upset, but I see it as more of a coming out party. We’ve had him caged in waiting for the chance to unleash the beast and we could’ve pulled the trigger a couple fights back and then the world would be aware of his chances in this fight. But because we knew that an opportunity like this was only a matter of time we waited and now he will show he’s been a top contender all along,” Shaw said.
