Gamboa: “I Do Try and Win Every Fight By Knock Out”

Yesterday, featherweight champion YURIORKIS GAMBOA, one of the most gifted and exciting fighters in the world, talked by phone from Atlantic City with the media. Through an interpreter, the undefeated Cuban discussed his upcoming fight on March 26 with veteran Mexican Jorge Solis, his decision to train in Japan, and the difficulites of living as an exile.

GAMBOA:  Fight after fight I need to maintain my performances, keep winning and keep my undefeated record.  Keep collecting belts as I have been and I will get to that status.  On Saturday night I need to showcase my abilities and I will come out victorious.

Personally, I do try and win every fight by knockout.  I know a knockout is something that everyone likes to see and it’s something that I shoot for but I won’t risk losing a fight trying to get one.

Worried about Solis’ height advantage?

GAMBOA:  I have experience fighting guys that are taller than me, especially in my weight division.  It is not something that I need to adjust to in training.

People remember Solis fighting well against [Manny] Pacquiao.  Would an early stoppage be better for you?

GAMBOA:  I don’t think it is a marker or any point of comparison.  The fight happened awhile back and obviously Manny is a different fighter now than he was then.  My fight with Solis I don’t think is an indicator of anything compared to his fight with Pacquiao.

Why train in Japan?

GAMBOA:  We went there for a couple of weeks. It was something that my trainer had decided to do.  We accomplished what we set out to do and we came back.  We left well before the earthquake.  It was specialized training that my trainer had set up in Japan and it could only be done there.  There was no break in training at all during the trip back.

How has the adjustment process been moving from Cuba to the USA?

GAMBOA:  It has one that I have been able to adapt to.  In my boxing I have maintained training.  What I learned in the Cuba school of boxing has helped me a lot and that is something that has helped me blend into the community in Miami.  I love being here and the lifestyle is much better than what it was in Cuba.

(His father and brother are in the States also.)

It is something that is difficult, I still have a lot of family over there – my grandmother, my mom and aunts, brothers and sisters – it is something that I try not to dwell too much upon but knowing that in this situation I am doing all this for my family eases the pain.

I think the first group of defectors, Solis and Bartholemy paved the way for others to follow.  Once we got here we have kept in touch but not as much as we would like to but we root each other on for our families.

Will Solis be the toughest opponent to date?

GAMBOA:  I know he will be tough but I can’t say that he will be the toughest I have faced.  Right now, pre-fight, I would have to say, no, but we’ll see how the fight progresses and I may have a better answer for you at the end.  My toughest opponent to date was Marcos Ramirez (10/4/08) and the toughest fight I have been in was my last one against Orlando Salido.

GAMBOA:  Those are names that people have mentioned of being the better ones in our division.  I would never back down from anyone and would look forward to fighting either [Chirs] John or [Hozumi] Hasegawa.

GAMBOA:  [Ismael] Salas has brought a lot to the table and he knew my amateur background and that has helped me progress into the professional ranks.  He has trained me for 13 professional fights.

How was it fighting at Madison Square Garden?

GAMBOA:  It was a wonderful opportunity for me to fight and walk through those doors at the Garden.  Great champions have fought in front of huge audiences and it was the most exciting moment of my professional career.

The most exciting boxers today reside in the sport’s lighter weight divisions and Tomorrow! Saturday, March 26, in the Adrian Phillips Ballroom at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall, four of them will take center stage and battle for titles in “Featherweight Fury!”  YURIORKIS GAMBOA will defend his World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight and International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles against interim WBA Super Featherweight Champion Jorge Solis and undefeated NABF & NABO champion Matt ‘Sharp Shooter’ Remillard of Manchester, Conn. will defend his featherweight titles against No. 1-ranked Mikey Garcia of Oxnard, California.

Featherweight Fury! is promoted by Top Rank, in association with Arena Box and Caesars Atlantic City. The Gamboa vs. Solis and Remillard vs. Garcia title fights will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast.)

Remaining tickets, priced at $200, $100, $50, are available at the

Boardwalk Hall Box Office or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at ticketmaster.com.