In an interview with Lem Satterfield of RingTV.com, undefeated featherweight Yuriorkis Gamboa revealed the reason why he didn't show up for yesterday's press conference in Miami to promote an April 14th showdown with former lightweight champion Brandion Rios. According to Gamboa, there was no reason to attend a press conference for a fight that was never signed or agreed on in the first place. "I never signed a contract for the fight, and since I didn't have a contract, and we're still under negotiations, then there was no reason for me to go to the press conference," Gamboa would explain to Satterfield.
"When I told them that I was not going to show up, they told me that there was no way that they could cancel this, and that I should just show up and be there and this and that," Gamboa continued. "But I said, 'I didn't sign anything, so I'm not going.' I told Jose Perez, who works with Ahmet Oner, on Saturday, when I spoke to my lawyer, that I was not going to go to the press conference on Monday." So instead, Gamboa, stayed in Las Vegas to continue training at the Mayweather Boxing Club.
His decision to train at Floyd Mayweather's gym led many to believe that he was on the verge of signing with Mayweather Promotions, but Gamboa clarified that there was no truth to the rumor, stating, "I've been training in Mayweather's gym because he [Floyd Mayweather Jr.] is my friend. He offered me his Gym so that I can train there, since the fight is going to be here in Las Vegas. That's the purpose of my training here."
Still, there's clearly some issues between Gamboa and his current co-promoters, Top Rank Promotions and Arena Box-Promotions, and although he'd still like to face Brandon Rios, he has no intentions of moving forward with the fight until a resolution can be reached. "The problem is with my promoters and how they're doing their business with me. So it has nothing to do with Brandon Rios, but with the way that the business is being handled," Gamboa added. His lawyer, Sekou Gary, would echo those sentiments. "He is looking to come to a resolution with Top Rank and the co-promoter, Arena Box-Promotion, and Ahmet Oner, and he's looking to go in another direction; he's hoping to come to an amicable resolution with these guys."
Yesterday, Top Rank issued a press release stating that they were moving forward with today's press conference in Los Angeles and that both fighters, as well as Top Rank President Todd duBoef, would be present. Judging from Gamboa's comments, it sounds like Top Rank missed the memo that Gamboa doesn't plan on showing up today either.
[ Follow Ben Thompson on Twitter @fighthype ]