Gamboa settles with Top Rank?
Former featherweight titleholder Yuriorkis Gamboa has apparently bought out the reemainder of his contract, allowing the unbeaten fighter to separate from promoter Top Rank.
Neither Top Rank lawyer David Marroso, who is a senior attorney with the Los Angeles-based O’Melveny and Myers law firm, nor Gamboa’s attorney, Sekou Gary, could be reached for an immediate comment.
But according to a report by BoxingScene.com, which cited lawyers from both sides, “a satisfactory” resolution was reached.
The move was made in response to a filing by Marroso earlier on Thursday to dismiss the case, about which Top Rank is expected to make an announcement on Friday, according to the report.
A former Cuban Olympic gold medalist, Gamboa pulled out of a scheduled Top Rank-promoted lightweight bout in April with Brandon Rios, who instead won a controversial split-decision over replacement Richard Abril.
Top Rank filed a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court in Las Vegas for breach of contract against Gamboa, claiming that his move cost the company $1 million.
Gamboa later filed for dismissal of the suit through Gary, who had contended that Gamboa’s contract with co-promoter Arena Box was not valid, and, by extension, neither was the one wtih Top Rank.
Click here for the motion obtained by RingTV.com.
The conflict played out in public as a series of Gamboa no-shows at events to promote the fight against Rios, including press conferences in Miami and Los Angeles, which left Rios at the podium alone to taunt Gamboa with posters labeling him a coward.
In an exclusive interview with RingTV.com, Gamboa cited contractual issues and an unsigned bout agreement among his reasons for skipping the events.
Gary said that Gamboa refused to face Rios unless he was “operating under terms that are satisfactory,” regarding his contract with Top Rank and Ahmet Oner of Arena Box.
Lem Satterfield can be reached at [email protected]