Unbeaten former featherweight titleholder Yuriorkis Gamboa could face Mexican junior lightweight Miguel Beltran Jr. on the undercard of an HBO-Pay Per View televised main event featuring Manny Pacquiao in his fourth bout opposite four-division belt-winner Juan Manuel Marquez on Dec. 8 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

In June, Gamboa (21-0, 16 knockouts) was bought out of the remainder of his contract with Top Rank by rapper-turned-promoter, 50 Cent (aka Curtis Jackson), allowing the former Cuban Olympic gold medalist to separate from the organization.

Gamboa has not been in the ring since September, when he decisioned current WBC featherweight beltholder Daniel Ponce de Leon.

Beltran (27-2, 17 KOs) is coming off a split-decision loss over Puerto Rican Roman “Rocky” Martinez (26-1-1, 16 KOs) on the undercard of a unanimous decision by RING middleweight champion Sergio Martinez that dethroned WBC titleholder Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., who dropped Martinez in the 12th round.

Top Rank CEO, Bob Arum, informed RingTV.com that 50 Cent is working with Top Rank President Todd duBoef.

“That is accurate, and 50 Cent will be talking tomorrow to Todd. It would be very likely that Gamboa is going to be on the card as long as we’re working with 50 Cent, who is working with Gamboa,” said Arum.

“Obviously, they’re talking about him going on the card and fighting this Mexican kid who had the great fight with Rocky Martinez, Beltran.”

In the past, 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 attorney Sekou Gary, who had contended that Gamboa’s contract with co-promoter Arena Box was not valid, and, by extension, neither was the one with Top Rank.

JACKSON CALLS LEON MARGULES ‘HIS LAWYER’

Jackson is now represented by attorney Leon Margules, the lawyer said on Tuesday.

“I’m his lawyer. It happened about a month ago. We’ve spoken three or four times, and I’ve done some letters for him, and I met him one time at the Martinez-Chavez Jr. fight, and he told me that I’m his lawyer. He’s told other people that they should call me and that I’m his lawyer,” said Margules.

“I’ve done some legal work for his office. We’re in the process of trying to negotiate a deal with Top Rank. He’s talking directly with Bob. Nothing’s been drafted yet, but if it is, I’m sure that he’ll ask me to draft it. We’ll see what happens.”

ARUM’S A GRANDDAD ONCE AGAIN

DuBoef became “the proud father” of a newborn daughter, Quinn Blakely duBoef, who was born on Monday afternoon, said Arum.

“I’m at the hospital now,” said Arum. “That’s seven [grandchildren.]”

Photo by Naoki Fukuda

Lem Satterfield can be reached at [email protected]