YURIORKIS GAMBOA-MICHAEL FARENAS CLASH TOMORROW FOR WBA TITLE (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 08 Dec 2012
LAS VEGAS, Nevada - Cuban former world champion Yuriorkis Gamboa, 31, and Filipino Michael Farenas, 28, both weighed-in 130 lbs (58.97 kgs) ahead of their clash for the vacant Interim WBA super featherweight Title tomorrow at the MGM Grand Arena as one of the undercards of the Pacquiao-Marquez4.
During their face off, Gamboa kept on giving Farenas a cold laser-like look into his eyes as if trying to exert a psychological advantage on his unheralded opponent, but the Filipino did not appear intimidated by the intense staring dished out by the former Olympic gold medalist.
However, even though the undefeated Yuriorkis Gamboa "El Ciclon de Guant?namo" (21-0, 16KO's) hasn't seen ring action since his win over 2-division world champion Mexican Daniel Ponce de Leon (44-4, 35KO's) back in September of last year, it is widely believed that the fast, hard-hitting Cuban might be a nut too tough to crack for the brave Sorsogon native Michael Farenas (34-3-4, 26KO's) who comes from a technical draw against WBA super featherweight super champion Takashi Uchiyama (18-0-1, 15KO's) last July in Saitama, Japan.
Nevertheless, Farenas's manager Gerry Pe?alosa has faith in his boxer's chances.
"Michael is in great shape, has experience and is always a warrior," said Pe?alosa, a former 2-division world champion, now a successful boxing promoter in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa who before defecting to the United States had to sell his Olympic gold medal to support his family, is now promoted by superstar rapper/actor/boxing promoter Curtis James Jackson III "50 Cent," the author of the multi-platinum album "Get Rich or Die Tryin'."
Gamboa and "50 Cent" seem to perceive that tomorrow's fight against Farenas as a stepping stone in their quest for more lucrative, challenging fights.
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