As early as 2008, a winner-takes-all showdown between undefeated featherweights Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa seemed inevitable. It was a 50/50 fight if there ever was one, and Bob Arum proclaimed that it could be built to be the ?biggest featherweight fight of all time?.
Top Rank Boxing began promoting cards that featured Lopez and Gamboa in co-feature fights. The effort was made to develop the proposed battle into mega-fight status. Hardcore boxing fans, as well as casual observers began to clamor for the fight to take place. Arum had other plans, however, and as subsequent fights and years went by, many wondered if the fight would occur.
Each time Arum was pressed with the question, he would say that the time wasn?t right. He wanted to continue building it up to a mega-fight, one that crossover fans and boxing purists alike would desire to see.
Top Rank then came up with an idea, which was to have ?JuanMa? Lopez and ?El Ciclon de Guant?namo? Gamboa fight common opponents. It was a good idea, but risky because of the unforgiving nature of the sport of boxing. For example, if JuanMa looked light-years better than Gamboa versus the same opponent, the luster of a mega-fight could dampen a bit.
