We are not talking about the disillusion so many boxing buffs are feeling about the absence of a bout between pound for pound titans Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Junior, yet many fans of the sport have long been yearning for a clash between Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa and Puerto Rican Juan Manuel Lopez
For nearly two years, the pair of featherweights have been on a collision course with little of boxing?s usual entanglements getting in the way.
Both men has stated they are interesting in fighting the other.
If housed in a New York, Atlantic City, or South Florida venue, there would likely be strong tickets sales.
Top Rank, headed by Bob Arum, promotes both men.
Nothing is keeping these men from fighting, except the money, says Arum.
?Oh it is a great fight,? said Arum, ?but these networks are not putting up the money necessary to make a fight of this magnitude.?
Arum went on the mention the approximately 3 million dollars HBO was willing and able to put up for a bout between Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley earlier this year.
Three million dollars would seem to be a fair budget for a bout between Lopez and Gamboa, and fans can only hope HBO, or fellow American boxing broadcaster Showtime can pick-up the tab.
If Lopez – Gamboa fails to materialize in 2011, fans will have been cheated of another marquee match-up.
