Chris John throws a punch at Rocky Juarez. (Photo: Steve Marcus, Reuters)

Chris John Wants a Shot at the Champs

Promoter Bob Arum has featherweights Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa on a collision course, but Indonesia’s Chris John would no doubt love to disrupt those plans.

Puerto Rico’s Lopez and US-based Cuban Gamboa both posted knockout victories at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

Gamboa retained his World Boxing Association featherweight belt, while Lopez seized the lightly regarded World Boxing Organization title.

“I think we’ll jump on it if the offer comes. I’ll be ready to fight either one of them,” Chris, who is also the WBA featherweight champ, told the Jakarta Globe on Monday about possible bouts against Lopez or Gamboa. “But my coach and manager has yet to hear from them until today.”

Right now, he said, his focus is on his next bout, which is scheduled for this April in Bali against an unnamed opponent.

“I’ll go train at Harry’s Gym in Perth this weekend and stay there until my future opponent agrees and signs the contract,” Chris said. “After the contract is settled, we’ll announce the name and then I’ll go to Banyuwangi [East Java] to practice before going to Bali.”

Arum said before Lopez takes on Gamboa, likely in 2011, he wants them to go against every great featherweight in the world.

“I’ve got two horses and I want them to wipe out everybody in the featherweight division, and when they finally meet, people will go crazy,” Arum said.

Chris survived a late scare but emerged with a unanimous 12-round decision over American Rocky Juarez in Las Vegas last September. He remained unbeaten, taking his record to 43 victories with one draw and 22 knockouts.

Gamboa, a 2004 Olympic gold medalist for Cuba, improved to 17-0 with 15 wins with his second-round knockout of Tanzania-born Rogers Mtagwa on Saturday.

Lopez improved to 28-0 with 25 knockouts with a seventh-round knockout of Steven Luevano.

“Don’t I owe it to my two guys to build this into the biggest fight I can?” Arum said. “It will be a huge, huge fight, but not right now.”

Gamboa said on Saturday he was ready for whoever Arum puts in front of him — the tougher the better. “I’d love for whoever the public or maybe the press considers the number one featherweight, to have him in the ring for my next fight,” he said. “That way I can show who is the best.”

JG, AFP

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