Gamboa dropped from bout vs. Rios

Brandon Rios will still fight for the vacant WBA lightweight title April 14 at Mandalay Bay Events Center. It just won't be against Yuriorkis Gamboa.

Gamboa was dropped from the fight Wednesday after refusing to sign a contract following an oral agreement a month ago, the terms of which had Top Rank agreeing to pay him $1.1 million.

Instead, Rios (29-0-1, 22 knockouts) will face Richard Abril (17-2-1, eight KOs) in the 12-round main event, with junior welterweight Mike Alvarado (32-0 23 KOs) meeting Maricio Hererra (18-1, seven KOs) in the co-feature, scheduled for 10 rounds.

"We had a deal with Gamboa and he didn't keep his word, so we're moving on," Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said.

HBO, which initially had planned to televise the Rios-Gamboa fight, has decided not to broadcast the revised card, and an alternative TV partner is being sought by Top Rank.

Those who purchased tickets can receive a full refund at the point of purchase. However, refunds must be obtained no later than 5 p.m. March 23.

Things took a bizarre turn when Gamboa was a no-show at promotional news conferences last week in Miami and Los Angeles. Instead, he was training at Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s Las Vegas gym. That led to speculation that Mayweather Promotions was trying to lure Gamboa away from Top Rank, which has a promotional contract with Gamboa.

Gamboa reportedly wanted more money and was unhappy with the agreed-upon terms of the deal to fight Rios. After failing to convince Gamboa to live up to the agreement and sign the contract, Top Rank decided to move forward without him and filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Gamboa in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas for breach of contract.

"It's terrible," Arum said. "We'll go after those who interfered."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.