Gamboa welcomes first shot at title

Yuriorkis Gamboa's shot at a world title came quickly, but not as quickly as he thought it would.

Gamboa, a 27-year-old Cuban-born featherweight who lives in Miami, is 14-0 with 12 knockouts since beginning his professional career in April 2007. He meets veteran Jose Rojas today for the WBA interim title at the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm.

"I expected to fight for the title within a year of turning pro," Gamboa said through an interpreter at a news conference Thursday. "But this has been my ultimate goal -- to be a world champion -- and I know I will accomplish that.

If Gamboa wins the WBA belt, he wants to remain a featherweight long enough to unify all the belts before moving up in class.

"I want to be champion for a long time," he said. "It's one of the promises I made to my family. My hope is to have all the belts within the next two to three years."

Gamboa said he is confident but not cocky.

"I don't mean to come across as arrogant, but I know my abilities," he said. "I work hard at boxing, and I know what I have to do to improve."

The fight, which will be televised on Showtime, is Gamboa's toughest test. Rojas (25-6-1, 17 KOs) has faced champion fighters, including Chris John, Antonio Cermeno and Yober Ortega. The 36-year-old from Venezuela is being trained by Las Vegan Miguel Diaz and is 9-1-1 in his last 11 starts.

Gamboa said he didn't do anything special to prepare for Rojas.

"All my opponents worry me," Gamboa said. "I just want to make sure I am at my best for this fight."

In the co-main event, Said Ouali (25-2, 17 KOs) meets Selcuk Aydin (17-0, 14 KOs) in a 12-round WBC welterweight eliminator bout. First bell is at 6 p.m.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@ reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.