BOXING
Why was Yuriorkis Gamboa arrested after fatal car accident in Cuba?
According to multiple reports, the Cuban boxer was arrested after a car accident that caused the death of a passerby on New Year’s Eve.
The Cuban boxer Yuriorkis Gamboa, better known as El Ciclón de Guantánamo, last fought against the Mexican Isaac Cruz in April 2022 and it would now appear that he may not get into a ring in the near future.
Why was Yuriorkis Gamboa arrested?
According to a report by Boxeo Cubano, Gamboa was arrested on the island after a car accident that caused the death of a passerby on 31 December 2022. El Nuevo Herald reports that the Olympic champion in Athens 2004 was the driver who ran over an individual on a stretch of road that was poorly lit and quoted a source close to the situation as saying that no illegal substances were used.
“There are still many details to be clarified. We want to make clear, Gamboa was not under the influence of any illegal substance. Gamboa is a very religious person and he does not take alcohol or anything that is improper.”
As a professional boxer, the 41-year-old veteran won the WBA featherweight crown between June 2009 and June 2011, and the IBF between September 2010 and March 2011.
Yuriorkis Gamboa’s departure from Cuba
After winning medals at the 2003 Pan American Games and the 2004 Athens Olympics, Gamboa left Cuba in 2006 and headed to Germany, along with Odlanier Solís and Yan Bertelemí, where he became a professional boxer.
Gamboa made his professional boxing debut on April 27, 2007, in Hamburg against Armenian Alexander Manvelyan. Gamboa put Manvelyan to the canvas in the third round, though he ultimately took the win via unanimous decision.
After 35 fights as a professional, Gamboa’s most notable rivals include Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney, Terence Crawford and Jorge ‘Coloradito’ Ortiz.