Former world featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa of Cuba will make his long awaited return to the ring when he takes on Filipino Michael Farenas for the interim WBA super featherweight championship (130 pounds).

Gamboa, 21-0 with 16 knockouts, won a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics and was cleaning up the featherweight division as a pro when he went inactive because of contractual issues with Top Rank Promotions. Dubbed the “Cyclone of Guantanamo” because of his relentless, two-fisted offensive assaults, Gamboa last saw action in October 2011, winning an eight-round technical decision over Mexican Daniel Ponce de Leon.

Farenas (34-3-4, 26 knockouts), a protégé of former two-division champion Gerry Peñalosa, is looking to capitalize on Gamboa’s ring rust. The 28-year-old native of Gubat, Sorsogon province fought for the WBA super featherweight title in July but figured in a technical draw opposite Japanese Takashi Uchiyama. Farenas is reporting for battle as a last-minute substitute, the original choice of Gamboa being Mexican Miguel Beltran Jr.

Gamboa vs. Farenas figures to be action-packed and dirty. Farenas has a penchant for throwing low blows while Gamboa has been accused several times of throwing illegal punches on the back of the head. Gamboa is the favorite, but Farenas believes he has the power to register an upset win.

In the supporting main event, Mexican Miguel Angel “Titere” (Puppet) Vazquez (32-3, 13 knockouts) will make his fifth defense of the IBF lightweight title (135 pounds) against unbeaten Filipino Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta.

While more known for his fast feet, Vazquez’s hit-and-run approach has thus far mesmerized his last four challengers. Vazquez’s complements his fleet-footed style with a solid chin that has withstood the bombs of Mexican Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (the reigning World Boxing Council super welterweight champ) and Colombian Breidis Prescott (the puncher who knocked out Amir Khan in one round in 2008).

Gesta, 26-0-1, 14 knockouts, will have to shift his offense to fifth gear if he is to nail the slippery IBF champion. Ranked No.5 by the IBF, the 25-year-old Gesta has won three of his last five bouts by knockout but remains untested against marquee opposition. Then again, while not a few believe Vazquez will just waltz his way to a decision win, Gesta definitely has the punching power to alter the odds.