Successful football coaches always caution about the possible trap games, keeping their players focused on the next opponent instead of future games against more appealing rivals.

Miami resident Yuriorkis Gamboa also has his own trap situation Saturday night. Gamboa will fight on the same card as a potential opponent.

Gamboa will defend his second-tier World Boxing Association featherweight title against Whyber Garcia, and on the same card, Puerto Rico's Juan Manuel Lopez will defend his World Boxing Organization junior-featherweight title against Rogers Mtagwa.

Las Vegas-based Top Rank promotes Gamboa and Lopez and is showcasing both fighters at the Theater inside Madison Square Garden.

The card could serve as the prelude to a mega bout next year between two of boxing's most exciting young fighters.

But Gamboa recognizes the danger of ignoring Garcia.

``I do not lose focus in preparation for this fight because I know that without winning this fight, I can't get to the bigger fight, Juan Manuel Lopez being one of them,'' Gamboa said. ``I am completely focused on this fight, and I am going to do everything possible to keep moving along and keep my record going.''

Gamboa has moved up fast since defecting from Cuba in December 2006.

A 2004 Olympic gold medalist, Gamboa is 14-0 with 12 knockouts in his first 22 months as a professional.

With a rapid and successful pace, Gamboa earned an opportunity to fight for the vacant WBA title against Jose Rojas on April 17.

Gamboa, 26, maintained his sterling knockout ratio, stopping Rojas in 10 rounds.

``Obviously, I am very happy because I have satisfied every goal that I have set for myself,'' Gamboa said. ``But the problem here is that I have many more goals to accomplish and I won't be fully satisfied until I reach all of them.''

Gamboa will fulfill another goal Saturday, fighting for the first time in Madison Square Garden.

``I would like to thank God for giving me the opportunity to fight in a place where so many world champions have fought and so many storied fights in the history of the sport and to give me the opportunity to perform there,'' Gamboa said.

Lopez (26-0, 24 KOs) is gaining worship-like status in Puerto Rico and should attract the largest following for Saturday night's fight.

``It is very important for me to look great and to show everyone in New York -- not only the Puerto Ricans, but everyone that is there who comes to see our fights -- that I am a good fighter, and I can do something special,'' Lopez said.

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