After winning his first four fights in Germany, Gamboa made his United States debut on 30 October 2007, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, against Adailton De Jesus, who was dropped to the canvas halfway through the first round.

[5] Gamboa fought Gilberto Luque on 5 January 2008, at Bally's Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Gamboa got up and finished the fight strong, winning by unanimous decision and claiming the vacant WBC International super featherweight title.

A left hook to the body set up a right hand that landed across Seeger's face, causing him to collapse backwards flat onto the canvas.

[10] On 5 October 2008, Gamboa stepped up in class and fought Marcos Ramirez, a Kansas City featherweight in Temecula, California.

Gamboa then finished the fight by pressuring Ramirez into the ropes and landing a left hook to the body, followed by a right uppercut to the jaw.

[citation needed] On 17 April 2009 Gamboa stopped Jose Rojas via tenth-round TKO to win the WBA interim featherweight title.

[13] On 10 October 2009 Gamboa stopped Whyber Garcia in the fourth round to win the WBA featherweight title.

Gamboa buzzed Mtagwa several times from several angles and scored a knockdown in the final ten seconds with a counter hook.

On 27 March 2010 at Hamburg, Germany Gamboa dominated Argentinian boxer Jonathan Victor Barros in twelve rounds to retain the WBA featherweight title with a unanimous decision.

On 10 September 2011, Gamboa fought Ring top 10 ranked featherweight Daniel Ponce de León in a non-title fight.

Although there were not many exchanges, Gamboa's hand speed and reflexes were on display as he connected with quick and short combinations and managed to avoid some of de León's left swings with his characteristic upper body movement.

[16] Gamboa was initially set to return in April 2012 against lightweight champion Brandon Rios, but he pulled out of the bout citing problems with his contract with Top Rank.

[17] As he was moving up to lightweight, Gamboa was linked to performance-enhancing drugs through the Biogenesis scandal, which included Alex Rodriguez.

[18] Gamboa eventually moved up in weight to take on undefeated Darleys Pérez (28-0) for the vacant WBA interim lightweight title.

Gamboa although fighting at an unusually measured pace at times consistently beat Pérez to the punch amassing a clear lead in the bout.

On 28 June 2014 Gamboa faced off against undefeated WBO titlist Terence Crawford on HBO Boxing After Dark.

Gamboa continued to fight back but was dropped again in the eighth and finally was stopped in the ninth round after two knockdowns and a huge right hook by Crawford.

Gamboa faced Jason Sosa on 25 November 2017 stepping in as a late replacement for Robinson Castellanos, Yuriorkis won a controversial majority decision.