Two-time world champion Joan Guzman of the Dominican Republic was determined to make history on May 26th against Michael Katsidis (22-0, 20 KO’s) before sustaining an injury during training.
Guzman was looking to become the first Dominican fighter to ever win a championship in three different weight classes when he faced the WBO “Interim” lightweight titlist in Anaheim, CA.
Guzman’s intentions, to step it up to another level, were clear when he brought Floyd Mayweather, Sr. on board, replacing Don House in training responsibilities. However, things took a turn for the worse when Guzman injured his hand during an intense sparring session. Guzman and his manager, Jose Nunez, stayed in Las Vegas an extra week to get a doctor’s diagnosis of the injury. Since then, Nunez and Guzman have returned to New York, where they both live, in search of a greatly desired second opinion.
“It’s been approximately six days now that we have been back in New York,” Guzman (27-0, 17 KOs) said. “We recently went to the doctor for a second opinion. We underwent and MRI and now we are just waiting to see what happens.”
Nunez elaborated on the severity of the injury.
“ We paid Dr. Robert Strauch of Columbia University Hospital a visit. According to what Dr. Strauch told us, the MRI revealed a torn ligament between Guzman’s left hand wrist.
“Dr. Strauch’s diagnosis was for Guzman to be in a cast for two weeks. And in those two weeks he was going to rest up the hand. That was it. We had alternate dates set for June 30 and August 11. I would have much preferred to have fought on the 11th of August but Katsidis and his people said no to both dates. And even though Guzman wouldn’t have been a 100% by June 30 we were still going to take the fight. So realize that the card could have been salvaged. But not anymore. Katsidis’ people [NorthEast Promotions] and manager [Brendon Smith] are no longer interested,” Guzman asserted.
Though it hasn’t been confirmed, one could surmise that with Katsidis’ status as interim champion, he now becomes the mandatory challenger to the unified world champion Juan Diaz. So, why take a chance and risk that golden opportunity?
“Katsidis doesn’t look big,” Nunez said. “He is a typical European fighter. He comes straight at you. He has good conditioning and he goes all twelve rounds. Katsidis would much rather fight Diaz than Guzman. He [Katsidis] wants to catch Guzman out of shape, but everybody knows that extra month would have been a plus for Guzman. But Katsidis knows that Diaz is more of structured and tailored opponent for him.”
So allow me to play devil’s advocate for one second. If Katsidis’ team is looking for the fight with Diaz, then I can’t blame them.
The reward in fighting Diaz matches the risk. There is more money at stake plus the opportunity to become the recognized man at 135 pounds. So if Katsidis and Guzman doesn’t happen, which as of right now is a realistic possibility, there is no reason to fret over it. Though Guzman, quite rightly, would be disappointed.
“I feel bad, people were waiting to see two undefeated fighters face off against each other,” he said. “The day after people would have been talking about what a great fight it was.”
But if Guzman had won, would he have stayed at 135 pounds? Not likely, he is a 130-pound fighter and there is an overabundance of great matches to be made in the super featherweight division. Think about it…you have Marco Antonio Barrera, Edwin Valero, Juan Manuel Marquez and last but not least Manny Pacquiao.
A fight with Marquez or Barrera is very doable because all three fighters fight under the Golden Boy banner. [Guzman is co-promoted by Sycuan and Golden Boy.]
Recent Internet reports have quoted Bob Arum, the head honcho at Top Rank, as saying that Guzman is the front-runner in the Pacquiao sweepstakes. You have to wonder what Oscar De La Hoya, [President of Golden Boy] thinks about that. The Top Rank-Golden Boy civil war continues. And judging by the looks of things, I don’t see any truce being made by either party in the foreseeable future. But be it as it may, Arum says that if the fight does materialize, it would take place in Macau, China.
“That’s a smoke screen,” Nunez emphatically claims, refusing to believe the hype and propaganda.
“Pacquiao is a great champion but his opponents are hand picked. This is all talk. Pacquiao is afraid of Guzman. His trainer Freddie Roach has gone on the record several times as saying that he would rather fight Marco Antonio Barrera then Guzman. Freddie said that Guzman is the most dangerous fighter at super featherweight. Pacquiao doesn’t have enough (testicles) to fight Guzman. Guzman has been chasing him since they were both 122 pounds.”
This is boxing and boxing is known to be the theater of the unexpected. Stranger things have happened. Hypothetically speaking, let’s just say the fight does come to fruition, is Nunez willing to bring Guzman to China to fight another Asian fighter?
“If the money is right and the promoters agree, then we will do it,” Nunez told TSS. “My only concern would be, if by chance it goes to a decision, will it be fair and just. That would be on the back of my mind for the entire trip, if it does happen.”
The irony of all of this is that when Guzman initially pulled out of the fight with Katsidis, Katsidis and his people accused Guzman of pulling out to fight Pacquiao instead. The tides have since changed. It hasn’t been confirmed, but it appears that Katsidis will move on to fight Diaz somewhere down the line. Though the fight with Guzman could’ve and would’ve been rescheduled, it appears from a business standpoint that it is the prudent thing to do.
SPEEDBAG: – Guzman is enjoying working under the guidance of Mayweather, Sr. Guzman went as far as to call him a teacher.
– Guzman stated that Mayweather, Sr. demands a lot out of you in training camp. Mayweather Sr. makes you hit the pads, heavy bag, and shadowbox throwing real punches as you would in a fight.
– Guzman has a lot of ties to the baseball world. Guzman is great friends with Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez, Boston Red Socks designated hitter David “Big Papi” Ortiz and Texas Rangers RF Sammy Sosa.
-Nunez owns Top Choice Records and is great friends with rap impresario Jay-Z.
