The business of boxing can be an extremely complicated. Landing a major fight for a boxer is a complicated mix including, but not limited to, the fighter’s popularity, his management and promoter’s connections within the industry, and the beefs between his representation and other boxing groups.
Some fighters, as talented as they maybe inside the ring, are kept on the outside looking, regardless of their abilities.
Right about now, I can imagine that super featherweight Joan Guzman is about ready to pull his hair out, or at least undo his braids.
The native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic is undefeated with twenty-seven victories and campaigning in a division stacked with talent. Having covered the talented boxer since his days as 122 pound champion, Joan Guzman has only wanted one thing, to test his abilities against the best in the sport.
Guzman, currently managed by Jose Nu?ez and promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Sycuan Ringside Promotions, has been chasing down the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Manny Pacquiao for the better part of four years.
Having moved up to the super featherweight class, Guzman is not short on viable opponents, including Marquez, Barrera, Pacquiao, Edwin Valero, and Humberto Soto. Recently, his name has been mentioned as a frontrunner in the Manny Pacquiao sweepstakes.
One has to think logically, “Will Bob Arum and Top Rank really risk putting in Pacquiao with Guzman, who is partially promoted by their bitter rival Golden Boy Promotions when Humberto Soto, promoted by Top Rank, would be a credible opponent fore the Filipino as well?”
So Pacquiao-Guzman would seem more like a dream for the Dominican than the reality.
What makes Guzman’s scenario so frustrating is that other lucrative and high profile fights are within his reach and EASY to make from a business perspective. Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera, like Guzman, are promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. Yet, for whatever reason, Guzman’s name has never been a serious option for either man.
Recently, Boxingtalk’s Greg Leon reported that Juan Manuel Marquez will be facing Argentina’s Jorge Barrios in September on HBO. While Barrios is an exciting fighter, who throws punches with careless abandon, he lost a fight to Joan Guzman back in September of 2006. So a year later, it is not Guzman getting a crack at Juan Manuel Marquez in a unification fight, but Barrios trying to rejuvenate his career.
Something is wrong with that from a competitive and business perspective; Guzman deserves an opportunity at the limelight and is as financially viable as Barrios.
A boxing insider, who would like to remain anonymous, provided the following comment.
“A fighter like Guzman will have trouble getting major fights, for a few reasons. One, in terms of skills, he is dangerous. He is a good fighter, who can box and pop. Two, in terms of business, he is Dominican. Let’s face it Dominican’s do not bring in the sort of crowds and pay per view numbers that Mexicans or Puerto Ricans do.”
While I agree, that individuals of Dominican descent in the United States are out numbered by those from a Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, thus making them a smaller market, that does not add up in the case of Juan Manuel Marquez – Jorge Barrios.
Juan Manuel is Mexican and will attract Mexican fans. Jorge Barrios is from Argentina and will attract fans from his country. One little problem, Barrios is from Argentina, NOT Mexico or Puerto Rico. I would argue that his ability to put asses in the seats is about equal to Joan Guzman and his Dominican followers.
The possibility of Guzman – Barrera would seem slim and none. With Barrera on the verge of retirement and hunting down Manny Pacquiao or a rematch with Marquez, Guzman is left out in the cold.
On the outside looking in you also find Venezuelan Edwin Valero, his situation a bit more complicated than Guzmans. Valero has been fighting outside of the United States due to a medical suspension laid down by the New York State Athletic Commission. Valero, also looking for high profile fights and promoted by Japan’s Teiken, would seem to be a natural opponent for Guzman due to lack of willingness for other fights to be made by promoters handling the other men at 122 pounds.
While it is an unfair situation for Valero and Guzman to fight in a less heralded bout, likely outside of the United States, it makes sense. There is good money to be made in Japan for both men and the winner would have one more viable reason to face Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez, or other high profile fighters.
