ATLANTIC CITY?Ring announcer Michael Buffer had barely spit out the wide decision verdict for Joan Guzman over plucky Mexican Humberto Soto when the various promotional interests all began spinning the outcome different ways.
The pugilistic propaganda was flying fast and furious.
?It was terrible,? Top Rank?s Bob Arum said after his guy, Soto, was unable to deal with Guzman?s hand and foot speed over 12 rounds. ?I mean, the last four rounds, Guzman was running. That?s no good. I was going to talk the Guzman people about a Pacquaio fight but not now. That fight wouldn?t do 150,000 PPV buys.?
Golden Boy exec Bernard Hopkins was praising Guzman, 31, for a masterful exhibition of ring generalship and all-around skills. GBP and Sycuan Ringside Promotions share the promotional rights to the unbeaten WBO super featherweight champion.
?I thought he did a great job in there,? Hopkins said. ?I think he and Manny would be a good fight because the styles would make it a good fight.?
Of course, in the incestuous world of boxing, please note that Golden Boy shares promo rights to Pacman with Top Rank. Sycuan?s Scott Woodworth said Arum was pouring the sour whine of a loser. Woodworth said many doors are open for Guzman.
?Isn?t it funny Bob is decrying Guzman?s boxing when it was Bob who used to sing Floyd Mayweather?s praises for fighting the same way? It wasn?t until Little Floyd left Top Rank that Arum started badmouthing his style. I thought Joan showed some flashes of Sugar Ray Leonard with his nimble maneuvers. Soto was tough but Guzman had too much for him,? Woodworth said. ?Once he shook the 11 months of ring rust off, Guzman was like a machine. We’re hardly limited to Bob’s whims. We can deal with Don King and anyone else who has a meaningful opponent for Guzman.”
Arum, the old shrewdie, did not say what everyone at ringside at the Borgata Hotel & Casino was thinking, that Guzman?s elusive style could prove extremely difficult in the ring for Top Ranks? cash cow Pacman.
Guzman trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. said his work with Guzman was far from done.
?That was the just the result of four months of work,? Mayweather said. ?We?ve got lots of things we need to sharpen up on but I can tell you Guzman would toy with Manny.?
Guzman manager Jose Nunez said that, while a Pacquiao bout brings big money, his fighter does have other routes to bagging some big bank.
?We could fight Juan Diaz and that would be an excellent matchup with two superb boxers who are both undefeated,? Nunez said. ?I have to think HBO was more than happy with what they saw from Guzman tonight and I think all the networks will be looking to put Joan on now.?
As for Guzman, he praised the loser.
?I saw his camp?s tee-shirts for some cement company,? Guzman said. ?I hit him so many good shots in the head and he kept coming. Maybe they poured some of that cement into Soto?s head. I am glad he came and gave me a good fight. He?s a very tough guy and he will beat many top fighters. I was just on top of my game and I am dedicating this victory to all of the Dominican people.?
Sitting at ringside cheering Guzman on was Felipe Payano, the Dominican Republic government’s Minister of Sports and a close associate of D.R. President Hon. Leonel Fernandez.
I think this was one of those bouts that looked closer on the TV screen than it did in person.
Soto is better than so-so but, through 36 minutes, Guzman?s arsenal of offensive and defensive skills were simply too much.
Arum said Guzman knocked himself out of the Pacman Derby as for March 15, but the spin cycle continues.
Guzman just burnished his credentials as a major player in the 130-135 pound class and another compelling possibility is to fight a fighter he signed to fight previously. A Guzman hand injury prevented Guazman-Kastidis from happening earlier this year.
Michael ?Rocky? Kastidis, the Aussie brawler, looms large anyway but, if neither Pacquaio or Juan Diaz are likely any time soon, Guzman could look to the fan and TV friendly nonstop aggressive style of Kastidis.
The way Kastidis can take punches and fire back Guzman may think Soto?s chin is silly putty comparatively.
The spin cycle continues. Let?s see what comes out in the wash.
