The contracts have been agreed to, triple-belted lightweight champion Nate Campbell and undefeated Joan Guzman are in serious training mode already and Showtime will televise their bout Sept. 13.
(From the looks of this fiery photo, you might think the Domican Dandy has been training in the midst of those terrible California wild fires.)
One key ingredient is lacking ,though, and it is a proper venue. It?s a hot match on paper but, as the late, great boxing visionary Big Al Braverman used to say, ? did you ever see two piece of paper climb up in the ring and fight??
Guzman promoter Sycuan extended an offer to host the show in an outdoor ring set up in a parking area adjacent to its casino in El Cajon, near San Diego. But lead promoter Don King politely rejected the offer, saying he can get more money elsewhere. Sycuan could set up about 4,000 seats in the al fresco setup.
New York is out with Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones taking the Madison Square Garden ring on Sept. 20. Las Vegas is out with the Juan Manuel Marquez-Joel Casamayor promoted by Golden Boy.
King was unavailable for comment Wednesday. But he may be looking to Atlantic City where the site fee is not likely to be much greater than what Sycuan offered.
He may seem to between a rock and a hard place but, usually, that?s when King delivers big.
It?s no secret that Campbell and co-promoter Terry Trekas favor Jacksonville or any other Florida site. Problem is King can?t generate any meaningful site fee in the Sunshine State.
King continues to have his lightly-staffed HQs in Deerfield Beach,. Fl.
