Joan ?The Sycuan Warrior? Guzman, of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, successfully defended his WBO Junior Lightweight title for the second time, scoring a unanimous 12-round decision over WBC #2, WBO #3, and WBA #4-ranked contender Humberto ?Zorrito? Soto, of Los Mochis, Mexico, last night at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
In the co-feature, Abner Mares, of Guadalajara, Mexico, defended his NABO bantamweight title for the first time with a 12-round unanimous decision over tough Damian Marchiano of San Nicholas, Argentina.
The card was promoted by Sycuan Ringside Promotions, Golden Boy, and Top Rank, and was televised on HBO Boxing After Dark.
Guzman (28-0, 17 KOs) came out strong, showing no signs of an 11-month layoff due to a hand injury. He came right at Soto (43-6-2, 27 KOs), firing from the hip with ?knockout? written on every punch. Soto, being the taller fighter, moved forward behind a stiff jab. They traded freely in a close opening round.
Soto pressed forward in round two, as he would the entire fight. Both men landed big left hooks, before Guzman unloaded his entire arsenal looking to end matters early. Soto took Guzman?s best shots and came back to do some nice body work of his own.
Guzman countered nicely in round three, while slipping Soto?s shots. Guzman was warned for a head butt early in the round, but buckled Soto with a counter right hand shortly thereafter. Soto came back to stun Guzman with a right, before catching a low blow from Guzman. Referee Harvey Dock warned Guzman, and gave Soto a short reprieve, while Guzman shook off the effects of Soto?s right. Soto finished the round with a flurry along the ropes.
After three close rounds, Guzman got even sharper in rounds four through six. With the crowd behind him chanting ?Guzman, Guzman?, Joan swept the next three rounds. In the fifth, Guzman tested Soto?s chin with a series of short counter rights, along with several left hook bombs thrown from the floor. Soto?s chin passed the test, but he didn?t win any of these rounds, although a swelling developed under Guzman?s left eye in the fifth round.
Guzman and Soto traded bombs in the center of the ring for most of round seven, with Soto having the slight edge in the round. Round eight was another close round, but Guzman won round nine big, punctuating it with a hard overhand right-left hook combination at the bell.
Things changed in round ten. Listening to trainer Floyd Mayweather?s advice, Guzman came out moving more, protecting what proved to be a big lead. Soto pressed the attack, looking to engage a suddenly reluctant Guzman.
Guzman continued to showboat in round eleven, taunting Soto with his hands at his waist. Soto would rough Guzman up whenever he could pin him in a corner or along the ropes. Guzman continued to run in round twelve, and the crowd, which was cheering him earlier, turned on him and booed.
Soto appeared to sweep the final three rounds, but two judges gave all three rounds to Guzman, and one judge gave Guzman two of the final three rounds. The final scores were 117-111 (twice) and 118-110 for Guzman. FightNews.com saw a closer fight, scoring for Guzman by a 115-113 margin.
?I figured that it would be a rough fight,? said Guzman after the bout. ?I knew Soto could take a shot. I went 333 days without fighting. If I would have been in action more, would have fought even better.?
Regard his taking the final three rounds off, Guzman explained, ?I listened to my corner and took a few rounds off and boxed a little more.?
Guzman expressed interest in facing Manny Pacquiao, but promoter Bob Arum expressed his doubt. ?He [Guzman] looked brilliant in the first six rounds, but the crowd turned against him in the last four rounds. He took himself out of the Pacquiao sweepstakes, because it is not just winning the fight that makes you appealing,? he said.
