It happened to the great Roberto Duran and to many other fighters. In between fights, they let their bodies blow up with massive amounts of excess poundage.
And, like Duran, when they are younger, slimming down was not a problem. Only advancing years made it extremely difficult and, thus, a Duran would have to move from lightweight to welterweight and then go up to junior middleweight and middleweight.
That?s exactly what happened to Joan Guzman according to his nutrition expert, David Buer.
Buer, under fire by many as Guzman checked in 3.5 pounds overweight Friday in Biloxi and blew his chance to fight Nate Campbell for the champion?s WBO, WBA and IBF lightweight straps, told Boxingconfidential that the boxer?s body finally rejected the pound shedding process.
?I understand the blame,? Buer said. ?I understand the frustration level. There is a lot of frustration here.?
The 29-year-old Buer also confirmed that Guzman was treated in a Mississippi hospital late Friday for ?massive dehydration.? Buer said blood work was done to determine whether Guzman had any other condition besides 3.5 pounds which would not come off.
Should Guzman, 32, enter the ring on Showtime Saturday night for a non-title bout against Campbell?
?Questions must be asked,? Buer said. ?Is it worth it to have one fight and possibly sacrifice the next five or six fights Guzman has left in his career??
Although Buer said Guzman got into ?phenomenal shape? and was ?faster, stronger and in the best condition ever? after a grueling six-week training camp in Las Vegas, the strength and diet guru said those last few pounds would not come off.
?Guzman busted his ass in camp,? Buer said. ?We all felt confident that he would beat Campbell. The problem was that Guzman reported to camp weighing more than 170 pounds.
?Now taking off one-third of your body weight is difficult. It can be done and Guzman did it several times. But this time, his body said no to that. This time it would not come off.?
Buer rejected complaints by head trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr.
?He is better known for his poetry than for being a trainer,? Buer said. ?His idea of getting weight off would be for Guzman to spit into a cup for six days. He?s Old School and there was some friction. But Floyd thinks fighters should still be running while they wear combat boots.?
What?s the ultimate upshot of this whole mess?
Buer thinks Guzman?s body has taught the boxer a harsh but valuable lesson.
?From what I understand,? Buer said, ?Guzman will now change his lifestyle and his training habits when he is in between fights. He has to.?
Aggravating the situation with Showtime is that this is the second time Guzman failed to make the contracted weight for a title bout on the premium cable network.
Say hello to junior welterweight or welterweight Joan Guzman, because the lightweight who just moved up from 130 pounds, is history.
