LOS ANGELES–Veteran Dominican boxing writer and historian Carlos Nina Gomez reported in ESTO yesterday that a handshake agreement for a bout later this year has been reached between the camps of Joan Guzman and Marco Antonio Barrera. His story originally appeared in Hoy in Santo Domingo but it was picked up ESTO, the giant Mexican newspaper.
“They are already making arrangements for the fights site. It would take place in mid-2007 at one of Las Vegas’s luxury hotel and resorts,” said Gomez’s anonymous informant.
The piece went on to say that Guzman would make two million dollars for the proposed bout.
Following reading this, I put in a call to an individual very close to Marco Antonio’s business affairs, lets call him Se?or X.
“This report is completely incorrect. Marco is focused on getting a rematch with Manny Pacquiao, there have been no talks or negotiations for Joan Guzman,” stated Se?or X.
“Joan is a great fighter and would be an excellent opponent, but Barrera is focused on Manny Pacquiao. He wants to avenge his lost to the Filipino and represent Mexican boxing!”
Guzman, meanwhile, defends his WBO junior lightweight title against American Antonio Davis in Santo Domingo on December 18.
Manny Pacquiao is the number one contender to Barrera’s WBC super featherweight championship. Unfortunately, with the personal and legal battles between Oscar De La Hoya and Bob Arum (Pacquiao’s promoter, we think) one has to wonder if the Barrera rematch against Manny will ever materialize.
Of course, there is always the possibility of a purse bid. If De La Hoya and Arum cannot agree to a match like gentlemen, the WBC. could force a purse bid.
Imagine if Arum won the bid and then shut out De La Hoya from the bout’s promotions as much as possible?
But then, again, the exact opposite could happen, leaving De La Hoya on top to disrespect Mr. Arum.
Or even better, what if shrewd old Don King rallied his financial backers and took the purse bid from both men to steal the Barrera v. Pacquiao megafight from under the paws or Arum and De La Hoya.
One thing is for sure, Barrera wants this fight and De La Hoya cannot walk away from it and ask one of his promotion’s crown jewels to fight Joan Guzman.
Maybe Oscar’s spin factory put in a call to ESTO, requesting a column fly all over the Latin American boxing world hinting about a bout between Guzman and Barrera.
No go, Barrera still wants the Pacquiao fight.
Or maybe Jose Nunez (Guzman’s manager) is starting to master the crafy art of boxing polit-tricks and put in the anonymous call to ESTO himself!
Whichever scenario plays and whatever the truth maybe about the report carried by Hoy and then ESTO’, you got to love boxing’s backroom politics. At times, it is more interesting and exciting than the action in the ring.
