GUZMAN HAS TO WAIT FOR PACQUIAO FIGHT
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 19 Nov 2007
After a very convincing victory over Humberto Soto, Joan Guzman (28-0, 17KOs) sealed his stature as an undefeated world superfeatherweight champion out to make it in the money race by aiming our very own icon Manny Pacquiao. Soto, who is now 43-6-2 with 27KOs, will just fade in oblivion as a possible Pacman contender with the sorry loss at the hands of the quicker and more precise punching power of Guzman.
There were some concise but enraged exchanges of blows. Soto tried to push for some action as Guzman answered with rapid punches. The score cards are as follows: Lynne Carter and Jean Williams both favored Guzman at 117-111, while Don Trella saw it 118-110 for a unanimous decision.
Guzman was apparently in control of the tempo of the fight, especially in the early rounds. The crowd cheered for the champion from the Dominican Republic who just coasted along in the remaining three rounds of the bout.
"I know I did enough to win," Soto lamented. "You win fights by throwing punches and not by running. I think the judges were influenced by all the shouting for him."
?I was too fast for him,? Guzman retaliated. ?He never hurt me. Soto had good combinations, but he just couldn?t land enough of them.? Guzman said.
The champion also had something to appreciate for his Mexican foe ?He is tough though. He wouldn?t go down.? Then, as expected by the boxing world, the undefeated Dominican trumpeted, ?I want Pacquiao next.?
But it seems Guzman has to wait longer as the WBC and almost all boxing persona are gearing up for a Pacman rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez. The popular sentiment is to settle the unfinished business between the two protagonists and fortify Pacquiao?s image as the ?Mexican killer.?
Meanwhile if Pacman won?t go up to the lightweight division, assuming he wins over Marquez, a fight with Guzman could be arranged. The Dominican champ, for the meantime, could face the WBO interim junior lightweight champion Alex Arthur (24-1, 18 KOs) of Great Britain, also the British, Commonwealth, and European superfeatherweight champion.
Guzman has to establish further a reputation that could perk up pay-per-view sales. The reality is that the fighter has to have a first-rate name in the boxing world which does not go for undefeated records or world titles alone. The celebrated pugilist has to excite the millions of fans around the planet which Pacquiao has done in combating the great names in boxing. Here in the Philippines, the latest Guzman fight has not even drawn the interest of the local television networks, unlike the Marquez-Juarez fight.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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