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They don’t call undefeated World Boxing Organization junior lightweight champion Joan Guzman the “Sycuan Warrior” for nothing.
None other than “The Ring Magazine” once labeled Sycuan Ringside Promotions’ Guzman as the 122-pound division’s best puncher, and his power increases and his skill and talent dazzles with every step up in weight.
Now, the media is lauding Guzman with kudos as a 130-pounder.
The first opportunity at that weight came May 6, 2006 , at Las Vegas when he dominated former International Boxing Federation lightweight champion Javier Jauregui, taking a one-sided, 10-round unanimous decision on a nationally televised card featuring Oscar De La Hoya.
Three months later on Sept. 16, again in Las Vegas on a nationally televised card, Guzman won the WBO junior lightweight championship by decisioning and dethroning Jorge Barrios.
Most recently, on Dec. 18, 2006 , Guzman made his first defense of his WBO 130-pound title a success, taking a 12-round unanimous decision over Antonio Davis in Santo Domingo, D.R.
The win gives Guzman a record of 27-0 with 17 knockouts.
Guzman voluntarily relinquished his WBO 122-pound championship during the summer of 2005 in order to move to the 126-pound featherweight division, a weight at which he was more comfortable.
He displayed that comfort level admirably Aug. 26, 2005 , in White Plains , N.Y. , with a one-sided unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Terdsak Jandaeng to capture the WBO’s No. 1-ranking in the featherweight division and earn a shot at that organization’s 126-pound championship.
But Guzman’s WBO featherweight title shot dissolved as the bout was postponed three times. By then Guzman had outgrown the featherweight division and into the 130-pound beast he is today.
“Honestly, I believe I am the total package,” said Guzman, who is promoted by Sycuan Ringside Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions. “I am a slick boxer with good movement, good defense, speed and excellent power.”
It is because of all those attributes that Guzman changed his nickname from “Little Tyson to “Sycuan Warrior.”
“It was a fun nickname,” said Guzman of “Little Tyson.” “But I did not like it too much because it focused on my power. I really love boxing.
“I believe I am not only the best puncher, but the best boxer in both the 130- and 135-pound weight classes,” said Guzman.
Manager Jose Nunez explains moving up in weight is a big advantage for the colorful Guzman, saying, “Joan is more explosive and dangerous at 130 pounds and, eventually, will be at 135 as well.”
“I know what I am capable of,” said Guzman, who is not given to braggadocio but, instead, is humbly yet supremely confidant in his considerable skills and abilities. “I’ll beat them all. It’s time for America and the world to discover Joan Guzman.”
And once they discover Guzman, they’ll be enthralled by his rare combination of aggression; relentlessness; and raw, unmitigated power. Add to that his quickness and ring savvy, and Guzman more than qualifies as a unique talent.
He’s no secret in his native Dominican Republic, however. The 31-year-old, who now lives in New York City , equals Boston Red Sox Manny Ramirez, St. Louis Cardinal Albert Pujols, New York Met Pedro Martinez, Chicago Cub Alfonso Soriano and Texas Ranger Sammy Sosa for popularity among Dominican Republic athletes. During the most recent Pan American Games, Guzman joined Martinez, Sosa and Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal to carry the traditional flame into the stadium.
Guzman began boxing at age eight. He turned to boxing because it was an extension of what he did on the street everyday as a youth--fight. “I was a rough kid,” said Guzman. “I learned to fight because it was part of growing up. My family was poor. Our house had so many holes in the roof that when it rained I would get more wet staying inside than if I went outside.”
After an amazing amateur career in which he won 310 fights, including a gold medal at the Pan American Games, against but 10 losses, he turned pro during 1997.
On Aug. 17, 2002 in Cardiff, Wales, Guzman won the vacant WBO junior featherweight championship, stopping Fabio Oliva in the third round.
Guzman successfully defended his WBO 122-pound championship on cards co-promoted by Sycuan Ringside Promotions. First Feb. 26, 2004, in San Diego when he stopped Agapito Sanchez in the seventh round and then April 22, 2005, in Hidalgo, Texas, when he took a unanimous decision over Fernando Beltran Jr.
An outing Nov. 6, 2004 , gave credence to the fact Guzman would move up and dominate the 126-, 130- and 135-pound weight divisions as well. In that 10-round, non-title bout in Glendale, Ariz., Guzman weighed 129 pounds and breezed to a one-sided unanimous decision over Joe Morales.
But Guzman struggled to make weight in his final fight as a 122-pounder, that against Beltran, and knew the time was right to move up to the featherweight and, eventually, the junior lightweight, divisions. |
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