Sharkie’s Machine
By Frank Gonzalez Jr.
November 18, 2007
“Joan Guzman Too Slick for Humberto Soto”
This Jr. Lightweight contest had the potential to be a great
fight but Humberto Soto (43-6-2, 27 KO’s) couldn’t land enough body shots to
slow down WBO Jr. Lightweight Champion, Joan Guzman (28-0, 17 KO’s), who used
his speedy hands and incredible agility to practically waltz to victory.
Soto is a good fighter that brings respectable power and toughness to the ring.
Guzman is a slick, defensive fighter who can subdue opponents with his polished
boxing skills and his ability to get into their heads. He was successful in all
areas of his expertise Saturday night in Atlantic City, where he brought Soto’s
five year winning streak to an end.
Soto did well early in the fight, pressuring Guzman and forcing him into the
ropes, where he was able to land a few stinging shots and keep Guzman in range.
That didn’t last long though as Guzman used his feet to dance around Soto and
pop him with shots along the way. Sometimes, Guzman had such control of the ring
that Soto was rendered ineffective and reduced to chasing the elusive Guzman to
no avail.
This fight turned out to be a mismatch that saw Guzman, as the Matador, and
Soto, as the Bull—without horns. Soto is a good fighter and he is going to
rebound after this loss. He can learn a lot watching the tape and seeing how he
could’ve done better had he employed the feint here and there to throw Guzman
off his rhythm and maybe got a lucky shot in. But for now, it is Guzman’s time
to shine.
With new trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. slowly mumbling instructions in Guzman’s
corner, he has a trainer who might be the perfect fit for the type of boxer he
is. Guzman has the skills, the personnel and the charisma to stand apart from
the pack if he can get his people to sign him to fight the top names in his
division.
Now that Soto is out of the way, 31 years old Joan Guzman would do well to get
his handlers to make the most of the fact that Guzman is in his prime.
Eventually, Father Time will take away some of his main ingredients of speed and
agility.
There are some tough customers in his neighborhood of 130-135 pounds. Some of
the best fighters in boxing reside there, legendary guys like Juan Manuel
Marquez (48-3-1, 35 KO’s) and Manny Pacquiao (45-3-2, 35 KO’s), who would make
for great paydays as well as memorable fights.
There are some up and comers like, WBA Champ Edwin Valero (22-0, 22 KO’s), a
Venezuelan fighting out of Japan and IBF Champ Mzonke Fana (27-3, 10 KO’s) and
Interim WBO “Champ” Alex Arthur (25-1, 19 KO’s) out of Scotland.
There are so many Champions it makes me dizzy. That there are so many means
there are really none, because the word Champion means, ‘The Best of the Best’
and you can only have one in each division. What we have now is a bunch of top
contenders with pieces of the Title.
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Comments can be emailed to Frank Gonzalez Jr.
