18.12.06 – Interview by Baltazar Montefusco, BoxingConfidential.com, photos © Marty Rosengarten, Ringsidephotos.com: SANTO DOMINGO — I had the distinct pleasure of being able to sit down and chat with undefeated WBO super lightweight champion Joan Guzman in his suite at the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel & Casino after the weigh-in for his title defense here Monday night against No. 5 contender Antonio “T-Rex” Davis. Guzman, who takes a 26-0 record into the ring against the 22-2 challenger from Atlanta, promised to be explosive and to put on great show for his countrymen and the boxing world..
“I promise to make this a very sweet Christmas,” Guzman said. “I am on point after much hard work at my Las Vegas training camp. My performance will be explosive and impressive. I think everyone at the ringside, including my co-promoter Oscar de la Hoya, will see something they like.”
Guzman said he is not discounting Davis in any way.
“This guy is hungry and I can relate to that but I will not let him be any roadblock to my big plans for 2007,” Guzman said,. “He calls himself T-Rex, like the dinosaur which is extinct, and I will make his world title dreams extinct. He will be in a league in which he does not belong.”
So who is on the wish list of manager Jose Nunez and Guzman in the coming year?
The humble champion, who never forgets to mention his birthplace in the Guachupita barrio of this capital city, kept mentioning two possible foes for whom he has great respect, Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquiao. Barrera is also promoted by Oscar’s Golden Boy Promotions and Sycuan Ringside Promotions while the Pacman is in the middle of a promotional tug-of-war between GBP and Bob Arum’s Top Rank.
“I have to move on to fight Barrera and to fight Pacquiao,” Guzman said. “I must do this because this is part of my plan to put my country on the world boxing map. I will want only the big fights from now on.
“Pacquiao is a great fighter, a great champion, yes,” Guzman said. “But he makes a lot of mistakes. I recognize the great qualities of both Pacquiao and of Marco Antonio. Sure, I respect them both and I believe they both must respect me. I believe I am better than both of them but the only way to be sure if for us to contest it in the ring.
“But now I must handle my immediate business. That business is Antonio Davis.”
(Thanks to Mr. Nunez for arranging this special interview.)
