Some world title bouts just confuse me. Last weeks bout between Juan Carlos Reveco and Ulises Lara was one such fight and another one is this as the ever expanding Joan Guzman (33-1-1, 20) faces the very under-rated Vicente Mosquera (32-2-1, 17) in a WBA "interim" Light Welterweight title bout.
What makes this bout so confusing, and also shows up what is a big problem with professional boxing, is that the WBA "interim" Light Welterweight title is on the line. The full version of the title is held by Khabib Allakhverdiev, who defeated Guzman last November and will be defending the title in about 2 weeks time. So why the WBA feels the need to slash their creditability so hard here is a mystery.
Anyway lets forget politics and just look at the fight, because it really could be a very interesting one.
Aged 37 this really is Guzman's last chance. Despite all the talent he had (and he was highly talented) he has really "under-achieved", as stupid as that sounds for a fighter who has claimed world titles at Super Bantamweight and Super Featherweight.
Had he been fully committed to the sport there is no doubt in my mind Guzman could have claimed world titles at Featherweight, Lightweight and picked up a paper strap at Light Welterweight. Had he done that he'd have been a 5-weight "world champion" and cemented a memorable legacy as the greatest Dominican fighter of all time.
Instead however Guzman has piled on the pounds and thrown away his legacy. He failed to really make a mark on the Featherweight division (despite beating Terdsak Kokietgym in a world title eliminator), he ate himself out of the Lightweight division (coming in a disgraceful 9lbs over the limit for his rematch with Ali Funeka) and by the time he moved up to Light Welterweight he was alread in his mid 30's (and he later missed weight again and tested positive for a banned substance).
Having scored victories over Agapito Sanchez, Fernando Beltran, Terdsak Kokietgym, Jorge Rodrigo Barrios (albeit controversially), Humberto Soto and Ali Funeka (also controversially, due to weight issues) you cannot argue that Guzman has a solid record. But you can say that his career has been highly frustrating and immensely disappointing.
At his best Guzman was a talented boxer. He possessed lighting quick hands, incredible ring intelligence, hurtful power and god blessed talent. Sadly those traits went to his head and he could often become complacent both in and out of the ring. It's this complacency which has really over-shadowed his career.
Up against Guzman is the 33 year old Panamanian Vicente Mosquera who himself has had a very credible career though often remained under the radar of the average boxing fan (bar 2 notable bouts).
Mosquera, like Guzman, made his name in the lower weight divisions. The first title he ever competed for was the Panamanian Super Bantamweight title, a bout he twice fought for but never actually held. Instead Mosquera skip Featherweight (coincidentally this was similar to Guzman) and really make his name at Super Featherweight.
As a Super Featherweight Mosquera would claim 2 regional titles before later claiming the WBA world title thanks to a thrilling victory over Thai hard man Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai (or, as he was known at the time Yodsanan 3K Battery). The bout over Yodsanan should have put Mosquera on the boxing map though unfortunately it didn't and Mosquera wouldn't defend his title for 13 months.
Mosquera's title reign came to an end after just 1 defense as he was stopped by the hard hitting Edwin Valero just months later. Despite losing to Valero, Mosquera had actually put up a very credible effort, dropping Valero in the 3rd round before being stopped in the 10th by the Venezuelan.
Following the loss to Valero, Mosquera actually took over 4 years away from the ring though has since run up 8 straight victories between Light Middleweight and Light Welterweight, where he looks to be settling. This bout with Guzman however will be a major step up from the opponents he has been fighting so far.
This bout isn't so much about who is the better fighter but who has the most left in the tank. Prime for prime I'd have gone with Guzman no questions asked, though at 37 and coming in on the back of the Allakhverdiev loss, he may well be done. The fact that bout was stopped due to a knee injury could well take away his mobility further and leave a really good chance for Mosquera. On the reverse Mosquera hasn't looked great since his comeback.
One thing is for sure and that's that neither man should ever dream of calling himself a genuine Light Welterweight champion. The likes of Lucas Matthysse and Danny Garcia would really finish off either mans career.
Prediction-Guzman SD12 (VERY controversially)
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