Sharkie’s Machine: Guzman Runs Circles Around Soto to Victory

Sharkie’s Machine: Guzman Runs Circles Around Soto to Victory

By Frank Gonzalez Jr., Exclusive to Doghouse Boxing (Nov 18, 2007)
Photo © Sumio Yamada/Sycuan Ringside Promotions

WBO Jr. Lightweight Champion, Joan Guzman (28-0, 17 KO’s) has a certain mastery of the art of hitting without being hit and is by definition, a classic boxer. If you enjoy watching a fighter dissect his opponent and win on points, Guzman is your kind of fighter.

Humberto Soto (43-6-2 Draws, 27 KO’s) hasn’t lost a fight since 2002. He was the first guy to hand promising contender, Rocky Juarez a loss back in August of 2005. He is a decent boxer and a better brawler. He looked very confident in the early rounds when he was able to press Guzman towards the ropes and let loose the leather. It was an effective strategy in the first few rounds.

The fight opened at a fast pace, with Guzman demonstrating his quick hand speed and scoring with jabs. Soto pressed Guzman to the corner and worked his offense. Soto was setting the tone with his aggression and obvious plan to push Guzman towards the ropes.

Round two saw Guzman land some good clean shots with both hands. They brawled and Guzman proved to be slick as well as quick. Soto was the aggressor and again was able to do some effective work near the ropes. It was a good round for Soto.

The third round started with a head butt that shook Soto worse than Guzman. Soto proceeded to press the action and trade with Guzman. Guzman used his superior speed and was able to make Soto miss more than score but Soto’s pressure was winning him the round.

Guzman was always on the move, always throwing a punch, landing a jab, turning on a dime and throwing a flurry in spots. He was always running—but not always running away. Soto was working harder to score. Guzman was landing at a higher percentage but never landed anything that hurt Soto so much as he frustrated him into losing the confidence he brought into the ring a few rounds earlier.

Depending on what you like in a fight, this was either very exciting or very boring—after Guzman established the tempo and was in control. Soto was missing and chasing a man he could rarely catch. It was kind of an annoying fight to watch. I kept thinking that if only Soto might’ve feinted a little more, he might throw Guzman’s off his rhythm but that thought never occurred to Soto, who kept telegraphing his punches and getting beat to the punch.

There were a few moments where they traded at center ring and it looked like anything could happen. Both guys showed good chins and neither guy was ever in any serious trouble but Soto was in big trouble as soon as he lost the battle of ring generalship along with his confidence, which happened before the fight approached the midway point.

Early on, the fight was an interesting clash of styles. Boxers like Guzman, who possess great agility, speed and polish, do well in demonstrating the fine art of boxing, as they disarm their opponents and render them ineffective with superior athleticism and ring smarts. At times, good “fighters” find a way to land that big punch that stuns the slick boxer and puts him down and changes the dynamic of the contest. That didn’t happen Saturday night in Atlantic City, where Guzman was simply too slick for Soto.

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The under card bout, featured NABO Bantamweight Champion, Abner Mares (15-0, 0 KO’s) vs. Damian Marchiano (14-3-1, 5 KO’s). In that fight, it was the former Olympian, Mares, that was able to land the cleaner shots and out box the very rugged Marchiano all night.

The tactically challenged Marchiano showed a hell of a chin and a big heart. He came to fight and had a few strong moments that suggested the possibility of an upset at any time, even after taking a pounding from Mares. Early in the fight, Marchiano landed a shot that made blood flow from Mares nose for the remainder of the fight and kept the crowd wondering if Marchiano might get lucky before they ran out of rounds. Mares went on to win a lopsided Unanimous Decision but there was more tension and drama in that fight than the Guzman Soto bout.

Congratulations to Joan Guzman, who retained WBO Jr. Lightweight Title.

I’d like to see him fight WBC Champ, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquaio or even Edwin Valero next in an effort to consolidate the Titles. Considering Guzman’s style, I think he matches up well with Marquez. JM Marquez has the whole package in terms of refined boxing skills and overall ability to beat anyone in his class, including Guzman. That would be a great fight. Marquez is an excellent technical boxer who knows how to force flashy counter punchers to their limits.

Pacman is always dangerous but who knows what’s next for him? He might consider accepting the challenge of unified 135-pound Champion Juan Diaz. At this point, Pacquaio can fight whoever he wants.

If unifying the titles is not on the menu for Guzman, there is one guy I’d like to see him fight and that is Zahir Raheem (28-2, 16 KO’s), who is as crafty a boxer as ever I’ve seen. Raheem has only two losses on his record and both were controversial. Raheem vs. Guzman would pit two master boxers against each other and who knows, it could be a great fight. Against a highly skilled opponent like Raheem, Guzman could run but he can’t hide.

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Comments can be emailed to dshark87@hotmail.com.