Q&A: Joan Guzman! February 21, 2006 By Lee Bates

Photo: Ed Mulholland

The next few weeks will produce a number of big fights, such as Mosley-Vargas, Calzaghe-Lacy, and Barrera-Chavez. Another fight that should be added to that list is Saturday's WBO featherweight clash between champion Scott Harrison (25-2-2, 14 KOs) and unbeaten #1 contender Joan "Lil Tyson" Guzman (24-0, 17 KOs). Although the bout will be held in Harrison's home away from home, the Braehead Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, Guzman (a former world champion at 122 pounds) is certain he'll be once becoming a world champion. "If Harrison wants to slug it out we can do that," Guzman told Fightnews. "If he wants to try and box with me we can do that, too."

Joan let's begin by reviewing the past few years of your career. At junior featherweight (122 lbs) where you were a world champion, you were really known for your power in producing many knockouts and living up to the name "Lil Tyson." In your last three fights, two at featherweight, you have been forced to twice go the distance (twelve rounds). What do you think is causing the recent reduction of knockouts?

Honestly, as I've moved up in weight the competition is getting tougher and I'm fighting bigger and stronger fighters. I'm not a one dimensional fighter though and I can box, as well. I've also showed my excellent conditioning as I've been able go twelve rounds in my last two fights.

Who gave you the name "Lil Tyson" and why?

I don't know who exactly gave me the name. I remember being called it after my fight in 2001 with Edel Ruiz in Tacoma, WA. I personally think I'm a lot more handsome than Mike Tyson is (laughing). A victory over Harrison will give me my own identity and hopefully I'll be known as just Joan Guzman.

You fought and defeated the late former world junior featherweight champion Agapito Sanchez in 2004. What was the relationship between you both?

I'll be honest, before we fought it really wasn't the greatest relationship, but after the fight we both respected each other as fellow countrymen should and it was truly a tragedy that he passed away.

Let's talk about your fight with Harrison. Are you feeling pressured that you need to knock him out fighting him in his hometown? Does the fact that he's never been knocked out add any pressure to you? (Harrison officially was TKO'd in his fourth fight but fight was stopped on cuts caused by a headbutt. The boxing rules in England are that a fighter loses by TKO if he cannot continue, even if the cut was caused by a headbutt.)

Manuel "Mantecas" Medina went over to Scotland and in 2004 and was able to win a decision over Harrison and win the world title, so it's not impossible to win a decision there. Two of the judges had Medina winning by fairly wide margins as well. So if the knockout isn't there but I win decisively, I feel I can win a decision.

Though his record does not show a lot of knockouts, in his 25 victories Harrison is a very physically strong and imposing featherweight who throws a a lot of punches. Do you feel you have to box instead of going toe to toe with Harrison?

Harrison throws a lot of punches but let's be honest, he's slow. However, Harrison comes at me is how we will fight. If he wants to slug it out we can do that. If he wants to try and box with me we can do that, too.

With your fellow stablemates with Sycuan Ringside Promotions Israel "Magnifico" Vasquez upsetting Oscar Larios to unify the super bantamweight titles and then Carlos "Tata" Baldomir pulling of the huge of upset of then undisputed welterweight champion Zab Judah, are you feeling pressure to pull off the upset as well?

I would not so much say it's pressure but more as I want to keep the winning trend of upsets that we have going here with Sycuan. We are building a nice stable of champions here and within the next two years I feel Sycuan will be the top promoters in the business.

The Dominican Republic has a lot of star athletes in other sports. Are you looking to become the major star in boxing?

There are a lot of talented boxers in the Dominican Republic that a lot of people don't know about. Me going over to Scotland and bringing that world title back with me will not only rise my stock but will open up more doors for my countrymen as well.

Without a doubt this is your biggest fight to date as a professional and winning would be your biggest achievement to date correct?

It will be a big achievement for sure, but the birth of my son is scheduled for March 23rd and that will be my first planned celebration and I cannot think of a better gift for him that winning a world title.