Joan Guzman: "Nate Campbell's best will not be good enough!"

By Socrates Palmer Jr

27/08/2008

Joan Guzman: "Nate Campbell's best will not be good enough!"

As September 13th vastly approaches barbs between Nate “The Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell and Joan Guzman grow in abundance. Campbell who holds the current WBO and IBF lightweight championships in recent interviews has said that Guzman has fought no one. In fact the boisterous and colorful Campbell said that he likes to give undefeated fighters a taste of their first defeat.  Campbell’s comments have not fallen on deaf ears and the pride of the Dominican Republic feels that Campbell is simply just trying to convince himself that he will be able to hold on to his two belts. There maybe some sort of irony that the champion’s last name is Campbell, because hitting Guzman could be as difficult as trying to eat soup with a fork.  With a mere two and half weeks away from this anticipated title bout the former two time world champion shared some of his time with Boxingtalk.

“I am coming to win and I expect to win, I’m working hard and I know that all my sacrifices will not go in vein, when you work hard, God rewards you,” Guzman.

Guzman is on the threshold of making history as he is the only pugilist from the Dominican Republic to win multiple championships and is eager to add a third crown in as many weight classes. This will put him amongst the elite amongst Latino prizefighters. Guzman is aware that the 36 year old Campbell will not make his goal an easy task.

“Campbell is good and I expect the best of Nate Campbell come September 13th, however it will not matter. His best will not be good enough; he’s not good enough to beat me. He is an inconsistent fighter, the” good” Nate Campbell or the “bad” Nate Campbell shows up it won’t matter, either way he’s losing,” Guzman.

“It will the biggest challenge for me, because I’m going for my third world championship but it’s the hardest fight of my career. He’s making a lot of noise and that’s good he’s got a lot of mistakes and on fight night you will see them first hand against me. He sounds very over confident and he’s underestimating me and that is his biggest mistake,” Guzman.

In March Campbell added the WBO title to his collection via a split decision over the previously unbeaten Juan Diaz. Campbell gave the University of Houston scholar a valuable lesson in professional prizefighting; that all is fair in love and war. Campbell took Diaz down a dark alley and the younger foe had no form of GPS to find his way out. Campbell used some debatable tactics to break not only Diaz undefeated streak but to shatter Diaz’s will. Guzman says that he’s aware of Campbell’s history of fighting dirty.

“I saw the Diaz fight and no disrespect to Juan, but I will not accommodate Campbell the way he (Diaz) did. I’m not worried about Campbell fighting dirty, if he wants to go there then I will go there too. He wants to get dirty then so will I. Look I fight to win. Let me ask you something Socrates. Where are Campbell’s legs?  Campbell does not have the legs to beat me. He is good but I am better,” Guzman.

Floyd Mayweather Sr. will be in the challengers’ corner and as what came as no surprise the self proclaimed best trainer in the world shot the first salvo of fight hype, a couple of months ago when he said that; “No damn John David Jackson is going to out train me. I’m the best trainer in the world I don’t give a fuck about no John David Jackson,” Mayweather Sr.

“I have a great team around me with Dylan "Blimp" Parsley and David Beur it’s a complete team, Floyd Sr. is a great trainer and he has his personality and that’s cool, he’s earned the right to talk,” Guzman.

Prior to the start of training camp, Guzman spent time in his native Santo Domingo, to be with his mother.  For two months Guzman was at the side his ailing mother who was diagnosed in late April with a brain tumor. According to Guzman, his 55 year old mother was admitted into a hospital after complaining of severe headaches, she was treated in Albany, New York. Guzman says that her condition is progressing thanks to medication and as of now she has not had to deal with a complicated surgery.

Campbell is right about one thing, I am undefeated and he’s right I don’t know how to lose at anything, I don’t care what it is. On September 13th will be very special, 1st its my daughters birthday and second it will be the fight that puts the Dominican Republic on the map, with having a legit champion and show that we are a legit force in boxing,” Guzman.

M

Send questions and comments to: spjr21@yahoo.com