ALEX Arthur's scheduled challenge for the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) super-featherweight title on 3 May was postponed last night after champion Joan Guzman was unable to obtain a visa to enter the United Kingdom.
Following a day of conflicting reports, including one on host broadcaster Setanta's own website claiming that Arthur had pulled out of the fight because of injury, promoter allegedly insisted the contest was being called off because of Guzman's travel difficulties.
The 32-year-old champion from the Dominican Republic, who is based in the United States, was due to fly to London on Wednesday this week in advance of his title defence against Arthur at the Meadowbank Sports Centre a week tomorrow.
Warren said last night: "We are hopeful of announcing a new date for the fight very shortly, as soon as we hear from Guzman's promoters, Sycuan Boxing, that he has received his visa.
"It is a big disappointment, but Alex is a thorough professional and will have to take this in his stride."
A report claiming that Arthur had immediately been declared champion by the WBO because of Guzman's failure to travel was angrily dismissed by Warren, and the Edinburgh boxer is now hoping to put the extra preparation time for the fight to the best possible use.
"After all the training I had put in, including going to America for two weeks, I was initially angry when I was told that he couldn't get here on time," said Arthur.
"But once I calmed down and looked at the situation again I realised that I can use this to my advantage because I now have some valuable extra time to prepare.
"Guzman is a great fighter and I know I have the beating of him, but if I can be ten per cent faster and stronger because of the delay then it will work in my favour."
"Guzman is a great fighter and I know I have the beating of him, but if I can be ten per cent faster and stronger because of the delay then it will work in my favour."
Shouldn't Arthur have been at his physical peak for the original date?
The suggestion that he could somehow gain a 10% increase in strength and speed over the course of a few weeks/month long delay seems ridiculous to me.
Putting a positive spin on this is a hard job - Arthur gets beaten to a pulp if Guzman can secure his visa. Glad to see they arent just bringing in some low grade substitute.
Old bones Ian wrote:Cor a Guzman fight is delayed or cancelled, thats a surprise.
How many times has he done this?
His weight-making difficulties are well-known and I wouldn't be surprised if he was struggling to get to 130. I didn't expect him to sign for this fight, as I thought he'd be going to lightweight after Soto. He came into the ring at 146 for that and is thought to walk around as high as 170.
Do the WBO do check weigh-ins? I'd like to know what he weighs now, a week before the weigh-in was due to take place. If it is the weight, I wish he'd just come clean. Then everyone can move on.
chesh wrote:
His weight-making difficulties are well-known and I wouldn't be surprised if he was struggling to get to 130. I didn't expect him to sign for this fight, as I thought he'd be going to lightweight after Soto. He came into the ring at 146 for that and is thought to walk around as high as 170.
Do the WBO do check weigh-ins? I'd like to know what he weighs now, a week before the weigh-in was due to take place. If it is the weight, I wish he'd just come clean. Then everyone can move on.
I have to say (having a fair amount of knowledge of British Visa processes) that I find Guzman's excuse damn near utterly implausible - he must have had previous visas, and any issuing post operates a same day service with the assumption that they try and prioritise those of commercial value to the UK (which means that a phone call from allegedly would have sufficed).
chesh wrote:
His weight-making difficulties are well-known and I wouldn't be surprised if he was struggling to get to 130. I didn't expect him to sign for this fight, as I thought he'd be going to lightweight after Soto. He came into the ring at 146 for that and is thought to walk around as high as 170.
Do the WBO do check weigh-ins? I'd like to know what he weighs now, a week before the weigh-in was due to take place. If it is the weight, I wish he'd just come clean. Then everyone can move on.
I have to say (having a fair amount of knowledge of British Visa processes) that I find Guzman's excuse damn near utterly implausible - he must have had previous visas, and any issuing post operates a same day service with the assumption that they try and prioritise those of commercial value to the UK (which means that a phone call from allegedly would have sufficed).
Spot on. It's the same with the people I work with. One went to the office in London and got it sorted same day.
I'm not sure Guzman walks around at 170. When I saw him in Vegas last May, outside of training, he looked about 150. For his height, 170 would make him look like a mini James Toney.
Chambers2 wrote:Cutoms would have give him a free left over here if he was Polish
If your polish you don't need a visa to enter the UK, in fact the UK is still one of the Countries that you need to show a passport to get in.
If i wanted i can now travel from Estonia to Portugal and not show my passport at any borders.
Any EEA national is free to travel to any other country in the EEA , most you wouldn't show your passport at the border, in fact most don't even have a border control.
From that Home Office information, I can't understand why he wouldn't be granted a work permit. Or rather, why he actually needs one
If you want to come to the United Kingdom without a work permit you will need:
a genuine invitation from the United Kingdom sports event organiser; or
evidence that you can live in the United Kingdom without help from public funds or working; or
evidence that you can pay for your journey out of the United Kingdom.
Can't see who he'd fail to meet any of the above criteria. The fact that these permit problems have only been revealed a week before the fight is due smacks of total shoddy incompetency, either on the part of the Guzman camp, or the HO if they took eons to process the application.
banjo wrote:Didn't Guzman pull out of a fight with Harrison a couple of years ago?
Think that was the other way around - didn't Harrison have to go to the dentist or something.
No, the fight was rescheduled because Harrison had to see a dentist but the fight never happened, I think it may have been down to weight making problems but i'm not sure.
I am sure however that it was Guzman who pulled out, because I think St Clair was brought in as a replacement but that fight never happened either.
guzman has fought here before on the calzaghe undercard at cardiff castle, about 2002 i think, there were no visa worries then. this is very lame, these things should be cleared in advance, if indeed there is an obstacle. arthur is very very lucky, he was/is a definate to get laid out against guzman.
well this is nonsense. guzman cant make the weight without killing himself, we all know that now.
the thing is will alex arthur need a viza over his face to prevent guzman making a horrible mess of it? or does guzmans weight problems give AA a little sneaking chance?
Press Release] Contrary to information circulated on the internet, undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) Junior Lightweight Champion Joan Guzman,28-0-(17), will travel to Scotland to defend his title against interim titleholder Alex Arthur.
Inaccurate reports across the internet have stated that Guzman has pulled out of his title fight against Arthur,26-1-(19), which is currently scheduled for Saturday, May 3 in Edinburgh, Scotland. The highly anticipated fight, however, will likely be rescheduled.
“Guzman is not giving up his belt,” said Jose Nunez, Guzman’s long time manager. “He’s worked extremely hard and gone through tremendous sacrifices to become a world champion. He’s simply not going to give up his belt. Guzman will go to Scotland and he will successfully defend his title. The date will most likely be pushed back a bit.”
Guzman, who has fought in the U.K. once before, has had some trouble securing a visa that will allow him to travel to Scotland. According to Nunez, the issue is being resolved.
“Rest assured that team Guzman will have all the appropriate paperwork for this fight,” Nunez said. “We know what has to be done and we understand the time frame that is needed to accomplish this.”
“Right now we’re taking a wait-and-see approach,” said Sean Gibbons, matchmaker for Sycuan Ringside Promotions, the company that promotes Guzman. “We are waiting for allegedly of Sports Network to give us the new, rescheduled date.”
allegedly won the rights to this championship fight in a WBO purse bid.
April 24, 2008
"We're writing to let you know that WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING at Meadowbank Sport Edinburgh on 03/05/2008 has been cancelled, and won't be rescheduled."
There you have it, straight from the reliable source that is SeeTickets.com
harrygreb wrote:well this is nonsense. guzman cant make the weight without killing himself, we all know that now.
the thing is will alex arthur need a viza over his face to prevent guzman making a horrible mess of it? or does guzmans weight problems give AA a little sneaking chance?
He really shouldn't be having troubles at Super Feather. The only reason he is having problems is cause he isn't motivate - touch of the J.L Castillo's.
