BoxRec

I am troubled at Alex Arthur meeting Joan Guzman.

On one hand a promoter has got to get his boxers the opportunities to fight the champions and in addition in turn that means putting on a big promotion and ultimately earning others boxers on the undercard some much needed dough - also a boxer strives throughout his career to meet the very best and believes he can beat the best.

Now with all that out of the way - the above mentioned fight severly troubles me - in recent times in my opinion it has to be one of the biggest mismatches in my view that has been made on these shores.

Am I being too hard on Alex Arthur - or am I guilty of over inflating Guzmans abilities as a boxer.

For me Arthur gets badly beaten - Guzman will finish the fight when he wants to - from the 3rd round onwards.

I can see AAA and Lockett getting exposed, by Guzman and Pavlik. I'm surprised there is no news that Warren is trying to wait til Pavlik vacates the belt or trying to get the fight in the UK at the very least.

I hope to see them give good, gritty challenges ala Billy Hardy-Canizales 1 or Gary Jacobs-Pernell Whitaker and put in massive efforts that trouble the champs. But honestly, given who they've been fighting - particularly in Lockett's case - I can't see it happening.

I don't think it's a mismatch.

Arthur is European title level at a minimum, Guzman is a good world champ.

It's not a mismatch.

I wouldn't say one of the biggest mismatches ever, though I do agree it doesn't look terribly good for AA, who I fear may be stubborn and stick around in there too long for his own good.

If I were Frank I would have gone the IBF route. Maybe he tried, and didn't get it.

It's a tough one, because we give out stick to boxers not taking on the best and hiding behind their belt, and then give them stick if they take on the best and lose.

Whatever happens, I hope AA does himself proud, as I'm sure he will. I would guess his pay isn't going to be brilliant, but I'd like to see him keep going. There's fights with Harrison, and up at 135 against Thaxton, Romanov and Khan to go.

IBF looks a lot easier - good call. However it seems Humberto Soto is eyeing up that belt. I heard he might be fighting Mzonke Fana.

Arthur's top European class and is usually a clever fighter and man. He'll know what he's up against, I'm sure. AA's got decent skills, a fair amount of power and is now quite experienced - has been there and done it at various levels.

Joan Guzman is the second most talented fighter on the planet.

That's the gap. Not a huge mismatch, but it would be a crazy shock if Arthur somehow managed to win. Guzman would beat Pacquaio, in my opinion.

I absolutely agree with Arthur's right to be called a European Class boxer - I would even argue he is one of the big group who are on the fringes of world class.

However - I think we all know there is world class and then if you are quite special you might be ranked in the P4P top ten and that is where I believe Guzman belongs and thus that is why he will badly expose Arthur.

It is a terrible delimna for W arren his boxer deserves a shot at a world title - unfrotunately he has come across Guzman.

Spud wrote:I absolutely agree with Arthur's right to be called a European Class boxer - I would even argue he is one of the big group who are on the fringes of world class.

However - I think we all know there is world class and then if you are quite special you might be ranked in the P4P top ten and that is where I believe Guzman belongs and thus that is why he will badly expose Arthur.

It is a terrible delimna for W arren his boxer deserves a shot at a world title - unfrotunately he has come across Guzman.

Agree with all that.

Given how we have knocked W arren for protecting his fighters, bit hypocritical to accuse him of over-matching AAA.

I don't rate Guzman as high as others on here seem to (although I will concede he is the hardest person in the world called "Joan"), so I don't think its a mismatch. Late stoppage win for Guzman, but I think AAA will have his moments early in the fight.

Loynesy wrote:Given how we have knocked W arren for protecting his fighters, bit hypocritical to accuse him of over-matching AAA.

Or is it simply throwing Arthur to the wolves?

When Arthur gets mullered he'll be in the front of the Amir queue.

Spud wrote:

Loynesy wrote:Given how we have knocked W arren for protecting his fighters, bit hypocritical to accuse him of over-matching AAA.

Or is it simply throwing Arthur to the wolves?

Well I think its now really make or break... he's earned the title shot via the British, Commonwealth and European route... beaten some decent names on the European circuit.

Yes, the jump up for the likes of Sinistin to Guzman is huge, but there really isn't a middle ground.... a bridging option. Well, I suppose maybe the likes of Rocky Juarez - but still, thats not a particularly present prospect.

Arthur's been left off the European leash years ago... now time for him to be left off the World leash.

Even a battering will not be the end of the world... He MUST find it really hard to make the weight - and there is some real money and real world title hopes at Lightweight.

Arthur joining the like of Khan, Harrison (?), Thaxton, Earl (?) etc for the domestic fights... then there are beatable world champions.

jomothepure wrote:I wouldn't say one of the biggest mismatches ever, though I do agree it doesn't look terribly good for AA, who I fear may be stubborn and stick around in there too long for his own good.

If I were Frank I would have gone the IBF route. Maybe he tried, and didn't get it.

It's a tough one, because we give out stick to boxers not taking on the best and hiding behind their belt, and then give them stick if they take on the best and lose.

Whatever happens, I hope AA does himself proud, as I'm sure he will. I would guess his pay isn't going to be brilliant, but I'd like to see him keep going. There's fights with Harrison, and up at 135 against Thaxton, Romanov and Khan to go.

Mate... its a mismatch!!!!!!!!!!

Stephen Foster, Gogoladze and Boris Sinitsin are not good preperation for this fight. Is he any better than we he lost to Arthur.

I think its a very early KO I am afraid to say.

I just hope that when he gets knocked over this time he doesn't get up and start grinning to the camera again.

Unless Guzman has gone back a lot, I feel that AA will be in for a painful night, hopefully FW has timed his matchmaking right

There is still nothing official actually been said about this fight. I still wouldn't be surprised if it gets called off.

I think in a way it's a risk Warren can afford to take, if he wins (not much chance of that) then fantastic he has another belt holder and flagship fighter. If he loses no bother, he is right up there as a name opponent for the likes of Mitchell and Khan plus there is I imagine, still hope for a Harrison v Arthur fight which I imagine would sell very well.

As to the fight, the class gap is obvious for all to see plus a lightening fast starter against one who generally starts from about round 4. It's gonna be hard to see Arthur getting into this one before he is stopped. If he can make it to the later rounds I still see him punching air and looking distinctly average for most of the time

A mismatch is a World/European class fighter against a 10-25 fighter.

World class v European class fighter is like a Premiership side against a Championship side.

Liverpool or Chelski v Barnsley if you like....

Lenny wrote:I think in a way it's a risk Warren can afford to take, if he wins (not much chance of that) then fantastic he has another belt holder and flagship fighter.

Normally I would agree - but unless Scott Harrison comes back well - Arthur is W arrens flagship fighter in Scotland.

In addition - his big names are slowly dwindling - Calzaghe in my view will retire soon - Skelton will not get another shot at a world title - Maccarinelli soundly beaten.

Will Khan sign another long term contract with W arren - I suspect he will but he is just getting to the business end of whether he will jump into world class or not.

As impressed as I was with Mitchell against Johanesson - lets see in his next decent test what he has learnt.

All in all - Arthur in decent fights yeah go for it - but against one of the P4P chaps - no way!!!

Arthur is a big underdog but maybe thats whats needed to make him perform at his best (he's always usually the favourite)

I dont think Guzman will KO him as his power has not moved up the weights with him, its been about 4 years since his last KO win. Arthur has a decent chin but tends to get caught early in fights and keeps his right hand a bit low but hopefully his camp will have done their homework and realised that Guzman starts quick then has a quiet spell during the middle rounds.

I don't think its going to happen

Arthur heads south for Frank talks with Warren
By BRIAN DONALD
ALEX ARTHUR is set for showdown talks with manager allegedly over his planned title fight with WBO super-featherweight champion Joan Guzman.
Edinburgh ace Arthur, who holds the interim version of the WBO title, is seeking definitive answers on the date and venue of the fight – as well as the size of his purse.

It was originally proposed that the title fight would take place at Meadowbank on April 26 but it now seems likely the bout will be delayed and probably take place in Glasgow.

Arthur will fly to London next week with his father, Alex senior, to meet Warren.

Arthur said: "I've requested this meeting because I feel that I've been waiting long enough recently regarding a clear idea of the small print of my clash with Guzman

"It is the most important fight of my career so it is absolutely essential that I learn three things: what is the actual purse that I will get for fighting for Guzman; when will the fight actually take place; where will it take place – Edinburgh, Glasgow or London?

"The sooner I know the answers the
quicker I can get down to preparing for the Guzman fight.

"Until I know the answers to these questions, the feelings of frustration that I have will prevent me from mentally concentrating 100 per cent on tackling Guzman."

Fight's not going to happen, is it? Never thought it would in the first place. Credit Arthur for wanting the fight, though. Unlike some British boxers, he appears ready and willing to take a risk - irrespective of how dangerous Guzman is.

You all seem to be missing the point;

Arthur is the Interim Champion and has no choice but to fight the real champion to be crowned full champion. It's not a mismatch and Guzman is well known inside and outside the ring by Sports Network as they used to have him.

He is a good fighter, very good but not grrat and is lazy making wheichever weight he chooses. He's had more trainers than Adidas and is a bit of an oddball, but nevertheless is a good fighter as is Alex Arthur and Guzman does not have his pedigree.

allegedly won this fight via purse offer so the purses are set so Arthurs comments ar odd.

Spud wrote:in recent times in my opinion it has to be one of the biggest mismatches in my view that has been made on these shores.

To start a thread with this nonsense is just rediculous. I would like to see you post something productive to this forum, at least once, because you are forever lowering the tone of this place.

boxingchat wrote:You all seem to be missing the point;

Arthur is the Interim Champion and has no choice but to fight the real champion to be crowned full champion. It's not a mismatch and Guzman is well known inside and outside the ring by Sports Network as they used to have him.

He is a good fighter, very good but not grrat and is lazy making wheichever weight he chooses. He's had more trainers than Adidas and is a bit of an oddball, but nevertheless is a good fighter as is Alex Arthur and Guzman does not have his pedigree.

allegedly allegedly won this fight via purse offer so the purses are set so Arthurs comments ar odd.

What do you mean by 'Guzman doesn't have Arthur's pedigree'? Didn't Guzman go something like 312-10 as an amateur ('96 Olympian, too) before turning pro? Guzman's also fought the much better comp. as a pro. He's better in every department and has better fundamentals than Arthur. I'm not sure what you're getting at.

I don't want to call any fight a mismatch, but anyone with eyes can see that Guzman is a massive, massive favourite in this fight. There is not one thing that Arthur does better than Guzman inside the ring.

Also, since when does being an 'odd ball' and changing trainers a lot give the other, inferior fighter a shot at winning? The fight happens in the ring.