TalkingBoxing Interviews
Talking Boxing with JOAN GUZMAN
WED August 24, JERRY CASAREZ -
Recently TalkingBoxing's own Jerry Casarez had the opportunity of chatting with former WBO jr. featherweight champ Joan "Lil Tyson" Guzman. The undefeated Guzman faces the WBO’s No. 1-ranked featherweight, Terdsak Jandaeng of Thailand, for a mandatory title shot. Read what he has to say about possible fights in the featherweight division and what 'Lil Tyson' is willing to do if he has to make big fights at 130lbs.
Jerry Casarez: Joan, How are you?
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: How you doing?
Jerry Casarez: Doing Good Yourself?
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: Fine! Fine!
Jerry Casarez: First of all let me ask you about you hooking up with Roger Mayweather? What called for the change?
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: Well I'm a fighter who adapts well. I can adapt to any trainer. I believe I'm going to learn alot from Roger.
Jerry Casarez: To the fans that have heard his name out in the press and on the message boards but have yet to see him fight, how would he describe his style to them?
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: I'm the type of fighter that hits and doesn't get hit. I have lots of technique. I'm a boxer puncher. I use lots of movement.
Jerry Casarez: One of his biggest fights was here in the states. It was his fight in San Diego, CA vs. Agapito Sanchez his fellow countryman and was for a world title. What did it mean to him to be able to fight in the West Coast in California where lots of his fans came out to see him?
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: I felt great since my promoter is West Coast based the people of Sycuan. I wanted to fight in other areas outside of New York and the people really showed their support for me to fight in San Diego.
Jerry Casarez: You fought earlier this year in April and now your fighting August 26th in Great Plains,NY in what is a WBO Featherweight eliminator. Was moving up due to an issue with weight or was it more of him wanting to be involved in bigger fights?
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: Me and my manager Jose Nunez made a decision to move up to the 126lbs division. There are lots of good fighters in that division and yes weight was part of it but we decided that we're looking for the big fights and we're not going to wait around. I'm going to make things happen.
Jerry Casarez: How frustrating has it been to be in a division that has plenty of good fighters such as Wayne McCullough,Oscar Larrios also Israel Vasquez.... a division where those fighters weren't willing to fight him?
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: It's a bit frustrating being in a division where you see good fighters and we see big fights and they're not willing to make them because their thought is "Oh he's a Dominican fighter and there's no interest" as apposed to a Mexican fighter who has a stronger national following. I feel bad because there was lots of good fights and they never came to be.
Jerry Casarez: There was plenty of talk earlier this year about him fighting Israel Vasquez ( IBF Jr.Featherweight Champion) who shares the same promoter. What was the hold up in making that fight?
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: Israel Vasquez didn't want the fight!!!! The same thing happened with Oscar Larrios who signed to fight me and then pulled out. They're the ones that didn't want to fight me.
Jerry Casarez: Do you believe that your next fight will put you in a position where if you are to go on and fight Scott Harrison( WBO Featherweight Champion), a fighter that has been seen plenty on TV, that it will finally get you the respect you have so deserved?
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: Yes this is a good move for me. It was difficult to make 122lbs and those fights weren't going to happen for me at 122. So now I've moved up and hopefully I can fight Scotty Harrison or Juan Manuel Marquez. I want to give the Dominican Republic a Champion that they can be proud of as other countries have had in Puerto Rico,Mexico and Panama.
Jerry Casarez: I want you to know that you do have plenty of fans here in the United States. I read what is said on the message boards and believe me there is a buzz about him.
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: I feel that as well. I have a dream like every fighter has of not only being Champion but being a fighter that is loved by the people. And if the big fights don't happen at featherweight than I will move to 130lbs and make the big fights happen!!
Jerry Casarez: Speaking of 130lbs. There are plenty of great fighters there such as Manny Pacquiao,Marco Antonio Barrera,Erik Morales and Robbie Pedan. I'm sure they all interest you but is there any one particular fighter in that group that you would like to fight?
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: To be honest with you I'll fight anyone who steps up to the plate. All four fighters are the highest quality fighters. They are all great fighters and I give them their respect. I just want the big fights so any of them will make for great fights. I just want to fight them all so I hope they will give me the opportunity.
Jerry Casarez: What does he know about his opponent Terdsak Jandaeng of Thailand and what can he tell us about the man he will meet in this WBO featherweight Eliminator?
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: He's a tough crafty fighter who likes to move and is a southpaw. I know this fight means so much to the future of my career so that's why I'm in Vegas training very hard.
Jerry Casarez: That fight will be televised...correct?
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: Yes this fight will take place on August 26th and will be broadcast by Telefutura's Solo Boxeo.
Jerry Casarez: That's awesome. This is a big fight that will be good for your career.
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: This will be like fighting at home. The fight will be in White Plains,NY. This is an area that is heavy in Dominican Population and I expect for all fans to come and support me.
Jerry Casarez: That's Great. You'll definitely have plenty of support for that fight.
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: Yeah its a change from my last fight where I fought in Laredo,TX and there was 5,000 Mexicans and maybe one or two Dominicans and they were in my entourage.( laughs)
Jerry Casarez: That was in your fight against Fernando Beltran Jr. ( starts laughing)... How did you get involved in boxing and what attracted you to the sport?
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: I grew up in a tough town so I had lots of fights in the streets and had to learn how to fight. I remember once getting in a fight with a kid that could box and from there on I was interested in boxing.
Jerry Casarez: What can you tell us about your amateur career?
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: Yes I'm an 96 Olympian with 310 fights, including a gold medal at the Pan American Games. I believe I can be a great fighter because I have that great amateur background that is so important. That I feel sets me apart.
Jerry Casarez: Wow. Very impressive.
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: You know I'm from the same class as many popular fighters today such as Floyd Mayweather,Chico Corrales, Fernando Vargas and Antonio Tarver. These are guys that are a who's who in boxing and we all share that great amateur background.
Jerry Casarez: With you being at 122lbs and a fighter like Johnny Tapia looking for one last Title shot..Was that a fight that was ever a possibility?
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: Never. I've never been mentioned in the making of the big fights..I don't understand why?
Jerry Casarez: I ask because there was suppose to be a fight between fellow Champion Israel Vasquez and Johnny Tapia that fell apart and I was wondering if that was ever an avenue that was presented.
Jerry Casarez: Not to look ahead but do you feel that the Scott Harrison fight is a fight where you may have to go to Britain in order to make?
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: That's in the hands of my management team and Promoters. That decision will have to be made by them but if they decide that I have to travel then I am not opposed to doing so. I have fought in England before and the fans were great and they really took to me. So I'll do whatever is necessary to make that fight happen.
Jerry Casarez: When we look at the featherweight division you have Juan Manuel Marquez who is recognized as the man in the division.
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: (interrupts) Yes a man that has had a hardtime making fights and has been avoided.
Jerry Casarez: Yes. Is this a fighter you look forward to fighting?
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: We are very similar. I'm moving up looking for a Championship and he is recognized. Lots of fighters avoid him because he is not only tough but he is an intelligent fighter. I feel we can help each other by making that fight.
Jerry Casarez: Having seen what Roger Mayweather has done with other fighters such as his nephew Floyd. What do you feel you can learn from him and what will be different from what you did with your previous trainers?
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: I'll be able to fully answer that question at the end of my training camp. The next time we speak after my fight I will be able to tell you all that I have learned.
Jerry Casarez: We look forward to not only seeing you fight on Aug 26th but of also speaking with you again after and getting your thoughts.
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: I want to Thank you personally for the press you give me. And also to all the fans who support me and to all the American Press that has helped get my name out to the fans.
Jerry Casarez: My Pleasure. Is there anything in closing you want to say to all your fans at Talkingboxing.com that will read this all over the world?
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: To all my fans I say thank you for the support. It's like a Dominican Proverb says" Only moving forward" . So to all my Latino and American fans I say hello and Thanks for the support. I will show you all my gratitude with a spectacular performance on the night of August 26th.
Jerry Casarez: Thank You for your time Joan and we look forward to hearing from you soon. Good luck in your training and in your fight.
Joan" Lil Tyson" Guzman: Thank You my friend. I look forward also in talking to you after my fight and we will see you soon.
TalkingBoxing would like to give a special Thanks to Ricardo Lois for and Joan Guzman for taking time to speak with us!
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