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The career of former two-division titleholder Joan Guzman has sunk further into an abyss.
Guzman tested positive for Furosemide, a diuretic on Nevada's banned substance list, following a second-round knockout of Jason Davis on Dec. 11 on the Amir Khan-Marcos Maidana undercard at the MGM Grand, according to Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer.
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Golden Boy promotions has also released Guzman from his promotional contract, CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com.
Diuretics can be used as masking agents for steroids and are also used to help with weight loss. Guzman has a history of failing to make weight. For the second fight in a row -- and at least the third time -- Guzman did not make the contract weight. He was supposed to face Davis at a maximum weight of 141 pounds but came in at 144.
In his previous fight in March, Guzman was supposed to weigh 135 pounds to challenge Ali Funeka for a vacant lightweight title. But Guzman showed up a whopping nine pounds overweight. The fight went on anyway. Guzman (31-0-1, 18 KOs) won a split decision, but the title remained vacant.
Funeka tested positive for Furosemide following that fight and was suspended for nine months and fined one-third of his purse by Nevada officials. Guzman, 34, a native of the Dominican Republic living in New York, faces a similar punishment when the Nevada commission hears the complaint at its Jan. 26 meeting.
The Nevada commission is also likely to change the result of his fight with Davis to a no contest.
The commission notified Guzman via letter about his failed drug test.
"As you are aware, before your boxing bout in Nevada on December 11, 2010, you voluntarily submitted to a urinalysis and provided a urine sample to Nevada State Athletic Commission representatives," Kizer wrote. "The results of the urinalysis reflected the presence of Furosemide, which is not approved by the Commission.
"Consequently, please be advised I am filing a disciplinary complaint against you alleging that you violated section 467.850 of the Commission's regulations, which prohibit the use of any non-approved drug or stimulant before or during a contest of unarmed combat. It is my recommendation that your license be suspended pending formal disciplinary action."
Golden Boy officials were furious that Guzman missed weight for the Davis fight. Executives from HBO, which televised the fight with Funeka, also were disappointed.
Had Guzman made weight and looked good against Davis, Golden Boy and HBO were talking about him possibly challenging Khan in April. That went out the window when he did not make weight, and now Guzman is facing a lengthy suspension and fine.
Guzman won world titles as a junior featherweight (122 pounds) and junior lightweight (130) but has constantly battled the scale.
In September 2008, Guzman also missed weight for a major televised fight. He was scheduled to challenge then-lightweight titleholder Nate Campbell on Showtime, but Guzman came in over weight. Although Campbell was willing to go through with the fight as a nontitle bout, Guzman refused and it was canceled. With no fight, Campbell missed out on a desperately needed $300,000 purse and was forced to declare bankruptcy a few weeks later.
Guzman tested positive for Furosemide, a diuretic on Nevada's banned substance list, following a second-round knockout of Jason Davis on Dec. 11 on the Amir Khan-Marcos Maidana undercard at the MGM Grand, according to Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer.
Rafael's Boxing Blog
Get the latest scoop and analysis on the world of boxing from ESPN.com's Dan Rafael in his blog.
Golden Boy promotions has also released Guzman from his promotional contract, CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com.
Diuretics can be used as masking agents for steroids and are also used to help with weight loss. Guzman has a history of failing to make weight. For the second fight in a row -- and at least the third time -- Guzman did not make the contract weight. He was supposed to face Davis at a maximum weight of 141 pounds but came in at 144.
In his previous fight in March, Guzman was supposed to weigh 135 pounds to challenge Ali Funeka for a vacant lightweight title. But Guzman showed up a whopping nine pounds overweight. The fight went on anyway. Guzman (31-0-1, 18 KOs) won a split decision, but the title remained vacant.
Funeka tested positive for Furosemide following that fight and was suspended for nine months and fined one-third of his purse by Nevada officials. Guzman, 34, a native of the Dominican Republic living in New York, faces a similar punishment when the Nevada commission hears the complaint at its Jan. 26 meeting.
The Nevada commission is also likely to change the result of his fight with Davis to a no contest.
The commission notified Guzman via letter about his failed drug test.
"As you are aware, before your boxing bout in Nevada on December 11, 2010, you voluntarily submitted to a urinalysis and provided a urine sample to Nevada State Athletic Commission representatives," Kizer wrote. "The results of the urinalysis reflected the presence of Furosemide, which is not approved by the Commission.
"Consequently, please be advised I am filing a disciplinary complaint against you alleging that you violated section 467.850 of the Commission's regulations, which prohibit the use of any non-approved drug or stimulant before or during a contest of unarmed combat. It is my recommendation that your license be suspended pending formal disciplinary action."
Golden Boy officials were furious that Guzman missed weight for the Davis fight. Executives from HBO, which televised the fight with Funeka, also were disappointed.
Had Guzman made weight and looked good against Davis, Golden Boy and HBO were talking about him possibly challenging Khan in April. That went out the window when he did not make weight, and now Guzman is facing a lengthy suspension and fine.
Guzman won world titles as a junior featherweight (122 pounds) and junior lightweight (130) but has constantly battled the scale.
In September 2008, Guzman also missed weight for a major televised fight. He was scheduled to challenge then-lightweight titleholder Nate Campbell on Showtime, but Guzman came in over weight. Although Campbell was willing to go through with the fight as a nontitle bout, Guzman refused and it was canceled. With no fight, Campbell missed out on a desperately needed $300,000 purse and was forced to declare bankruptcy a few weeks later.
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