Burgos vs De Guia Mismatch Prevented By WBC's Sulaiman
by Ronnie Nathanielsz
World Boxing Council (WBC) president Don Jose Sulaiman has acted promptly and decisively to stop a potential mismatch between Filipino featherweight Joan de Guia and undefeated Juan Carlos Burgos for the WBC Youth world title scheduled for September 11 in Guadalajara, Mexico in a fight card that will also feature Mexican legend Erik “El Terrible” Morales and former WBC light flyweight champion Edgar Sosa.
We communicated with Don Jose after learning that the Philippine Games and Amusements Board had not cleared de Guia to fight because there had been no application filed while BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Manila Standard and Viva Sports raised the issue of a serious mismatch.
De Guia who lost his last fight by a 7th round knockout to Ronald Pontillas on April 24 this year has a record of 10 wins, 11 losses and 4 draws with 2 knockouts while Burgos who is ranked No. 1 in the world by the WBC is a promising, hard hitting 22 year old who has a record of 25-0 with 18 knockouts and has won his last three fight by stoppages against worthy opponents.
In an email to us the WBC president said “following your information and advice we have informed the promoter (listed as Luis Villuendas) that he must change the rival of Burgos. De Guia is out and they will sign someone else with merits.”
GAB boxing division chief Dr. Nasser Cruz said they were looking for de Guia in Tanza, Cavite to “find out what he is doing” although matchmaker Ronald Jerez informed us on Wednesday that De Guia who is 24 years old was training after his former trainer and manager Emil Romano had gotten rid of him claiming he had no fighting heart.
Jerez also told us that promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde was the “contact” trying to help although they had still “not received an invitation or contract and had not applied for a visa because of that.”
Jerez claimed De Guia’s “training right now is good” under former boxer Raul Terado.
