By Mark Vester
The Scotsman reports that WBO super featherweight champion Joan Guzman (28-0, 17KOs) will return to the ring in March or April, and face either WBO mandatory Alex Arthur (26-1, 19KOs) or unbeaten Puerto Rican Roman Martinez (17-0-1, 10KOs).
According to Guzman's manager Jose Nunez, Arthur's promoter, Frank Warren, has until the end of the week to make the fight happen of his fighter will face Martinez on the April undercard to Bernard Hopkins-Joe Calzaghe in Las Vegas. If Guzman ends up with Arthur, the contest would likely take place on the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez undercard on March 15 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Arthur told the paper Guzman has to fight him next of give up his title, and it's not up to Guzman's manager to decide if he gets the WBO title shot, it's up to the sanctioning body.
"I can confirm that I have been alerted about the strong possibility of my fighting Guzman in Las Vegas on the undercard of a world title fight involving either Calzaghe or Filipino Manny Pacquiao," Arthur said. "But Guzman's manager's claim that he alone can decide not to give me the next crack at Guzman and bring in Puerto Rican Roman Martinez instead is absolute baloney. The WBO alone, not Nunez, or any other manager, decides these matters and they've already clearly indicated that Guzman must clash with me first or give up the title."
"Up till now the only reason that I've been in the dark about the situation is that subsequent to the Guzman camp's decision to hold on to the title and defend it the fight between myself as mandatory challenger and Guzman must now go to purse offers. I would really prefer to box on the Las Vegas undercard of Joe Calzaghe vs. Bernard Hopkins fight in April rather than the Manny Pacquiao vs. Marquez bout as Joe Calzaghe and I are good mates."
Richard Maynard, who work for Warren, told the paper a Guzman-Arthur clash is still being negotiated and nothing is done as of yet.
"As far as I am aware nothing at all has been definitely agreed, discussed or decided in connection with the situation of a title bout between Alex Arthur and Joan Guzman as negotiations are ongoing," Maynard said.
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