By Jake Donovan
Rumors continue to circulate in the Dominican Republic of ongoing discussions for a junior welterweight encounter between Joan Guzman (31-0, 18KOs) and Victor Cayo (27-2, 19KOs). Local promoters are very interested in staging the fight pitting two of the nation's more popular fighters against one another in the first three months of 2012 in Santo Domingo.
Guzman’s team commented on such rumors when first asked last month about the possibility of their fighter taking on his countryman. The plan for Guzman was to position him towards a title shot, which a fight with Cayo wouldn’t necessarily guarantee – yet.
Still, the unbeaten fighter – now campaigning in the 140 lb. division – has never shied from a challenge and will gladly take on Cayo if it’s the best offer on the table.
“I will take on any opponent. We’ve never rejected any reasonable offer for a fight and are willing to fight anyone as long as it gets us to where we want to go.”
The goal for Guzman was to advance him in the IBF rankings, where Lamont Peterson currently resides as champ after his upset win over Amir Khan earlier this month. The unified titlist is fielding offers for his first defense, including a possible rematch with Khan, though one has not been mandated by the sanctioning body.
What has been ordered – and agreed to in principle – is a title eliminator between former two-division champ Zab Judah and unbeaten contender Vernon Paris.
Should Guzman and Cayo agree to terms, their bout would most likely serve as an eliminator for the number two slot in the same rankings. Both fighters are currently in the Top 10, with everyone else committed to other fights.
Cayo suffered a 12th round knockout loss to Peterson in their title elimination bout this past summer. Anxious to get back into the title picture, Cayo agreed that a local fight with Guzman would mean big business and didn’t deny rumors of its possibility of happening in the near future.
"I'm not the kind of boxer who chases opponents. I'm friends with Joan Guzman, but I understand that boxing is a business. If my side agrees, and Guzman agrees, then I see no downside to getting in the ring," Cayo said.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter at twitter.com/JakeNDaBox or submit questions/comments to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.
