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GUZMAN PREPARED FOR FUNEKA
Lee Collier finds a different Joan Guzman in Manchester
TWO-WEIGHT world champion Joan Guzman, 29-0-1 (17), is currently preparing for his rematch for the vacant IBF lightweight crown with Ali Funeka in Manchester under new trainer Lee Beard, who has enlisted the help of nutritionist Kerry Kayes.
Guzman has been put through his paces at Kayes’ Denton gym having completed 14 rounds of sparring, eight of those with unbeaten lightweight prospect John Watson, and the former ‘world’ champion is enjoying his time in England with Beard.
“I am happy with how things are going. I just spent three weeks with Lee in New York and every day I learned something different and Lee always picks up my faults and corrects them,” explained Guzman. “Lee is like me and hungry for a win. I like my training with Lee and feel comfortable and I understand everything Lee tells me.”
Boxing News Online witnessed the closed session between Guzman and Watson and the Dominican fighter was looking sharp in defence. Watson pushed solidly for all eight rounds and the former world champion felt the tough session was just what he needed.
“I play with people in sparring but I learn in the sessions. Training in the gym is for learning and also teaching other fighters. Anyone who spars with me will learn as there aren’t many people who fight like me,” stated Guzman. “I liked sparring with John [Watson] today, he threw a lot of punches and was in good shape which is what I need as it will sharpen up my reflexes.”
The first Funeka fight stands as the only minor blip on Guzman’s record yet many who have witnessed the encounter felt that Funeka was a clear winner. Guzman felt that his preparation last time was not ideal for a ‘world’ title fight but feels the work he has done in New York and Manchester with 35-year-old Beard will mean that fans will see the Guzman that won world titles at super-bantamweight and super-featherweight.
“Last year was a bad year for me, I had only one fight and my mum died,” recalled Guzman. “I got asked in October to fight Funeka and went to training camp for six weeks and was overweight. I wasn’t ready as I hadn’t had many fights and I didn’t do much work on the bags as my trainer told me I didn’t need to. I feel comfortable now and feel I am a different Guzman under Lee.”
Guzman continued, “I respect Funeka but am looking for the big fights. I don’t know what will happen but I will win the fight and I see a couple of mistakes off Funeka and I know him well. Before I trained for a big guy but now I train for Funeka. I am focused and I am training hard, no pain means no gain, you have to cry to prove you have done the work.”
When Guzman decided to ask Manchester-based Beard to train him he agreed to leave New York and move his training camp to Manchester to concentrate 100 per cent on Funeka. Guzman had the chance to stay in America under Nazeem Richardson but already feels the decision to train in England was the right move.
“I am enjoying Manchester and the people are nice. Maybe I will come over here and fight in Manchester one day,” revealed Guzman. “I will be training in Manchester and it would be nice to fight in Manchester. Next time I will be here for 12 weeks and will have more time and I will learn more under Lee.”
Guzman is not the only man who feels that a different fighter will be seen in the rematch. Beard has studied the first fight in depth to come up with a gameplan to beat Funeka and is confident his new fighter will win a ‘world’ title in a third weight division.
“I thought he [Guzman] wasn’t his real self [in the Funeka fight], his legs looked real flat and normally defensively his head movement and foot movement is spot-on but against Funeka he just seemed to stay flat on his heels. They clashed heads early and he was bleeding and swallowing a lot of blood,” revealed Beard. “Joan was making mistakes but still pushing forward and Funeka didn’t do enough damage to win the fight. There were enough rounds up for grabs but if it wasn’t for the cut it would have been a different fight. We know what we need to do this time out and you’ll see a different Guzman.”
Lee Collier finds a different Joan Guzman in Manchester
TWO-WEIGHT world champion Joan Guzman, 29-0-1 (17), is currently preparing for his rematch for the vacant IBF lightweight crown with Ali Funeka in Manchester under new trainer Lee Beard, who has enlisted the help of nutritionist Kerry Kayes.
Guzman has been put through his paces at Kayes’ Denton gym having completed 14 rounds of sparring, eight of those with unbeaten lightweight prospect John Watson, and the former ‘world’ champion is enjoying his time in England with Beard.
“I am happy with how things are going. I just spent three weeks with Lee in New York and every day I learned something different and Lee always picks up my faults and corrects them,” explained Guzman. “Lee is like me and hungry for a win. I like my training with Lee and feel comfortable and I understand everything Lee tells me.”
Boxing News Online witnessed the closed session between Guzman and Watson and the Dominican fighter was looking sharp in defence. Watson pushed solidly for all eight rounds and the former world champion felt the tough session was just what he needed.
“I play with people in sparring but I learn in the sessions. Training in the gym is for learning and also teaching other fighters. Anyone who spars with me will learn as there aren’t many people who fight like me,” stated Guzman. “I liked sparring with John [Watson] today, he threw a lot of punches and was in good shape which is what I need as it will sharpen up my reflexes.”
The first Funeka fight stands as the only minor blip on Guzman’s record yet many who have witnessed the encounter felt that Funeka was a clear winner. Guzman felt that his preparation last time was not ideal for a ‘world’ title fight but feels the work he has done in New York and Manchester with 35-year-old Beard will mean that fans will see the Guzman that won world titles at super-bantamweight and super-featherweight.
“Last year was a bad year for me, I had only one fight and my mum died,” recalled Guzman. “I got asked in October to fight Funeka and went to training camp for six weeks and was overweight. I wasn’t ready as I hadn’t had many fights and I didn’t do much work on the bags as my trainer told me I didn’t need to. I feel comfortable now and feel I am a different Guzman under Lee.”
Guzman continued, “I respect Funeka but am looking for the big fights. I don’t know what will happen but I will win the fight and I see a couple of mistakes off Funeka and I know him well. Before I trained for a big guy but now I train for Funeka. I am focused and I am training hard, no pain means no gain, you have to cry to prove you have done the work.”
When Guzman decided to ask Manchester-based Beard to train him he agreed to leave New York and move his training camp to Manchester to concentrate 100 per cent on Funeka. Guzman had the chance to stay in America under Nazeem Richardson but already feels the decision to train in England was the right move.
“I am enjoying Manchester and the people are nice. Maybe I will come over here and fight in Manchester one day,” revealed Guzman. “I will be training in Manchester and it would be nice to fight in Manchester. Next time I will be here for 12 weeks and will have more time and I will learn more under Lee.”
Guzman is not the only man who feels that a different fighter will be seen in the rematch. Beard has studied the first fight in depth to come up with a gameplan to beat Funeka and is confident his new fighter will win a ‘world’ title in a third weight division.
“I thought he [Guzman] wasn’t his real self [in the Funeka fight], his legs looked real flat and normally defensively his head movement and foot movement is spot-on but against Funeka he just seemed to stay flat on his heels. They clashed heads early and he was bleeding and swallowing a lot of blood,” revealed Beard. “Joan was making mistakes but still pushing forward and Funeka didn’t do enough damage to win the fight. There were enough rounds up for grabs but if it wasn’t for the cut it would have been a different fight. We know what we need to do this time out and you’ll see a different Guzman.”
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