Former WBO junior lightweight champion Joan Guzman, 28-0 (17), will be back in the ring before the year ends.

Guzman will travel to his native Dominican Republic to take on WBA Fedelatin lightweight champion Ameth Diaz, 25-7 (19), on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008, from El Palacio de los Deportes in Guzman’s hometown of Santo Domingo.

The 12-round fight is promoted by Jay Boxing Promotions. The bout also serves as a WBA lightweight title eliminator.

“I’m anxious to fight again,” said Guzman, who most likely will train in Oxnard, CA. with new trainer Robert Garcia leading the charge. “I let a lot of people down with the Campbell fight that never materialized. That won’t ever happen again and I’m here to prove that. It will take some time to earn back the trust of the boxing community, but I’m prepared for that.”

Guzman was scheduled to challenge Nate Campbell for his WBA, WBO and IBF lightweight titles in September, but Guzman was declared unfit to fight by the Mississippi State Athletic Commission doctors who diagnosed him as severely dehydrated the day of the fight.

“There will be someone present at camp who's sole responsibility will be to supervise Guzman’s weight as we do not want the same mishap as last time,” said Jose Nunez, Guzman’s long time manager. “Also, the WBA will supervise Guzman’s weight since the fight will be for the Fedelatin title.”

Guzman, who has won titles in the super bantamweight and junior lightweight divisions, is gunning to become the Dominican Republic’s first three-division world champion.

“It’s been a goal of mine to win world titles in at least three divisions,” Guzman said. “I have to get past Diaz to get myself back on that track. I just have to take it one fight at a time.”

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Boxing News Tags: , Ameth Diaz, Joan Guzman