Sycuan Boxing Denies Katsidis vs. Guzman A Done Deal

ByBoxing Press

Sycuan Ringside Promotions officials expressed surprise Saturday that a proposed bout between undefeated World Boxing Organization junior lightweight champion Joan Guzman of the Dominican Republic and Michael Katsidis for the Australian’s WBO lightweight interim title is “official.”

“We’re more than a little surprised to read that Guzman’s manager, Jose Nunez, has gone on record saying Guzman’s fight against Katsidis is “official,’ a done deal,” said Glenn Quiroga, president of Sycuan Ringside Promotions.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” said Quiroga. “However, that being said, Sycuan Ringside Promotions really likes the match-up and hopes it can happen.”

Said Scott Woodworth, vice president of Sycuan Ringside Promotions, “I and others at Sycuan Ringside Promotions have had extensive talks with Mr. Nunez regarding this potential Guzman-Katsidis bout, and we told him we would do everything possible to make the match.

“But it’s premature, to say nothing of being improper and inappropriate, for any party or individual, be it co-promoter, manager or boxer, to say a fight is made when the lead promoter of Guzman, Sycuan Ringside Promotions, has not yet signed off on that bout.”

“I’m disappointed Mr. Nunez has forgotten there are many elements that and parties who must be satisfied before a bout can be considered made or, as he put it, “official,’ ” continued Woodworth.

“To that end, Sycuan Ringside Promotions has not entered into even the most preliminary discussions with Richard Schaefer or Eric Gomez at Golden Boy Promotions, with whom we have a co-promoter agreement with Guzman, or anyone at HBO or the World Boxing Organization regarding the particulars of a Guzman-Katsidis bout.

“Sycuan Ringside Promotions is ready to discuss immediately with the parties involved regarding a possible Guzman-Katsidis bout and work out the details and resolve everything, including any legal issues that may be pending, to the mutual satisfaction of all. I have every confidence we can do this in a prompt, timely and expeditious manner.”

Guzman, who has a record of 27-0 with 17 knockouts, is a former WBO junior featherweight champion and won that organization’s 130-pound title last September.