Guzman Stops Pabon In 8 Rounds

By: Frank Rivera

On  ESPN Friday Night Fight’s main event, Joan Guzman (32-0-1, 19 KO’s) faced and dominated southpaw Jesus Pabon (17-3, 11 KO’s) in a one sided fight.

The 35-year old Guzman from Brooklyn, NY started the night by flooring Jesus Pabon less than a minute after the opening bell. Guzman threw a hard left hook that caught Pabon behind the ear, dropping him to one knee as referee Frank Gentile began to give Pabon the standing eight count.

Pabon was clearly over matched in this fight by Guzman’s speed, power and skills during the 8 rounds the fight lasted. Guzman was able to land his combinations and jabs the entire night. Guzman was also able to land the right uppercut to the body and head, hurting Pabon in the early going of the fight. Guzman was in full control of fight, when he scored another knockdown in the third round on a right hand to the body that sent Pabon to the canvas for a second time. The punch did appear to be a low blow when ESPN showed it in the slow motion replay, but the referee Frank Gentile never saw it. Guzman dropped Pabon once again in the fourth round.

Guzman’s confidence grew throughout the fight and in the sixth round as he started dance, showboating, laughing and toying with Pabon.  In the eighth round Pabon came out firing, trying to make it a fight, but Guzman had other plans.  Guzman dropped his hands enticing Pabon to take his bait, Pabon took the bait and Guzman delivered a powerful left hook that sent Pabon crashing to the canvas ending the fight at 1:23 of the eight round.

Although Guzman scored an impressive knockout over Jesus Pabon, questions are still remaining if he is really ready to for a world title shot. Once again, Guzman had trouble making weight for this fight at 140 pounds. The issue of making weight has haunted Guzman in the past, which seems to be continuing. Only time will tell us if Guzman will be ready for the top level in the already stacked junior welterweight division, but time is something that Guzman does not have plenty of.