04.04.06 – Frank Maloney today called into question the heart and commitment of Joan Guzman, who has been quoted as saying that he will not be traveling to Belfast to take on Scott Harrison, the WBO Featherweight Champion. Maloney, the charismatic manager of Scott Harrison said. “I am sick of reading reports about Scott Harrison and the accusations that he is running scared of Joan Guzman..
“Harrison had legitimate problems with his mouth and was undertaking dental work and that is the only reason that he broke from his training camp in Fort William, Scotland and we asked for an extension to the original fight date.
“Harrison has even given up the home advantage of a fight in Glasgow to go to Belfast to take on Guzman because that was the only date and venue available to keep Scott from being stripped of the title.
“Now Guzman’s people are questioning Scott’s ability to make the weight, but I personally believe that it is Guzman who is having problems and struggling to get his weight right.
“Why, with everything in place and the fight signed and sealed and Harrison in a training camp in Spain before he moves to a new training camp in the valleys of Wales, would Harrison not be up for this fight?
“Guzman has developed what a lot of American fighters seem to develop – a ‘chicken heart’.
“Why doesn’t Guzman just come out and openly admit that he doesn’t fancy a tear-up with the ‘Scottish terrier’? I don’t want my boxer going through all of this training only for Guzman not to appear and to let down Harrison’s fans who have brought tickets to watch their idol box.
“I’d never call any boxer a coward, as anyone who climbs into the ring is a warrior, but I am beginning to question whether Guzman fancies a fight with Harrison or whether he is running scared?
“Let’s put a stop to all these rumours because whatever you want to say, Guzman, Sports
Network have a signed contract from my man Scott Harrison and you. We will not be bottling it, but what I am reading makes me question your commitment. If you don’t fight, you will be the first fighter during my long time in boxing that I have lost respect for.
“It’s a pity you can’t fight as well as your mouthpiece Michael Marley talks, but then we are used to Americans only talking good fights; look at Jeff Lacy recently and let’s go back to the times when I handled Lennox Lewis and all the talk that came from Riddick Bowe and his camp.
“Guzman, stop looking for ways out of the fight; Scott Harrison will be in Belfast on the 20th of May – will you?”