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It came as a huge shock to
everyone in the World Boxing
Federation when yesterday the
news leaked through that
25-year-old former and future
WBF world superfeatherweight
title challenger Rafael ‘Chocho’
Guzman was assassinated on
Monday in his hometown of
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
According to internet reports,
Guzman was shot eight times by a
passing vehicle that was
occupied by two passengers.
Guzman was in the backseat of
his car at the time of the
shooting. Reports are that
Guzman attempted to escape after
the initial shots but was unable
to advance more than 100 meters.
When police arrived on the scene
Guzman had already passed away.
No official word on the
reasoning for the attack or who
fired the shots and if they were
caught. With just below 7
million inhabitants, Guadalajara
is Mexico’s second-biggest city
and has a very high crime rate.
The 25-year-old Guzman had his
first world title shot last
August, but could only drew over
12 rounds with Venezuelan Rafael
Hernandez in Manzanillo, Mexico
with the WBF crown at stake. At
the time of his death, he was in
training for another go at the
same title, scheduled to take
place in Johannesburg, South
Africa on November 19 against
Malcolm Klassen on the huge
‘Urban War’ bill headlined by
Francois Botha vs Michael Grant.
WBF President Howard Goldberg
said: “We are deeply shocked at
this tragedy and our thoughts
and prayers are with Rafael’s
family, friends and associates.
I was looking forward to meet
him here in South Africa,
because I was told he was a very
outstanding fighter.”
Sergio Sotelo, the WBF’s
Coordinator for Latin America,
had supervised Guzman’s world
title fight in August echoed
that statement and reported: “It
happened
while the family was celebrating his father's birthday. A very
unfortunately end for a fighter
that had a bright future ahead
of him. All the members and
friends of HG Boxing, his
promoter Hector Garcia’s
company, are devastated by this
loss and are doing everything
possible to help the Guzman
family.”
From 32 fights in a five-year
professional career, Guzman
achieved 28 wins (20 KO’s) with
3 losses and the one draw in his
WBF title bout.
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