Joan Guzman vs. Ali Funeka: Round By Round

HBO is on hand live from Canada for the first time in decades for Boxing After Dark. Bob Papa, Max Kellerman and Lennox Lewis are on hand to handle the commentary.

The big draw for this card from Quebec City is Lucian Bute, who takes on Librado Andrade for the second time in the main event. First up, though, is an intriguing lightweight bout between Joan Guzman and Ali Funeka.

The tale of the tape shows that Funeka is four inches taller but has just a slight reach advantage. He's also three pounds heavier after both fighters rehydrated overnight.

Guzman is 29-0 with 17 KOs, while Funeka is 30-2-2 with 25 KOs. This one is scheduled for 12 rounds for the vacant IBF lightweight title.

Michael Buffer handles the formal introductions and we're all set for action.

Round One

Funeka reaches with some jabs but Guzman backs him up. Ali covers up as Joan throws hooks and uppercuts. Jab by Funeka is answered by a Guzman hook. Guzman goes to the body and steps away from the counter. Funeka covers up to ride out another flurry and does land the counter this time. Guzman's movement has Funeka off balance and he lands a short left. He tries some clubbing shots in close as his foe tries more jabs.

Franchise: 10-9 Guzman
Uatu: 10-9 Guzman

Round Two

Guzman is dodging most of Funeka's jabs, and he answers with a body-head combo. Big swing with a right hook by Guzman, and it just misses. Funeka eats a left hook and both men try some feints. Ali can't get anything to land behind his jabs. Guzman crouches very low to avoid punches and connects with his own body shots. He lands two more to the body in the closing seconds.

Franchise: 10-9 Guzman
Uatu: 10-9 Guzman

Round Three

Lewis wants Funeka to throw multiple jabs, but I'm not sure that will work. More body work and a right hand upstairs from Guzman. Funeka is missing a very high percentage of his shots right now. Ali tries about four jabs in a row. Blood is coming from Guzman's nose as both men get their feet tangled and they tumble down. Right hand by Funeka and a double jab. Funeka reaches for a right hand late.

Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Guzman

Round Four

Harold Lederman gave the last round to Funeka. Guzman tries to charge in behind his own jab. Guzman lands a right to the body and Funeka goes down, but it looked like and is ruled a slip. Guzman scores with a right and tries to get in close again. They trade and Guzman lands the harder punch. Quick one-two by Guzman and Funeka responds with a counter right. Blood is really streaming from near Guzman's right eye. Nice action in the corner right before the bell.

Franchise: 10-9 Guzman
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka

Round Five

Replays sure made it look like the cut was caused by a clash of heads, but the ref told the HBO crew it was caused by a punch. Guzman charges out of his corner quite aggressively, perhaps realizing the cut will be a factor. Funeka uses his jab to keep his man at a distance. Left hook by Funeka. Two big rights knock Guzman back a step. Funeka tries to close in and eats a pretty sharp right. Guzman steps into another right hand as the action heats up. Funeka jabs and they tie up. Left-right combo by Ali snaps his foe's head around.

Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka

Round Six

Funeka's accuracy is much better than it was at the start of the fight. Short left by Guzman but Funeka drives him back. Joan absorbs a left and tries to force a slugfest. Guzman throws body shots and gets tied up quickly. Nice right hand counter by Guzman. Double jab by Funeka. Four punches in a row come in with no answer from Guzman. They stand and trade and the fans enjoy it.

Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka

Round Seven

Guzman's trunks have turned very red thanks to all of his bleeding. Funeka keeps popping him with the jab. He's also more active than Guzman at this point. Funeka's footwork has improved as well. Guzman tries the body along the ropes and Funeka has to pivot his way out. Funeka lands a right hand and tries two left uppercuts. Guzman lands his own uppercut and Funeka responds with a hook.

Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka

Round Eight

Guzman bulls his way in and goes right to the body. Funeka steadies himself and goes back to his jab. The crowd responds as they exchange in the middle of the ring. Both men score with right hands as they lean on each other. The ref finally pulls them apart but they go right back to work. Funeka uses a right and some left uppercuts. Guzman is staggered by a rught with 20 seconds left in the round.

Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka

Round Nine

Guzman backs right to the ropes as Funeka comes forward. Multiple jabs from Funeka and a right to the body. Guzman dodges a bunch of shots as he tries to get off body shots. They bang away from super close range. The ref finally pulls them apart. Guzman does a lot of retreating without much punching. A final combination from Funeka should seal up the round.

Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka

Round 10

The blood looks like it may be a problem again for Joan. He barely avoids a big right as he backs away. A series of hooks crash into Guzman again. Funeka jabs and swipes with a left hook. Body and head work and not much coming back from Guzman. Funeka pops him a few more times as they rotate around the ring. Guzman looks like he may be out of answers.

Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka

Round 11

I'm thinking Guzman will need a knockout to win. He covers up as Funeka keeps up a steady output. Shoe shining by Funeka sets up a nice left. Guzman deserves credit for trying to swing for the fences. Funeka shoves him back with his left arm and goes back to work. Guzman eats a sharp right but throws his own power punches along the ropes. Funeka keeps tattooing him, giving him no room to breathe.

Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka

Round 12

The fighters touch gloves before the final round. Guzman tries rushing Funeka but to no avail. Funeka gets the better of an exchange, but Guzman comes back with a wide right hand. The ref is busy here. Good one-two combo upstairs by Joan. Funeka is getting hit but not flush. The fans respond as both men swing, and we'll go to the scorecards.

Franchise: 10-9 Guzman
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka

Franchise scores it 116-112 Funeka. Uatu scores it 117-111 Funeka. The judges score it 114-114 twice and 116-112 Funeka. The fight is a draw and the IBF lightweight title remains vacant.

Max Kellerman and Lennox Lewis are quite surprised, and Lederman says there is "no doubt this is a bad decision." Funeka's pormoter Gary Shaw is giving multiple people an earful as he's pretty upset. Papa questions the competency of the Canadian judges.

Max congratulates Funeka, who not surprisingly thinks he won the fight. The fans cheer in approval. Funeka says he doesn't even know what to say about the decision.

Posted by The Franchise