By Carlos Irusta

Jorge Rodrigo Barrios has a lot of self-confidence in his next defense of the WBO super feather belt. Barrios, well know as “The Hyena” will fight undefeated Dominican Joan Guzman, former WBO champion, at MGM Grand on Saturday, the 16th of September.

“Guzman is fast and is always running. He is not a real super featherweight fighter, so I will have advantages over him on the night of the bout. I will knock him out in 4 rounds, I think. But every boxer who climbs a ring for to be world champion must be respected, so I respect him”.

Barrios was training at La Pampa province during the last 7 weeks. “I’m in a better shape than when I kayoed Janos Nagy (the fight lasted 59 seconds only) and with a lot of motivation, because I always dreamed to fight at the MGM Grand, where such champions as Mike Tyson or Julio Cesar Chavez fought. I want to make a very good fight and impress the American people”.

Barrios is came to Vegas on Saturday. Mario Arano, his promoter, confirmed that Argentinean Miguel Diaz will be working at his corner as cut man.

Barrios, who is 46 (33)-2-1, showed his body. “I am in a tremendous condition”. But he didn’t lose time to making jokes. “Guzman said he is excited about the bout. I suppose I am exciting him, because he has a full-size photo of mine in the gym, I think he is in love with me…”

Guzman has won 25 bouts, with 17 by knockout. He was the WBO super bantamweight champion and the most intriguing thing about the fight is about the weight of both boxers.

“I don’t know about him, but I will be fighting at least as a junior welterweight and this is a great advantage for me. Guzman is fast, intelligent and smart, but I will knock him out. If everything is OK, I want to make a fight at the Tigre Soccer Stadium before end of the year. I would like to fight Marco Antonio Barrera next season, but I am not quite sure, because they (the promoters) are planning a Barrera-Pacquiao bout. If a bout is more important they will get it, it's more important than me being involve.

"I am growing as a champion, but I have not established a great name yet. Edwin Valero? He is a real knockout puncher, if he wants to fight with me for the unification (the Venezuelan is WBA champion) I have no problems… I am a champion, I want to prove I am a real champion. I want to be the best, and tobe so I must fight with everyone. I am full of hunger. The day I would ask about the money and not the name of the opponent, I will quit boxing”