LAS VEGAS – Emmanuel Chance demonstrated Saturday why his handlers have such high hopes for him.
The 18-year-old southpaw showed a diverse offensive arsenal throughout an impressive professional debut on the Mikaela Mayer-Sandy Ryan undercard at Fontainebleu’s BleuLive Theater. Chance, of East Orange, New Jersey, caught Guzman with right hooks to his head and body, moved smoothly to keep the slower-footed fighter from landing cleanly and easily won their four-round junior featherweight bout by unanimous decision.
All three judges scored their fight for Chance (1-0) by shutout, 40-36 apiece.
Chance, who is promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc., made Guzman (1-1, 1 KO) bleed from his nose for three-plus rounds. His punches eventually opened a cut beneath the San Bernardino, California native’s right eye in the fourth round as well.
The fourth round mirrored each of the first three rounds, when Chance connected at will while Guzman came forward, albeit unsuccessfully.
Guzman made Chance fight off his back foot in the third round. Chance was completely comfortable unloading while moving backward and he made Guzman pay repeatedly by landing flush punches to his head and body.
The taller Guzman attempted to establish some distance during the second round because Chance caught him with various power punchers throughout a one-sided opening round. Chance’s hand speed and power gave Guzman pause when he tried to press the action, though, and Chance continued to pick him apart in the second round.
The game Guzman bled from his nose by the second round, but he still tried to trade with Chance.
Keith Idec is a senior writer and columnist for The Ring. He can be reached on X @idecboxing.