Guerrero Is Shooting For The Stars
Posted by Igor Frank on 03.19.2009
Igor Frank talks to Robert Guerrero about his last fight in San Jose and looks into the future.
Photos by Laura De La Torre / 411mania.com
Robert" The Ghost" Guerrero, who used to live and train in Burbank under the tutelage of amateur heavyweight standout Johnny Bray, was featured last weekend on HBO Boxing After Dark. Robert who moved back home to Gilroy couple of years ago to reunite with his family, took on an undefeated prospect from Indonesia, Daud Yordan in a ten round junior lightweight NABO title bout in San Jose, California in front of his home town crowd.
6765 fans attended the Tank, better known as HP Pavilion that Saturday: most of them were there to support Robert "The Ghost Guerrero. They call it a Tank because on the floor it is as cold as if you were inside the war tank, just kidding, the name comes from a Shark Tank as San Jose Sharks skate there. The local crowd almost froze in shock as the doctor stopped the fight in the second round due to a bad cut on Robert Guerrero's right eye." This sucks, "exclaimed disappointed Guerrero: "I thought I was doing well with body punches. Look at this crowd; they all came to support me."
Nothing comes easy for Guerrero. In November of 2006 Robert lost a tough fight to a veteran Orlando Salido only to find out later that he was on steroids and have a decision overruled. Then he had to deal with the illness of his wife and promotional problems with Dan Goossen. Last year Robert relinquished his featherweight title, moved up to 130 pounds division and signed with a new promoter, Golden Boy. His last performance, a first round knock out of a veteran Edel Ruiz in January was spectacular. Just when it seemed that Robert was on a fast track to stardom, he suffered yet another set back.
As soon as the heads collided in the beginning of the second stanza, Robert started pawing at his eye and squinting; referee and the doctor stopped the bout as Guerrero told them he could not see. Even though many questioned his warrior spirit, Guerrero will live to fight another day. I know all the challenges that he has to go through will strengthen his character and resolve to be the best he can be in the ring. As the matter of fact HBO has confirmed a new date for Robert's next performance on June 27th, 2009.
I called Robert a week after the fight to check up on him and to get his take on what happened.
"I went to see a plastic surgeon, "said Guerrero on the phone:" They did a very good job. It took twenty three stitches on the side and twenty on top." Even though stitches are coming out soon, Robert is not sure how long it is going to take to heal. For now he is just nursing his cut, taking a break and spending time at home with his family.
"I didn't decide to stop the fight," said Robert: "It was the referee's and doctors decision to stop the fight. For them to question my heart, I think it's wrong. I have been through some tough fights before and I have made it happen. I've had to fight through cuts before, broken shoulder, hurt hands. For them to question my heart is wrong, but that's the way people are."
"I felt good in there," continued Guerrero: "He moved quickly, so we had to go to the body to slow him down. He started using his head a lot and created a cut."
Watching the replay on TV I did notice that Yordan did not want to fight on the inside and clinched every time Guerrero got close and the cut was created just at the moment as Indonesian fighter grabbed Robert yet one more time trying to avoid the inside punishment and their heads collided.
"It seemed to me like he did not want to fight," said Guerrero: "When I asked him for a rematch, he said no, we are going down to 126. They were excited the fight got stopped.
The way they were acting after the fight, it seemed like they won a world championship.
They didn't want to fight, that's the reason they were trying to head butt and just tie me up." I have to side with Robert on this one, watching this bout unfold ringside, I did not see the referee call an accidental head butt and watching Yordan camp celebrate , I along with many fans thought that Indonesian fighter won the fight by stoppage. And Yourdan did seem very happy even after they announced a no contest due to an accidental clash of heads as if he felt that he dodged a bullet with the fight ending early.
Comparing his wife's challenges with her leukemia treatments, this is a minor hurdle for Robert and he seems to be over it now. He seems confident that his manager Shelly Finkel and his promotional company, Golden Boy will guide him toward a very bright future. "There are big fights out there," said Guerrero: "There is Marquez; there is Pacquiao and then there is Humberto Soto. Those are the dream fights."
That's what I call shooting for the stars. May be Robert should reverse the order of his dreams and fight Humberto Soto first; that could turn out to be one dynamic brawl.
Young man from Gilroy is full of confidence. Let's hope he gets at least a part of his dream.
As soon as the heads collided in the beginning of the second stanza, Robert started pawing at his eye and squinting; referee and the doctor stopped the bout as Guerrero told them he could not see. Even though many questioned his warrior spirit, Guerrero will live to fight another day. I know all the challenges that he has to go through will strengthen his character and resolve to be the best he can be in the ring. As the matter of fact HBO has confirmed a new date for Robert's next performance on June 27th, 2009.
