Robert Guerrero More Than A Ghost

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    (July 29, 2010 – Source: Ethan Miller/Getty Images North America)

    Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero is looking to solidify his status with the boxing elite at the welterweight division. This will be Guerrero’s first fight at welterweight and he’s not taking the easy route, as he looks to go into battle on July 28,2012 vs. Selcuk “Mini Tyson”Aydin. He will fight the unbeaten power puncher for the vacant WBC Interim Welterweight World Championship in a fight to be televised live on SHOWTIME.

     

    A young man from Gilroy, California, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (29-1-1, 18 KO’s) has captivated the boxing world from the start of his career, Already a World Champion at 126, 130 and 135 pounds, the 28-year-old Guerrero’s list of conquests includes Joel“Cepillio” Casamayor, Jason Litzau, Vicente Escobedo and Michael Katsidis. Guerrero story is one many fans have been drawn to. Guerrero vacated his title and canceled his March 27 fight versus Michael Katsidis on HBO, so that he can spend more time with his wife, Casey, who was battling Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.

     

    It is evident that “The Ghost” has a firm grasp on reality and he understands what is truly important in life. Guerrero teamed up with the Light The Night Walk, which is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual fund raising walk to pay tribute, and bring hope, to people battling cancer. According to a press release from Team Guerrero, Light The Night Walk is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual fund raising walk to pay tribute and bring hope to people battling cancer. Hundreds of thousands of participants raised funds for lifesaving research and patient services.

     

    Now that his wife’s fight is over with cancer, a win she accomplished by TKO victory, Guerrero is looking to do the same come the 28th of July. Guerrero will be moving up two weight divisions to face Selcuk “Mini Tyson”Aydin. In this fight Guerrero is looking to prove to the world why he’s one of the best and that it isn’t all words, when he says the best don’t want to face him. The best being Juan Manuel Marquez, a fighter he has chased basically his entire career being Marquez’ mandatory a few times but never being able to secure the fight.

     

    A few months ago Guerrero’s name was in the boxing media more than any of the possible Floyd Mayweather’s opponents. Guerrero and his team were making a strong case for getting the Mayweather fight before Cotto was secured and signed to fight Mayweather. When Mayweather was asked on possibly fighting Guerrero, he said he never heard of him. That was something that Guerrero doesn’t believe but something that made this fight all the more appealing to Guerrero because a win on July 28th means he’s Mayweather’s mandatory for the WBC welterweight Championship of the world. In a perfect world, a win in this fight would solidify a fight vs. Mayweather but we don’t live in a perfect world do we?

     

    How the WBC even arrived at Guerrero as a challenger for the interim title is a bit puzzling, He has a very respectable resume, but it is mostly all from 126-135. He has a single fight at junior welterweight, a one-sided unanimous decision against Joel Casamayor in 2010. The thing is Aydin himself has been the mandatory to that belt since it belonged to Andre Berto who lost it to Victor Ortiz, who lost it to Floyd Mayweather, who moved to challenge and decisively beat Miguel Cotto for the junior Middleweight championship.

     

    Regardless Guerrero is a great fighter, and fans will be happy to see him back in action. This will be his first fight in more than a year since he beat Michael Katsidis at 135 pounds by an impressive unanimous decision in April 2011. Many will be tuned in to see if he back up his words. As of late, he’s been a fighter known not to bite his tongue calling out the likes of Floyd Mayweather and also Victor Ortiz, when the clash between Ortiz and Berto fell apart due to Andre Berto’s bicep injury earlier this year.

     

    So Guerrero has been adamant about fighting the best, yet hasn’t gotten the chance. A 15-month layoff and a jump up two weight classes are not normal career moves for a boxer but Guerrero seems anxious to elevate his career to a higher level, to a superstar status. What better division to do so then in the welterweight division; the division where some of boxing’s brightest rising stars compete like Devon Alexander, Kell Brook, Andre Berto, Victor Ortiz,  and of course Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

     

    Guerrero makes a strong case that he does not get the recognition he deserves, a feat his hoping to achieve now that he’s fighting at 147, which would be his six fight class. Still, he is completely justified in feeling unfairly neglected. Good, solid wins at 147 will give him a house hold name. We all wanted to see the matchup between Marcos Maidana happen last August. Maybe he can have a flourishing a name like Maidana on his resume that would take him off on any short list of the most overlooked talents in the sport.

     

    Of course, even if he wins, Guerrero will still be something of a long shot to get the PPV slot opposite Mayweather. Guerrero does have a story and one that can sell, one that can be showcased on HBO, and one that fans both hardcore and casual will back. Whether or not that’s enough to land him the mega fight at 147 is yet to be seen. Still, he’s bound to make both the money and recognition he deserves as one of the top tier fighter in the world.

    You can follow Guerrero on twitter @Ghostboxing