Boxing Interview: Robert \”The Ghost\” Guerrero

Click for larger image © Julie Warren Soulmag.com

Quite often in the world of boxing today, the Featherweight division is overlooked & unfortunately some of the greatest boxers slip under the radar, rarely to be spotted by hungry fans on the undercards of Mega Events & Heavyweight bouts. For those of you that fall prey to this scenario or those of you that just don’t know… it’s time you were introduced to your new NABF Featherweight Champion… Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (17 fights, 16 wins, 9 ko’s, & 1 draw).

Born Robert Joseph Guerrero on March 27th, 1983…he’s a powerful  5 foot 10 inch, twenty two year old southpaw, & he is undefeated in 17 pro fights. To say that boxing is in his blood would be a worn out cliche’ to use, due to the fact that he started lacing up his gloves at about age nine in the gym with his family.

Robert has an amazing amateur career behind him, as he began conquering opponents at a very young age. At only 15 years old he had the honor of competing in the Junior Olympics & compete he did. He walked away with the National Junior Olympics gold medal. After that, he then entered the United States 2000 Olympic trials & is still to this day the youngest boxer to ever do so. Although, he lost at the trials to 21 year old Clarence Vinson, Guerrero kept the faith & turned pro at age 18.

Folks, that’s not to shabby for a teenager.

A lot has changed since then. The boy has become a young man & as you can see by his current stats & rankings on any website or by any boxing council & organization roster…& let’s not forget folks, he’s got his strap now.

The champ took some time out from his training regiment to answer a few questions with us before gearing up for his next up & coming bout on December 2nd, 2005 at the Palace Indian Gaming Center in Lemoore, CA.

Hello Robert. Pleasure speaking with you.

I’d like to start off with a statement & then spin it into a question if you don’t mind…so bear with me…

April 22nd, 2001 you made your pro degut at age 18 winning a four-round unanimous decision over Alex Ramirez. You then worked your way through 12 fighters dishing out 6 technical knock outs, 1 draw, & 5 lop sided unanimous decisions before dropping Cesar Figueroa four times & gaining the NABF’s Featherweight title. You’ve defended it twice since, by stopping both men that tried to take your strap…am I on the right track so far?

Now, my question is did you always know that you were destined for greatness? Just joking.

Question: Seriously though Robert, you are in the beginnings of a great career & you have far surpassed the hopes of most critics around you. How does that feel? How does it feel to be defending your North American Boxing Federation (NABF) Featherweight title for the third time? I mean, you’re now coming out of what the boxing community & most scribes call “the prospect stage” with 17 pro fights, 16 wins, 1 draw, & 9 ko’s & you already have a title. You are shaping up to be one of, if not the most promising new Featherweight belt holders of the game, besides the obvious thoughs of conquering the division, what drives you? Is there something more to it than that?

First of all I have to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That’s first, because a man can only stay completely focused if he is disciplined in all aspects of his life. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke and I don’t go out and party like most 22 year olds do. I just stay focused on the task at hand, which is perfecting my craft, boxing! I have a family to take care of. That is what drives me the most. I want my wife and daughter to live comfortably. I need to put food on the table now. My faith in Christ is what keeps everything together. As far as defending my NABF title, yea it feels good, but I want one of the major titles around my waist. My team and I feel that I am ready for the best featherweights in the world.

Question: On December 2nd, 2005 you’ll be defending your NABF Featherweight Title for the third time against Gamaliel Diaz (19-5-2) at Palace Indian Gaming Center in Lemoore, CA…what do you know about your twenty four year old Orthodox opponent? Is there anything that you & trainer John Bray are doing different for this fight?

Well , there are a lot of things we are doing different. Those are confidential secrets, but lets just say John Bray is a great teacher that still has a lot in his bag. I know Diaz will be on his (A) game, and I will be ready. The fans will see a more polished fighter in me Dec 2nd.

Question: With so many massive events coming up like the Hopkins Taylor rematch, the Hatton Maussa defense, & so & so on…is there a chance that fans are going to be able to see this fight via television? Where do you fit in on the glass box come December the 2nd? ESPN2 or is this going to be a ShowTime feature?

That is a great question, because I want the whole world to know that this fight will be on SHOWTIME (Shobox) Dec 2nd. I want everyone in England to tune in. Boxing is huge in England and I want to show the fans over there that I can swing em.

Question: I remember watching you drop Cesar Figueroa at the Pechanga, & think to myself how much power & speed this gent has. Also, devastating Adrian Valdez for twelve hard rounds on ShoBox. Nine knockouts in seventeen fights is nothing to cry about…that being said…How do you rate your power against fellow boxers on the move up such as Morrales, Barrera, Pacquiao, Harrison, Marquez, & Chi? That sort…how do you rate your power?

I would have to say that I’m as powerful if not more powerful than those guys, and it showed n the Valdez fight as I carried my power to the 12th round.

Question: Also, who do you think the hardest puncher of your division is?

I feel I’m the hardest puncher in this division, but that’s for the media and the critic’s to compare.

Question: Now that you have your title, & I am sure that you plan on keeping it, youv’e broken into the rankings top ten spots. Give us a rundown of where you are currently ranked by the IBF, the WBO, the WBC, & the WBA if you will.

Right now the WBC has me ranked the highest at #2, WBO # 7, IBF #7, WBA # 12. This of course is what my publicist is telling me. I really don’t keep up with the rankings, but I am aware that I’m # 2 by the WBC.

Question: Sometimes fighters are moved along to quickly, thrown to the lions so to speak…but your career has progressed quite nicely. Let’s just say hypothetically that your manager were to “throw you to the lions”…who would that Lion be? Who is that one big jump up in class at 130 that you want to sink your claws into? Is there anyone out there that you are just desperate to fight & make a statement with?

First I have to capture at major title at 126. God willing that were to happen, I would want to fight Morales and Barrera. Those guys are great champions and some of the best P4P fighters in the world.

Question: That being said, let’s flip a coin & reverse that question. It’s one that I always like to ask. Give yourself a moment & think & then in all honesty…tell us who out there (if there is anyone) would “The Ghost” is scared of? Or let’s not say scared…but leary of. Who, if any, is the one man that you might have reservations about fighting?

All I can say to that is, if God be for you, who can be against you? I fear no man, only God.

Question: How about Juan Manuel Marquez. He’s the top of your pile right now, unless he is soon to follow along the trail of the Morales’s, the Pac’s, & the Barrrera’s…how would you feel about a future match up with Marquez before he jumps the Featherweight ship?

Like I’ve said in some past interviews, to be the best you have to fight the best. Marquez is considered the best featherweight in the world and it would be an honor to fight him.

Question: Arguably, at this moment, you are or could easily be considered as the top talent of the featherweight division. Outside of a few names such as In Jin Chi, Chris John, & Joan Guzman you are becoming the more dominant force of the division… I would’nt say that it is as wide open as the heavyweights… but you could have a stanglehold on it very soon. Has the thought ever crossed your mind about moving up to Super Feather & chasing Barrera or Pac? Is that just to far down the line to worry about or would you rather clean up your division?

First, with Gods blessings, I want to dominate the Featherweight division. After that I would move up to 130 and have the same goal. But take it one day at a time. I’m only 22 and have a long way to go. I must first be featherweight champion of the world.

Question: Sometimes, in your case, it would seem that you might have trouble landing any of those fights due to the fact that you are still running undefeated & that you have dominated the majority of everyone you have faced. Do you think that your fellow fighters see you as the next world beater & that maybe you are to much of a force to be reckoned with? Do you have trouble getting your foot in the door with the upper eschelong of fighters or is it that your manager has chosen not to step you up to the level yet? Again, I commend your team & management…there was no disrespect in that statement whatsoever.

None taken. My management team of Shelly Finkel and Bob Santos are on top of their game. They know what they are doing. I can’t really comment on their decision-making, except that I have faith in all that they do. I believe in them, just like they believe in me.

Question: Speaking of your management, Shelly Finkel’s been in the media quite a lot lately with some very high profile clients such as Pacquiao, Vargas, & Tyson…not to put you on the spot, but that’s got to make you feel like you’ve hit pay dirt. Finkel is the big time. Do you feel duely represented with Finkel?

It’s an honor to be represented by Shelly Finkel. Like I said, I have complete faith in my management team. I couldn’t be happier with Shelly and Bob as my managers.

Question: I realize that it’s hard for you to look at things from a fans perspective, but regarding PPV Events do you think that the sport needs more standard network televised bouts to bring back the interest in our sport? I mean, it even seems that people are incline to flip the channell on boxing even during the Olympics. Do you see anything that you yourself think should or could change to better the sport right now?

Well there is no doubt that network television brings more fans to the sport. Just look at the “Contender” and how so many fans tuned in to watch the rematch with Mora and Manfedo. I was sitting ringside for that fight and thought to myself, wow this is great.

Question: Last but not least, is there anything that I might have missed or something that you would like to add to this interview before we close up shop?

I just want to say; with Jesus Christ in my life I am alive and well. The fans are the most important part of any entertainer’s career and I want to thank them all. When I step in the ring, I bring my (A) game for the fans. Visit my website www.robertguerrero.com and log into the guest book to get updated on my career. Merry Christmas and God bless to all.

Robert, I congratulate you on winning & defending your title…I hope that it’s the first of many & I wish you nothing but the best down the line as you work towards dominating the division & pleasing your fans. Nothing but the best.

Cheers. It’s been a pleasure. Have a wonderful holiday, a great fight, & god bless you & your family.

Don’t forget people. Friday December the 2nd, 2005 @ 11 p.m. Robert the Ghost Guerrero vs Gamaliel Diaz. Thanks again Robert.