Boxing Quotes: Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero

North American Boxing Federation (NABF) Featherweight Champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (18-1-1, 11 KOs) will challenge International Boxing Federation (IBF) 126-pound champion Eric “Mighty Mouse” Aiken (16-4, 12 KOs) Saturday, Sept. 2, 2006, at STAPLES Center. SHOWTIME will televise the world title bout at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).

The explosive match-up, featuring two of the busiest and hardest hitting featherweights in the business, will open the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast before headliners James “Lights Out” Toney and Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter go toe-to-toe in what promises to be an electrifying World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight elimination bout.

The exciting night of boxing will be promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, Don King Productions and Duva Boxing.

Tickets priced at $300, $150, $75 and $50 are available at the STAPLES Center box office or www.ticketmaster.com.

ROBERT GUERRERO

“Winning any of the three major titles would be good. Any one I can get in on, I am happy to get the opportunity. I am excited to get a shot at the IBF title.”

“After the first Gamaliel Diaz fight, I was just wondering what happened. I was in great shape and ready to go. It was just one of those nights.”

“The loss to Diaz made me work harder as a person and a boxer. From day one, I wanted to go back and correct the mistakes that I had made in the ring.”

“When you are on a winning streak, you can hardly look back. I was knocking everyone out. I did not look back at the mistakes I was making. After the Diaz fight, I went back and looked at everything. It taught me a good lesson of being on my toes and ready for anything.”

“From what I have seen of Aiken, he has had a lot of fights at 122 pounds. You cannot underestimate anybody. That is what happened in the Diaz fight. No one had heard of him. Watching tapes of Diaz, I thought I would just walk through him. The loss was an eye opener for me and taught me a lot. A guy can have 10-15 losses, but he can have a punch and pull off an upset.”

“Aiken is a big puncher. It goes to show that when a guy gets an opportunity, he can take advantage. I am expecting Aiken to come and fight me. I am expecting this to be my toughest fight. I look at every fight that way.”

“I looked at the Diaz loss as a good thing. It teaches a fighter who he is and what kind of person he is. I bounced back from it and it made me work harder.”

“The folks in Gilroy, Calif., are going nuts for this fight. For this fight, I have been in Los Angeles training. I am staying in Sherman Oaks.”

“This is a life-long dream for me. I am still kind of in disbelief that I am fighting for a world title. I have been working for this since I was nine years old. That is all I thought about when I was a kid. I thought about the Olympics and becoming a world champion. It is exciting that I am fighting for a world title.”

“When I saw my daughter being born, I almost passed out and my wife was going through all of that pain. I told the doctor that I would rather be in a 12-round fight than lying in that bed.”

“I have been working up a game plan for Aiken. You are going to have to wait and see what I bring on the night of Sept. 2. We will be ready for whatever he brings.”

“I have been working hard and learning a lot. I have been training ever since the last fight against Diaz. The hunger drives me to be a world champion. I have been doubling up on my push ups, doing cardio and running to prepare for 12 rounds. If it goes 12 rounds, I will be ready.”

“Right now, I weigh about 135 pounds, so I am right there.”

“I am expecting a tough fight and that Aiken will bring it. He is a really big puncher and gives it all he has. We found some weaknesses in his fights, but will let you know on Sept. 2.”

“Only God knows what the outcome of the fight will be. I just keep hearing in my head “The new IBF featherweight champion.’ ”

“The Diaz fight humbled me a lot, made me critique myself and sharpen up my style. It made me work harder and taught me to not underestimate anyone. You have to be prepared for anything. That fight put my back against the wall and made me climb my way back to title contention.”

“I have sparred eight rounds so far, and I have a lot more coming.”

“I am rooting for Toney. He is a good friend and one of the slickest fighters in the ring. It is a pick “em fight.”

“It is going to be awesome to be a world champion in the Bay Area. It will bring more fans to the sport.”