Robert Guerrero thinks experience, family connection will give
him the edge
Compared to what he went through preparing for his last title defense, the last couple months have been cake for Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero.
Not literally, of course.
The champ, always conscious of his diet, wouldn’t think of eating anything that won’t help him in his Feb. 29 IBF Featherweight title defense against Jason “The American Boy” Litzau (23-1, 19 KOs) at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif.
But for the father of two who just celebrated his son Robert Jr.’s first birthday this week with his wife Casey, who organized the birthday festivities and is doing much better now that the cancer, found in her body in October, is in remission, the uncertainty that weighed heavily on the champ’s mind before a first-round knockout of Martin Honorio in November is nowhere to be found.
In fact, Guerrero (21-1-1, 14 KOs) is taking the whatever-doesn’t-kill-you-makes-you-stronger approach.
“The whole situation makes me mentally strong,” Guerrero said Monday. “If you can get through anything like that – when it comes to a fight, it does play a big role in being mentally strong. It helped me out a lot, basically being in a hole and fighting my way out.”
The focus this time around is all on Litzau, a fighter with heavy hands that is known to carry himself with a swagger than can help, and at times hurt, the Minnesota-based boxer.
Since being floored by Jose Hernandez in a Dec. 2006 bout Litzau was leading on all cards, The American Boy has rolled off three-straight victories. Only one of those wins, however, has come by knockout. Somewhat surprising for a fighter that tallied KO’s in all of his first 14 professional bouts. The change in finishing ability could be a sign of maturation on Litzau’s part, not always looking for the big punch, or it could also represent a drop in confidence, giving ammunition to those who doubt whether Litzau has fully recovered from his only defeat.
Guerrero thinks it could be a bit of both.
“I think he’s going to be more cautious, have his hands up more,” Guerrero said. “He’s going to be real smart about the fight.”
While Guerrero has a reputation for outboxing opponents, The Ghost has shown more firepower in his arsenal of late. Both of his last two fights have ended in early stoppages, which could mean the Gilroy-native that was often taking on savvy, veteran competitors early in his career, is starting to grow into his body. The result would be a crafty southpaw that can beat you in a variety of ways.
“Oh yeah, definitely, I’ve had guys where I’ve hurt them and put them down and they’ve had the experience to recover,” Guerrero said. “That’s what makes champions, when you fight top opposition. Guys with a lot of experience.”
One experience that Guerrero would not like to repeat is his last fight at the Tachi Palace. The only blemish on Guerrero’s record (a Nov. 2006 loss to Orlando Salido was later ruled a no-contest after Salido tested positive to taking steroids after the fight), was a split-decision loss to Gamaliel Diaz at the same location as the upcoming bout. Guerrero got redemption by knocking out Diaz six months later in Oakland.
But comparing the upcoming matchup with his only defeat is something Guerrero doesn’t see similarities between. Without his father Ruben in his corner during that 2006 bout with Diaz, Guerrero felt out of sorts.
“I wasn’t with my father and I didn’t have him in my corner, so, I wasn’t really prepared for that fight,” Guerrero said. “But as soon as I got my father back, I got prepared and knocked [Diaz] out with the body shot.”
That comfort level has continued to appear in more recent results.
With his wife now recovering well and his family giving him the support he needs inside and outside the ring, Guerrero thinks everything is falling into place.
“Now, it’s just sharpening up and going over all the things we’ve put together,” Guerrero said. “We’ve seen a lot of things.”
What things you ask?
“I don’t want to let anything out of the bag until fight night.”
One more victory, and the champ will be having his cake and eating it – maybe – too.
