Guerrero a deserving champion
It’s sad, but in today’s sports world many professional athletes
often make headlines for all the wrong reasons. We’ve all heard
about the antics of Mike Tyson, Barry Bonds, Rickie Williams,
Terrell Owens and the slew of other on- and off-field incidents
involving NBA and NHL players, too. No sport is without
controversy.
And that’s what makes the newly crowned Featherweight Champion
of the World
– Gilroy’s Robert
”
The Ghost
”
Guerrero
– so special. Guerrero is at the opposite end of the spectrum –
the type of athlete that will represent his sport and belt with
class and dignity.
Guerrero a deserving champion
It’s sad, but in today’s sports world many professional athletes often make headlines for all the wrong reasons. We’ve all heard about the antics of Mike Tyson, Barry Bonds, Rickie Williams, Terrell Owens and the slew of other on- and off-field incidents involving NBA and NHL players, too. No sport is without controversy.
And that’s what makes the newly crowned Featherweight Champion of the World – Gilroy’s Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero – so special. Guerrero is at the opposite end of the spectrum – the type of athlete that will represent his sport and belt with class and dignity.
In fact, I said to the 23-year-old champion about a month ago that I wished him well not just because it was exciting to see a local guy on the rise to the top, but I also knew he would make an outstanding champion just for the type of person that he is, his belief system and his willingness to give back to the community – a perfect role model for children.
Guerrero’s dreams of becoming a world champion first took root when he was just 9-years old – the first time he stepped into a boxing ring.
They became a reality last Saturday night at the Staples Center in Los Angles when the southpaw from Gilroy captured the International Boxing Federation’s World Championship Featherweight Belt after pummeling the former champion Eric Aiken so badly that Aiken and his trainers agreed to stop the fight before the bell rang at the start of the eighth round.
Wow, the world champion!
It’s amazing to think that this little section of the United States is home to NFL players Jeff Garcia and Jeff Ulbrich, women’s world boxing champion Kelsey Jeffries, Champ Car driver A.J. Allmendinger and now the IBF champion of the world – all at the same time!
I remember I first started covering Guerrero when he was just a teenager at Gilroy High School. Even back then “The Ghost,” who was given that name because of his explosive speed and fair complexion, stood out in the ring. From day one he made countless sacrifices in order to ascend to the top of the boxing world, sending hundreds of hours in the gym on Railroad Avenue trying to perfect his skills.
The first time I interviewed Guerrero I knew there was something special about him. In addition to his obvious boxing skills, which included tremendous speed and surprising power, Guerrero had all the intangibles that only the best athletes seem to possess.
In addition to that, I was impressed by how articulate he was and how important Gilroy, family, the Bay Area and his relationship with Jesus was to him. In other words, Robert Guerrero came across as a grounded individual who would never let fame and fortune destroy him.
Even then he would talk about winning the world title as a formality. He was on a mission and nothing was going to get in his way. Most kids I interview hope to one day make the Big Leagues, the NFL or a top NCAA Division I team. Guerrero knew there was no other option, similar to the confidence Tiger Woods possess.
Guerrero also saw his future boxing fame as not a money maker, but a potential avenue to help others and to give back to the community. Again, not exactly what one would expect a teenager in the bling-bling MTV era to say or even think about.
I was also impressed at the thought he would put into his comments and how polished he was at handling the limelight even before he ever had it. He never came across as cocky, yet he has to play that part at times because it’s the nature of the sport. Still, he never trash-talked about his opponents, saying that all of his talking would be done after the ring. And even in the lone defeat that he had last December that sidetracked him in his bee-line to the top, Guerrero found the positive in the humbling loss, and forged forward. Deep down, Guerrero has an inner confidence that has never wavered.
Over his last several fights he talked about how much he wanted to bring the title to the Bay Area and to be the Bay Area’s champion. He even said he would love to fight on the Gilroy High football field for the locals to enjoy.
Most boxers his age would be talking about buying a mansion, driving a Bentley, making commercials or other material things. But Guerrero is different; Guerrero is a champion both in and out of the ring.
With his career still years away from the final round it remains to be seen how and where his career will go from here. Money has changed many, many people and “The Ghost” is now staring millions in the face.
But somehow you get the feeling after meeting Robert Guerrero that the only headlines he’ll ever make will be positive ones.
Congratulations, Robert, you deserve it.
