Gilroy fighter’s December arbitration ruling deemed invalid by
state superior court
GILROY
Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero’s camp received a bit of a blow last week in its now year-and-a-half long battle with former promotional representative Goossen Tutor Promotions.
The California Superior Court vacated a December 2008 ruling by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) last Tuesday, which granted Guerrero his request to be cut loose from his contractual agreement with Goossen Tutor.
The Los Angeles Court rendered the previous ruling invalid after a signature was not procured by then-executive director of the CSAC Armando Garcia. Instead, Garcia’s assistant Bill Douglas signed off on the decision.
“The award was issued in our favor on Dec. 15, but was not signed by Garcia,” said Guerrero’s attorney Bruce Zabarauskas. “It was signed by his assistant. The award found that we were correct on all of our arguments and that (Guerrero’s) contract expired by its own terms as well.”
Zabarauskas said that Goossen Tutor moved to the Superior Court to have the decision vacated based on the fact that Garcia did not sign the award.
The case will now go in front of a new arbitration committee. Zabarauskas said the date is still being worked out.
Guerrero, a Gilroy native and two-time IBF champion, commenced arbitration against Goossen Tutor in March 2008, leading to two days of trial and a decision in favor of the local prize fighter. Three days after the award was issued, it was announced Guerrero signed with Golden Boy Promotions.
