Gilroy’s Robert
”
The Ghost
”
Guerrero knocked out Edel Ruiz in 43 seconds Saturday at Staples
Center in Los Angeles
It’s never a good sign for a boxer when his theme song entering the ring lasts longer than he does.
Gilroy native Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero didn’t have that problem Saturday night at Staples Center in Los Angeles, but his opponent Edel Ruiz sure did.
Guerrero (23-1-1, 16 KOs), fighting for the first time in almost a year, delivered a vicious left uppercut to Ruiz’s ribs to win their super featherweight bout by knockout 43 seconds into the first round.
“The weird thing about it is I come out, I don’t hear anything,” Guerrero said. “Everything is just a blur.”
The fans in attendance could say the same about the bout. Many were still arriving to their seats, missing a fight that was blink-and-you-miss-it fast.
Guerrero and Ruiz were fifth on an eight-fight card being headlined by Antonio Margarito defending his WBA welterweight title against Shane Mosley. Mosley upset Margarito with a knockout 43 seconds into the ninth round.
Ruiz’s undoing was tossing a right hand at Guerrero. The punch was quickly shrugged off and countered by a left to the body, dropping a breathless Ruiz to his knees.
“I slipped the shot and came right under,” Guerrero said, adding that he threw less than 10 punches total. “I knew he wasn’t going to get up.
“It’s always good to get more rounds, but once you get somebody out of there, you put your foot on their neck and just smash it. This is boxing. One punch can change anything.”
Ruiz’s record took yet another hit, as the Mexican boxer has now lost eight of his last 11 fights to drop to 31-22-4 (22 KOs).
Guerrero said he was excited with the win for several reasons. The victory was a good way to shake off ring rust after being held out since an eighth-round knockout of Jason Litzau on Feb. 29, 2008. The layoff was due to a lingering arbitration case with his former promoter, Goossen Tutor.
After winning that case and becoming a free agent, Guerrero signed with Golden Boy Promotions.
His new promoters were more than pleased with Saturday’s showing.
“They all came back (to the dressing room) and were like, ‘Man, that was an incredible shot,'” Guerrero said.
The bout marked just the second time Guerrero has fought at Staples Center, with both fights ending in victory. Guerrero won the IBF featherweight title for the first time of his career by forcing Eric Aiken to quit after eight rounds on Sept. 2, 2006.
“The beating I put on Aiken here – you [saw] the crowd’s reaction when I came out,” Guerrero said. “They love when I come out (to Los Angeles).”
Having fought just five times since winning the IBF featherweight title for the first time of his career – he lost and regained his title, defended it twice, and then relinquished the belt to move up a weight class before beating Ruiz – Guerrero is viewing his latest bout as a new beginning to his career.
“Close that (last chapter), start a new year and start my career anew again with a new promoter,” he said.
He is expected to have a short turnaround as Golden Boy is putting on a card March 7 at HP Pavilion in San Jose. No opponent has been named, but Guerrero would likely headline the event.
