It will be like old times for Robert
”
the Ghost
”
Guerrero.
It will be like old times for Robert “the Ghost” Guerrero.
The No. 1 man in his corner will be the No. 1 man in his life, his father Ruben Guerrero.
It was anticipated that Freddie Roach would be in Guerrero’s corner Feb. 23 for his International Boxing Federation featherweight title fight against Spend Abazi in Denmark.
But when Oscar De La Hoya decided not to meet the $2 million asking price of Floyd Mayweather Sr. to train him for his mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., Roach signed on to train De La Hoya.
Because of the high profile of De La Hoya, it was natural that Roach would opt to give his full attention to the six-time world champion, which left Guerrero seeking a trainer for his third IBF featherweight title fight. He didn’t have to look far.
“I am excited,” said Guerrero, wrapping up training in Hollywood before heading to Denmark on Thursday. “I found out about two weeks ago that Freddie wouldn’t be in my corner. But that’s all right. I’m ready to go. That’s the bottom line. My dad’s been working with me since I was a little kid. I have confidence in him to get the job done in my corner. Every title fight I’ve been in, he’s been in my corner.”
Ruben Guerrero trained his son during his formative years until Joe Goosen was brought in to serve as lead trainer. Ruben was in his son’s corner as lead trainer for the fight three years ago against Enrique Sanchez. Guerrero won by eighth-round TKO.
John Bray was brought in and he was with Guerrero through his last fight against Orlando Salido. Though Salido won a unanimous decision, he tested positive for steroids and relinquished the title belt four days later. Guerrero and Abazi, the two highest rated IBF featherweights, were then told to fight for the vacant title.
Guerrero and Bray parted amicably and Roach was brought into guide the Ghost’s career. Next week, however, it will be Ruben Guerrero in his corner, along with co-manager Bob Santos.
“I’ll be working with Freddie,” Robert Guerrero said. “Unfortunately, he can’t make it to the fight. I’ll get the job done regardless of who is there. We talked it over. I can’t wait to get over there and make it happen.”
Guerrero, who is making his first ever trip to Europe, figures that spending one week in Denmark will allow him to get use to the nine-hour time change. Team Guerrero will have a small contingent in Denmark – Santos and publicist Mario Serrano in addition to Guerrero and his father.
Guerrero realizes that he can’t get involved in a close fight and leave the decision in the judges’ hands.
“My back’s against the wall,” Guerrero, 23, said. “We have to blow this guy out of the water. I have to hit him with hard shots and not get hit. That’s part of ‘the Ghost,’ not getting hit.”
Otherwise, he knows he may get hit with a decision he doesn’t like.
