Guerrero and Jeffries will square off against challengers on
separate Saturday night cards
They’re both world champions. Both fight out of Gilroy and
they’re both defending their titles on Saturday night. With that
said, it’s no surprise that Hollister’s Kelsey
”
The Road Warrior
”
Jeffries and Gilroy’s Robert
”
The Ghost
”
Guerrero root each other on.
On Saturday night Guerrero will square off against challenger
Martin Honorio in a 12-round title bout that puts Guerrero’s IBF
Featherweight title on the line.
Guerrero and Jeffries will square off against challengers on separate Saturday night cards
They’re both world champions. Both fight out of Gilroy and they’re both defending their titles on Saturday night. With that said, it’s no surprise that Hollister’s Kelsey “The Road Warrior” Jeffries and Gilroy’s Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero root each other on.
On Saturday night Guerrero will square off against challenger Martin Honorio in a 12-round title bout that puts Guerrero’s IBF Featherweight title on the line.
“I know he’s ready and I’m ready,” Guerrero said. So, it’s going to be a great fight. It’s going to be a good rough, tough fight.”
Guerrero’s fight will be broadcast on Showtime at about the same time that Jeffries, the International Female Boxers’ Association Featherweight Champion, will step into the ring at the Seven Feathers Casino in Canyonville, Ore. in a 10-round title bout against Elizabeth Vallareal – some 1,200 miles away from Guerrero.
But instead of putting her IFBA title on the line, a new title will be up for grabs tomorrow night in Oregon: The Global Boxing Union 126 World Title.
“I think it’s going to be a good night for both of us,” said Jeffries, who has known Guerrero for nearly a decade. “I’m excited. I think it’s awesome to think that we both came from the same gym and are both world champions. Robert helped me a lot when we were both amateurs. He’s my idol, a great fighter and he’s good for Gilroy.”
Jeffries, 31, enters the ring with a record of 38-9-1 while Guerrero, 24, has a record of 20-1-1 with 13 KOs.
“Someday, I’d love to be on the same card as him. Maybe we could both fight at ‘The Tank’ in San Jose that would be a great show,” Jeffries said.
In previous interviews Guerrero has indicated that he would enjoy nothing more than returning to Gilroy High, his alma mater, to fight at the school’s football stadium.
“That would be great too,” said Jeffries. “I’d love to fight on the same card as him.”
Although neither camp discusses money, boxing is much more lucrative for Guerrero, who is expected to earn upwards of $40,000 for the fight against Honorio, which is roughly about 10 times more than his female counterpart.
“It’s a little frustrating,” said Jeffries, who is a paid-call firefighter with the city of Hollister and student at Gavilan College. “If I was a man, I’d be a millionaire easily right now and making about two-hundred-thousand a fight, but that’s just the way it is.”
A win for Guerrero would increase his marketability to pick up bigger fights, and with it, bigger more lucrative paydays.
“If I win this fight, it means a lot” Guerrero said. “It means a title defense for me. It will catapult me into bigger fights. Maybe I can get a fight in a main event or fight with (Manny) Pacquiao – get into bigger fights, bigger names … get that shot to become a superstar in the sport.”
Unlike Guerrero, Jeffries doesn’t have much information on her opponent, other than the fact that she’ll probably be a lot bigger than Jeffries, who stands 5-4 and about 122 pounds.
“I should really be a Super Bantam weight but I’ve got to fight 126 because I can’t find anyone to fight me at any less weight. I’m ready to go but I’m sure she’s going to be another big, tough girl,” Jeffries said. “I can’t take this fight lightly. I don’t know much about her but she knows all about me.”
Despite her smaller stature, Jeffries plans to take command of the fight by boxing smart and working in plenty of body shots during the bout.
“I need to fight smart and fight my fight,” she said. “She’s taller (5-foot-7) and is going to have a reach advantage. But I’ll have my trainer right there with me (Buddy McGirt) and he’ll help me out a lot.”
The two fighters would not have been fighting on the same night had Guerrero’s bout, which was originally scheduled for September against Rocky Juarez, happened the first time. Instead, that fight was rescheduled with Honorio before being called off and then on again for the third time. With that said, Guerrero is chomping at the bit to get things going.
“Honorio got an extra month to study me and I know he’s in great shape. It’s going to make the fight that much tougher and he’s going to be ready,” “The Ghost” said. “I know it’s going to be a good fight and it could end up that way or it could go to the scorecards. All I know is that I’m prepared for 12 rounds and I’m ready to go.”
By Sunday, the two fighters hope to keep their titles right here in the Gilroy/Hollister area.
“I’ve got no stop in me,” Jeffries said. “I’m still rolling and I think it’s going to be a good night for both of us.”
