Guerrero preparing for first title defense
Robert “the Ghost” Guerrero has a quick response for anyone who thinks the fame of being a world champion will get to him.
“Nothing has changed,” Guerrero said Thursday from Northridge, where he is training for his first International Boxing Federation featherweight title defense against Orlando Salido. “You need to carry yourself with class and be a humble person. Once you think you are better than anyone else, that’s your downfall right there.”
Guerrero, the world champion from Gilroy, faces Salido (27-9-2, 18 knockouts) on the same card that features Floyd Mayweather defending his World Boxing Council lightweight title against Carlos Baldomir. The HBO Pay Per View fight card is Nov. 4 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
As for taking it easy during his workouts, Guerrero is having none of that as well. He sparred 18 rounds Wednesday. While there won’t be any more days like that, Guerrero will continue to spar until the end of next week.
“I’ll taper to 10 rounds (today), then to eight on Monday and finish (next) Friday,” said Guerrero (19-1-1, 12 KOs). “The following week it is light training. You need to reach a peak, but you can’t be going downhill.”
While the confident Guerrero trains to go 12 rounds, he doesn’t expect the fight to last that long. He works with four or five heavier sparring partners because fighters his size aren’t as strong or in as good shape.
“I go in there expecting to abuse somebody,” Guerrero, 23, said, “to batter him around. If the knockout comes, it comes. Most of the time they take so much punishment they either quit or end up going down.”
Guerrero knows, however, there is a fine line between confidence and over-confidence. Training and remaining in shape is a full-time occupation. It doesn’t mean his walking around weight is 118 (featherweight limit). But it also means that he is not walking around at 140. And, the running and training began one week after his last fight with Eric Aiken, which Guerrero won by TKO.
“Aiken was in the past as soon as I walked out of the ring,” Guerrero said. “You start focusing on what’s next. You can’t live in the past in boxing. You live in the future. You’re only as good as your next fight.”
Interesting take on those who say you are only as good as your last fight.
“Talking about what happened in the last fight can’t get you a win,” Guerrero said. “You still have to go out there and fight. You can’t let it (past successes) go to your head. Ultimately, you are judged by your next fight.”
