Gilroy fighter faces No. 1 contender Salido
Las Vegas – Gilroy’s Robert “the Ghost” Guerrero got to enjoy his International Boxing Federation featherweight title belt for less than two weeks before the announcement of his first title defense.
It wasn’t against a so-called “lesser opponent,” but rather the IBF’s No. 1-rated challenger, Orlando Salido.
In addition to the fight taking place on boxing’s biggest stage at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, it will be on HBO Pay Per View. The fight will be part of a card that features unbeaten Floyd Mayweather taking on Carlos Baldomir for the World Boxing Council welterweight title.
“His resume is very good,” Guerrero said of Salido, who is 27-9-2 with 18 knockouts. “To be in the top 10, you’ve got to have done something special.”
Perhaps Salido’s most special fight in the last five years was the only one he lost, by unanimous decision to Juan Manual Marquez.
“He gave Marquez too much respect early, and then was taking the fight to him,” said Bob Santos, Guerrero’s co-manager. “He’s a compact, heavy-handed fighter who is deceptive and who can fight different styles.”
Salido, 26, is smaller (5-6) than Eric Aiken, who Guerrero won the IBF title from in their fight Sept. 2 at the Staples Center, Los Angeles.
“He’s a strong fighter,” Guerrero said. “He comes to fight. He went the distance with one of the best in Marquez, so you know he’s doing something right.”
Guerrero, 23, remains a man with a mission. His goal is to get a fight with one of the “name” opponents. And yet he also knows that Salido stands in his way.
“Every fight is a dangerous fight,” Guerrero said. “You can’t take anyone lightly.”
While Guerrero is a focused fighter, he realized when he took this fight that he would have to deal with other distractions. After all, the national media will be out in force with Mayweather on the card.
“He’s one of the biggest stars in boxing,” Guerrero said. “He brings a lot of attention. The more media there, the bigger it gets. Opening for Floyd Mayweather is great or any young fighter coming up.”
Mayweather has his own interesting storyline for tonight’s fight. His uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, will not be in his corner. Roger Mayweather is serving a six-month jail sentence following his Sept. 11 conviction for battery. Floyd Mayweather doesn’t think the distraction will keep him from boosting his professional record to 37-0.
Interestingly, Baldomir is a similar type of opponent for him that Salido is for Guerrero. Baldomir, 43-9-6 with 13 KOs, is unbeaten in his last 21 fights dating back to 1999.
His last two fights have been wins over highly regarded Zab Judah and Arturo Gatti. He handed Judah just his second professional defeat last January when he won by unanimous decision to take the WBC welterweight title. He defended it in June by stopping tough guy Gatti in the ninth round.
