LAS VEGAS – Watching Robert Guerrero fight on TV doesn’t suffice
for his biggest fan.
LAS VEGAS – Watching Robert Guerrero fight on TV doesn’t suffice for his biggest fan.
“I’d rather watch it live and be here with the excitement,” the Ghost’s wife Casey Guerrero said following Saturday night’s bout.
Boxing without his No. 1 supporter by his side, isn’t exactly the same either.
Back stage, about an hour after his triumph, the couple sat next to each other in the corner of the room, posing for candid family photos.
“I’m glad she was there to support me,” Robert said.
The two hadn’t seen each other for two days prior to the fight, their glowing smiles illustrate the solace each finds with the other.
In some respects, they both won that night. They are a team and Saturday night was right for celebration – for Robert’s win and for Casey’s health.
Casey, just 2 1/2 months removed from her bone marrow transplant, missed Robert’s April 30 fight against Roberto Arrieta, the first since he vacated his IBF lightweight belt.
But on Saturday, though nervous and “anxious,” she was there to support her
husband.
“I had been looking forward to this big time,” Casey said. “I was excited to be here and watch him.
“It’s scary because you never know what can happen,” she said as she relived the tense 10-round bout, demonstrating how she couldn’t sit still in her seat as she clutched each knee.
“I moved back and forth the whole time,” she added. “But, I knew that he was going to do it.”
No one inside the Mandalay Bay Events Center was naive to the trying six-months Casey and Robert had experienced.
For a sport that salutes survival and perseverance over great odds, Casey’s tale of defying the odds grabbed a piece of the spotlight.
“It has been amazing,” Casey said of all the support given from the boxing community. “I have received so many Facebook e-mails and friend requests and everyone’s prayers and blessings.”
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schafer commended the couple in front of media members during the postfight news conference.
Casey has positively progressed with each passing day.
And as she continues to recover, she is flooded with well-wishes from people around the globe.
“I feel fine,” she said succinctly. “We take it day by day.”
Though she isn’t an avid boxing fan – the Ghost aside – and she doesn’t bother to critique his performances, Casey sees big things in Robert’s future.
“I just let him do his own thing,” she said. “I don’t really know what’s what. I think he is going to get up there (in his career).”
