Gilroy’s Robert Guerrero takes on Cesar Figueroa for NABF
featherweight belt
When Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero defeated former world champ Enrique Sanchez on Showtime this summer, it was a huge night for the 21-year-old boxer. It was a statement for the Gilroy native. It was by far the biggest victory in his young career.
It was also a reality check.
In Guerrero’s 13 previous fights (12-0-1), he often came out with all he had and just pounded his opponent into submission. Early-round knockouts were the order of the day.
Not against Sanchez. For the first time, Guerrero was facing a crafty veteran who wouldn’t back down. The 126-pound southpaw said he landed some hard shots and “fired fastball after fastball,” but wasn’t able to put his opponent away until the eight round. It was by far his longest fight as a professional.
“I learned a lot from that, especially with it being a long fight,” Guerrero said. “I know I can’t just be a big strong fighter. Sanchez and some of the other top guys I’m going to face know how to take the steam out of a punch.
“It’s a different story now. I was in the minors before. Now I’m stepping onto the Major League level.”
Six months after his last fight, Guerrero takes another large step toward that goal tonight as he takes on Cesar Figueroa for the NABF featherweight world title at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula.
The scheduled 12-round bout, on the same card as the heavyweight tilt between Michael Moorer and Yassily Jirov, is set to get underway at around 7pm.
“It’s a good opportunity to show I’m a top contender in the world and that I’m coming,” Guerrero said. “I’m very excited about it … I just want to get back in that ring. I’m ready, man. I’m ready.”
He’s undoubtedly more ready than he would’ve been back in June. Guerrero said he’s “10 times” better than he was at that time.
“I’m not the same fighter,” he said. “I’m growing as a fighter.”
And he gives much of the credit to new trainer John Bray.
Guerrero said he’s sharpened his skills in a wealth of areas, especially in jabs and counter-punches.
The biggest change, though, has come in philosophy.
“He’s taught me that boxing is more than just power,” Guerrero said of Bray. “It’s more of a mind game … a chest match. You can be as strong as you want, but takes more than just that.
“When you get up to the top fighters, you gotta really know how to fight.”
You’ve also got to have a strict training regimen – and Guerrero has one.
Living in the Los Angeles area for the past two months, he’s going to bed every night at 9 and getting up at 4 in the morning.
He’ll run for an hour and a half, eat a little breakfast and then head off to the gym at the Northridge Boxing Club. In addition to exercising there, Guerrero gets in over 40 rounds a day.
“I’ve never trained like this in my life,” he said.
Guerrero is also sparring three times a week at Freddie Roach’s well-known Wild Card Gym. Up against boxers like WBC world champ Israel Vazquez, he said Bray’s teachings have made the matches easier by the day. And those around the gym have noticed.
“Before, they were saying I was a big, strong guy who’s a fast hitter and mows over his opponents,” Guerrero said. “Now they’re saying this kid really learned how to fight. He’s now a true, true professional.”
So Guerrero said Figueroa will be “very surprised and befuddled” if he’s basing his strategy on old fight film.
“For him to take the fight, he’s sure he can beat me,” he said. “I’m sure he’s watched my fights on TV and his gameplan is to get me into the later rounds. He’s expecting the old Robert Guerrero.”
It doesn’t appear he’ll get him. According to The Ghost, Figueroa will see a calm, patient and measured fighter tonight. And, Guerrero believes, his foe will see a loss, too.
“The way I’ve been looking in the gym and in training, I really feel like this guy is not on my caliber,” Guerrero said. “I’ve got so much more talent. The only way I feel he can beat me is if I run out of gas … and that ain’t happening.
“So tell all my fans and neighbors and friends back in Gilroy that I’m coming home a champion.”
