Robert
”
The Ghost
”
Guerrero inked a multi-year deal with Golden Boy Promotions
Thursday, putting the Gilroy native on track to resume his boxing
career and gain a third world title.
GILROY – Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero inked a multi-year deal with Golden Boy Promotions Thursday, putting the Gilroy native on track to resume his boxing career and gain a third world title.
“Golden Boy, they’re going give me the best opportunities to be a star in boxing,” Guerrero said. “I’m excited to sign on with them.
“They’ve been doing a lot in boxing, they got a lot of marquee fighters. When you have a lot of marquee fighters you’re able to showcase other fighters also.”
The financial terms of the deal were undisclosed, but Guerrero’s management team said the contract will run no further than five years.
Golden Boy’s stable of fighters includes Bernard Hopkins, Juan Manual Marquez, Shane Mosley and Oscar De La Hoya to name a few.
De La Hoya, a world champion in six different divisions, founded the promotional company.
Guerrero’s manager, Bob Santos, said he expects a new fight to be announced next week. He added that Guerrero’s return to the ring will most likely serve as a chance for the fighter to “get his feet wet,” but the new agreement allows him to fulfill his career aspirations.
“It’s gonna be exciting to get this guy back in the ring,” Santos said. “He’s earned himself the right (to be in the biggest fights), going undefeated all by knockout in world title fights.”
Guerrero (22-1-1, 15 KOs) has been out of the ring since knocking out Jason Litzau in the eighth round of his IBF Featherweight title defense on February 29. The 25-year-old fighter relinquished his title by making a move up to the 130-pound Junior Lightweight division following the bout, and has remained inactive for 10 months due to a contractual dispute with his former promotional company, Goossen Tutor Promotions.
Guerrero won all counts of his arbitration case with Goossen Tutor on Tuesday to become a free agent. Goossen Tutor was contending that Guerrero had another fight remaining on his contract, while Team Guerrero insisted the agreement had run its course. Tuesday’s ruling, announced by the California Attorney General’s office, paved the way for getting a contract signed with Golden Boy two days later.
“Oscar made me a nice deal,” said Guerrero, who talked with De La Hoya by phone after the agreement was finalized. “I’m excited we made that next step in my career. … He’s excited to have me on board.”
“California has been known for its great world champions and Robert Guerrero is no exception to this rule as he is one of the most exciting young fighter in the sport today,” De La Hoya said in a Golden Boy press release. “We can’t wait to get him another title shot and I am confident that he will lead the junior lightweight division in and out of the ring with his skill, power, determination and charisma.”
Santos said the patience of his young fighter, who stuck to his guns by choosing to postpone his career rather than taking another fight with Goossen Tutor, should be an example to others.
“This is a testament to Robert Guerrero,” he said. “At a time when his wife was dealing with leukemia, a time when he was on the biggest hot streak of his career, he took a big chance.
“I think the people of Gilroy should be really thrilled to know in today’s world of sports of ‘me, me, me,’ he put his wife first. He put his principles before money.”
Guerrero’s wife, Casey, was diagnosed with leukemia in October of 2007. Her cancer is now remission after receiving chemotherapy treatment over the last year.
“The layoff was a blessing in that aspect,” Guerrero said. “I was able to spend time with her and make sure things were tied up. I was able to focus on making sure she was healthy.”
The former two-time IBF champ’s attention will now be concentrated on earning another crown. While Guerrero wasn’t sure who he would fight next, he said there is no doubt it will be at 130 pounds.
“I made the jump to 130 and that’s where I’m going to stay,” he said. “I want to fight everybody, all the top guys, and just go from there.”
