For the past three months, Gilroy native and world champion boxer Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero has been calling out anybody and everybody – from Floyd Mayweather Jr to most recently Victor Ortiz – in search of an opponent. The beckoning has been to no avail. Now Guerrero (29-1-1, 18 KO s) is on the other end of a call out.
Paul Malignaggi (30-4, 6KOs) sent an open letter to Guerrero that stated in brief that The Ghost ducked an offer to fight on the May 5 Mayweather-Miguel Cotto card.
The following is Malignaggi’s open letter and Guerrero’s response, which came via press release his team sent out with the rebuttal statement around 3 p.m. Friday afternoon.
The fact still remains, however, that Guerrero still doesn’t have a fight date let alone an opponent. It’s still a waiting game.
Malignaggi letter:
Dear Robert:
For the past 3 months, you and your team have attempted to trick the media and boxing public into believing that you were on a short list to fight the best fighter in the world, Floyd Mayweather. You also called out every Golden Boy Promotions boxer you could between 135 to 147 pounds, proclaiming your health after shoulder surgery and your readiness to step into the ring in a big fight on May 5th. Every time you had a big bowel movement, your publicist sent an email blast about it.
Two days ago, you and I were offered to fight each other on May 5th as an important supporting pay-per-view bout on the Mayweather vs. Cotto blockbuster PPV. I am sure you will agree that Mayweather vs. Cotto will be the biggest pay-per-view show of the year and on the biggest platform imaginable at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and on HBO PPV. Millions of boxing fans will have the opportunity to finally see if you can back up your recent widespread chatter on the internet.
Robert, I accepted the challenge to fight you within 2 hours of being offered the fight. But I have been informed by our promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, that you have categorically refused to fight me. This news was absolutely shocking to me because I have seen you transform yourself from a cute, soft spoken, California kid to well…someone like me. I give you props for trying to wake up the old boxing farts with sound bites like telling Mayweather to “Step Up Punk” or telling Victor Ortiz 3 days ago that “if you’re really a true warrior, you’ll step in the ring with me.” But take it from an older and wiser Magic Man that has never needed to hide behind a publicist and has always backed up his words by stepping in with the best fighters in the world….if you start talking the way you have been talking…you better be ready to accept whatever challenges come your way.
Robert, I know that you and your team have been present in the Arena for my past two fights and you have seen how good I have looked in dismantling my opponents. And maybe your advisors think that all the garlic in Gilroy won’t protect you should we fight on May 5th. But you need to find the Mexican warrior within yourself and back up your hot air by stepping into the ring on the day of pride and heritage for your people, Cinco De Mayo. Because if you think you deserve to fight the elite boxers in this world, you need to earn it with more than just a trigger happy publicist. You are a paper Champion that has never fought anyone in the Top 100 of boxing. Beating a geriatric Joel Casamayor or the Australian punching bag that is Michael Katsidis does not earn you the right to call out Floyd Mayweather, Amir Khan, and Victor Ortiz. Beating me on May 5th might get you one step closer to that honor.
So come on, Robert. Don’t become a big joke with the boxing world. What are you afraid of? Coming off shoulder surgery? I have had more surgery on my hands than an aging Beverly Hills housewife. Are you for real or are you truly just a ghost with a good publicist?
Always,
The Magic Man
Guerrero response:
“Look at the facts Paulie, why did I turn you down? You’re a tremendous puncher? NO! You make for fan friendly fights? NO! You are a HBO or Showtime approved fighter? NO! Fact is, Eric Gomez at Golden Boy said you wouldn’t be approved to fight on a date that isn’t a Pay Per View. So if our promoter can convince a network that you are worthy enough to be on your own date, then let’s rumble. I got a Shark Tank waiting.”
