WBC interim welterweight world champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and former WBO super featherweight titleholder Adrien “The Problem” Broner have flooded Twitter feeds over the last few weeks with entertaining 140-character-or-less keypad shots at one another.
Guerrero decided he had enough of Broner’s written challenges and approached the up-and-comer. The two met face to face last Friday at the Andre Ward-Chad Dawson weigh-in in Oakland.
The exchange was caught on camera and followed the typical script, with Guerrero (30-1-1, 18 KOs) letting Broner (24-0) know that he isn’t going anywhere and Broner basically bargaining for a contract to be sent his way.
It was the topic de jour on media row prior to Saturday’s main event from Oracle Arena.
“It’s not what I want, but when someone throws a challenge, I’m going to confront him about it. And that’s what I did,” Guerrero said Saturday night, as he sat ringside in anticipation of younger brother Randy Guerrero’s professional debut.
While Broner would present an interesting fight for Guerrero, the actuality of seeing the two vociferous boxers in the ring together is slim at the point. The smoke settled some following Anthony DeMarco’s 44-second technical knockout win over John Molina for the WBC lightweight title, which came prior to Ward-Dawson. Broner has been considered a possible opponent for DeMarco.
“He runs his mouth on Twitter and YouTube, saying this and that,” Guerrero continued. “If you’re going to challenge me, come up to 147, don’t try to bring me down to a catch weight. I have the WBC title. I’m set in stone right there. Why would I come down? It makes no sense. I just had to jam him up a little bit.”
Plus, Guerrero’s eyes are still set on landing a superstar.
“Right now I’m just looking at all the options,” Guerrero said. “Floyd (Mayweather Jr.) is out there still, and that’s the main fight that I want to get. But you know, there are a lot of options out there. I have time to scope out what’s going on.”
Guerrero is seven weeks removed from his unanimous decision victory over Selcuk Aydin, where he won the WBC welterweight crown and solidified himself as the No. 1 contender to take on Mayweather. The Gilroy native is in a relatively unfamiliar spot, being the lead dog in control of what direction he takes next.
“It’s nice to be in the driver’s seat,” Guerrero said. “There is so much that can happen. We’ve got our eyes out on a lot of stuff. There’s Miguel Cotto, there’s Devon Alexander, even Saul Alvarez at 154 pounds. I’m about taking on the best challenges. That’s what I’m going to do.”
In the meantime, Guerrero, who said he has no lingering issues following the Aydin fight, has been enjoying spending time with his family, including watching son Robert Jr. play his first season for the Gilroy Browns.
As to when he might be back in the ring, Guerrero said it could be before the end of 2012 if the matchup is right.
