‘The Ghost’ Guerrero flattens Vasquez for 10th win of
professional career, begins preparation for June 1 bout
GILROY – With only nine professional fights under his belt heading into his latest bout against a more seasoned boxer, Gilroy-born featherweight Robert ‘The Ghost’ Guerrero did not get the respect he later would from opponent David Vasquez.
“We went in there just to box with the guy and try to feel him out. But the guy came in like a little animal trying to take Robert’s head off since he knew Robert only had nine pro fights,” trainer/father Ruben Guerrero said. “(Robert) just went in there and caught the guy open and just didn’t give the guy a chance. He took him out first. He struck like a cobra.”
Vasquez (17-9-3, 10 KOs) made a big mistake – getting put on his back one minute and two seconds into the opening round never to recover.
“My record’s real deceiving, 10-0 with three knockouts. Guys look at me and don’t think I have any power, but I’ve been fighting guys two weight classes above me,” ‘The Ghost’ said. “(Vasquez) started coming at me and put a lot of pressure on me. I got my distance and he came in with a looping hook. I took a step back and let my left uppercut go. I dazed him. After that, I just put it on him.”
In a matter of seconds, Guerrero was all over Vasquez connecting with solid shots with his left and right hands. Before the first-round bell, Vasquez was laid out – giving Guerrero his 10th pro win and his third knockout.
“A lot of guys have one knockout punch. They either have a good left or right hook. Me, I got good power with both hands,” Guerrero said. “Whatever I hit them with is usually a solid shot that hurts them. They don’t know what is coming.”
Since Guerrero is a southpaw, opponents defend against his dominant left hand – but the garlic slinger can do as much damage with his right as he can with his left.
“When I get in against guys my weight, I’m just too strong for them,” said Guerrero, who likes that his record is deceiving to opponents. “It’s better for me because they run into a shot because they’re not expecting it to hurt them.”
Guerrero was originally scheduled to fight May 4 for the vacant 122-pound NABF championship belt, but the fight was called off at his opponent’s request. Mexican prospect Johnny Gonzalez told Guerrero’s Goossen Camp that he was staying at 118 pounds and did not want to move up in weight – even if it was for a title.
“I wanted to fight that guy. He said he decided to go down in weight. I just take that as he was scared,” said ‘The Ghost’ of Gonzalez. “Once the fight was called off, I was kinda disappointed. I didn’t really think too much about it, though. I know my chance will come again pretty soon.”
It was to be the first title shot for Guerrero – but the promising, young pugilist knows his time will come and he’ll be even more ready for it.
“By the end of the year, I feel I’ll be ready to fight for a belt,” said the local fighter before beginning his workout at the Gilroy Community Youth Center gym on Sixth Street. “I’ll take it one step at a time. If it happens, it happens.”
Guerrero’s boxing career took a giant step in the right direction when he signed a five-year contract with well-respected promoter Dan Goossen – assuring him televised fights on Fox Sports Net as well as some title shots in the near future.
Before his latest fight, Guerrero was down in the Goossen Camp outside of Los Angeles, sparring with the toughest fighters around. He fought eight boxers all with different styles to get him ready for anything. When it wasn’t Gonzalez and became Vasquez, ‘The Ghost’ was just as prepared because of his varied sparring partners.
“We expected a good fight (against Vasquez). Me and Joe (Goossen) figured it would go five, six rounds,” Ruben Guerrero said. “Robert just exploded. He was ready for anybody.”
He was ready for Vasquez’s bull rush as he planted him to the canvas.
The 20-year-old fighter will continue to make a name for himself with a scheduled June 1 10-round bout against Alvin Brown.
“I’ll get some tape on him and break him down,” said Guerrero, who will once again fight on Fox Sports Net for the world to watch. “I like to stay active. I always feel if you’re in shape, you might as well fight.”
