Sometimes it doesn’t matter who you are, but who you know.
Gilroy – Sometimes it doesn’t matter who you are, but who you know.
Despite being a two-time IBF Featherweight champion at the young age of 24, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero – a clean-cut, rising star in a sport in dire need of marketable stars – was passed over for the main event on Golden Boy Promotions’ “Fireworks” HBO PPV card in Las Vegas in favor of Rocky Juarez. Juarez was supposed to fight Guerrero in the Gilroy champ’s Sept. 15 title defense, but when Jorge Barrios backed out of the main event against Juan Marquez due to a medical condition, Golden Boy selected the fighter it represents – Juarez – to replace Barrios.
Guerrero, represented by Goosen Tutor Promotions, will now take on Martin Honorio (24-3-1, 12 KOs), another Golden Boy fighter, who is a lanky brawler from Mexico City that some in Guerrero’s camp didn’t hesitate to label a dirty fighter.
Guerrero held an open workout at the Gilroy Youth Center Wednesday, and seemed upbeat despite the disappointment about not getting to go to war with Juarez.
“It’s just too bad, I’ve been wanting to fight Rocky since I became a pro,” Guerrero said.
Bob Santos, co-manager of Guerrero with Shelly Finkel, compared Honorio to Ricardo Mayorga, a boxer known for doing whatever is necessary to get the job done in the ring.
“Honorio is probably even a little dirtier,” Santos said.
Evidence of Honorio’s questionable tactics were evident in a Nov. 11, 2005 fight against Steve Leuevano. After being knocked down, Honorio came out in the next round and took over the fight by using elbows, headbutts and other tricks of the trade to shake Luevano’s fragile psyche. In a fight against Rogers Mtagwa in November of 2006, Honorio won a split decision but was deducted a point for repeatedly punching his opponent in the back of the head. He was also cautioned for low blows and head butting. His most recent bout was a 10-round split decision over Joe Morales on July 6.
Fighters Honorio has trained with include Humberto Soto and Gamaliel Diaz – the only fighter to beat Guerrero. Diaz was knocked out by Guerrero in the rematch six months later.
Guerrero said Honorio’s tactics won’t be a problem for him when he laces up gloves in Las Vegas.
“You got to keep him honest,” Guerrero said. “You got to get dirty with ’em and let ’em know you’re not a pushover.”
Santos said that despite Juarez being a more recognizable fighter to fans, he might not have presented as tough of a challenge as Honorio will. Honorio is the same height as Guerrero, if not a little bit taller, and he will view this as the bout that makes or breaks his career. Still, Santos noted Guerrero has been through tougher tests and will be ready.
“When we first threw Robert into the ring, we didn’t baby him,” Santos said. “If (Honorio) wants to get rough, we’ll get rough.”
