Gilroy’s undefeated pugilist will still fight May 4 but against
Vasquez on Fox Sports Net
LOS ANGELES – Gilroy boxer Robert ‘The Ghost’ Guerrero’s goal to bring back a world title to his hometown was put on hold when his opponent, John Gonzalez, pulled out of their scheduled 12-round championship bout for the vacant NABF 122-pound world championship.
It would have been the first world title shot for Guerrero (9-0, 2 KOs) – who signed a five-year contract with promoter Dan Goossen just a short time ago leading into the biggest fight of his young professional career.
“He’s very disappointed because obviously he knew he could win the fight,” said co-manager Bob Santos, who is down in Los Angeles at the Goossen camp. “It would have been a nice, nice stepping stone leading to bigger, better paydays. It’s just one of those things.”
Guerrero was up against a top-ranked Mexican prospect in Gonzalez – who posted an impressive 22-2 record with 17 knockouts. At age 20 and only nine fights into his pro career, it was a huge step up for Guerrero – but the Gilroy pugilist was confident he would get the job done.
“(Gonzalez) basically pulled out of the fight. Most likely he saw a tape on Guerrero and decided with his people that it was a no-win situation for him. He just backed out of the fight,” said Santos, adding that Gonzalez told the commission that he would no longer fight at 122 pounds and would drop down to the 118-pound weight class from here on out.
Although disappointed his first world title shot was done before he even stepped in the ring, Guerrero will still fight on his scheduled May 4 fight date. Instead of Gonzalez, the garlic slinger will take on former NABF Champ David Vasquez (17-8-3, 10 KOs) in the semi-featured main event. The fight will still be televised on Fox Sports Net.
“He’s a real solid opponent, but obviously we have a lot of confidence in Guerrero,” Santos said. “Just to put Guerrero in the ring with a guy like that (with that many more fights) speaks volumes.”
Guerrero will have put in six weeks of training at the Goossen Camp in Los Angeles leading up to his next encounter against Vasquez.
“He’s been looking phenomenal. We’ve had eight different sparring partners,” Santos said. “He’s really had a phenomenal camp.”
Santos – who has been a trainer a for more than 10 years with a host of world champion contenders under his belt – added: “I’ve seen it, been there, done it. Robert is the most talented kid I’ve been associated with and that’s saying a lot.”
