Gilroy native and former two-time IBF featherweight champ
Robert
”
The Ghost
”
Guerrero (22-1-1, 15 KOs) knocked out Edel Ruiz (31-21-4, 22
KOs) 27 seconds into the first round of their bout, the fifth of an
eight-fight card headlined by Antonio Margarito defending his WBA
welterweight title against Shane Mosley. Dispatch sports editor
Josh Koehn will be blogging throughout the evening on what he
observes inside and outside the ring at Staples Center in Los
Angeles.
7:41 – It turns out the fight ended in 43 seconds. Press row was handed poor information on the Masters Score Sheet.
5:57 – All it took was 27 seconds, the official time of the stoppage.
5:52 – You can talk about the quality of opponent Guerrero was up against, but you can’t argue with the results. The two fighters traded jabs back and forth for the first 30 seconds, feeling each other out to start. Ruiz’s undoing was throwing an overhand right that Guerrero brushed aside and then countered quickly with a powerful left uppercut to the ribs. I’ve already written exponentially more words about the fight than punches were thrown.
5:50 – Press row is already talking about Guerrero’s next fight, which is likely to take place March 7. Not sure who the opponent will be.
5:48 – Still waiting on an exact time of the stoppage. All I know is I drove six hours to see exactly what I expected, albeit it a little quicker than expected.
5:43 – That was quick. With 2:23 remaining in the first round, Guerrero ripped a left uppercut to the body that floored Ruiz, leaving him short of air and any chance of getting to his feet.
The Ghost’s theme song, “How far is Heaven?” lasted longer than the fight.
5:41 p.m. – Gilroy native and former two-time IBF featherweight champ Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (22-1-1, 15 KOs) is making his way to the ring to take on Edel Ruiz (31-21-4, 22 KOs) in the fifth bout of an eight-fight card here at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The crowd is still filing in as most spectators are filling up on beer and food before the main event, when Antonio Margarito defends his WBA welterweight title against Shane Mosley.
Guerrero’s publicist, Mario Serrano, says the 25-year-old Gilroy pugilist has been eating full meals throughout his 11-month layoff, while also keeping up his strenuous training regimen, as the 130-pound super featherweight division suits him better than his former weight of 126 pounds.
Ruiz is a journeyman and knows how to handle himself in the ring, but he’s likely to serve up a fourth straight victory to The Ghost, who is hungry to prove himself in his first fight since signing with Golden Boy Promotions.
