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I tried to become a Guerrero fan. I really, really did. I like his fighting style, HBO had me completely sold on his story, and he seems like one of the genuine good guys in boxing. I was pumped for him coming into the Daud Yordan fight early 2009.
The fight started well, but in the second round he had one of those moments that boxers just aren't supposed to have. He clearly had the fight stopped because he was afraid the accidental cut would affect his performance in the fight. And he was right, I'm sure it would have. But quitting is by far the worst sin you can commit in boxing. He owed it to everyone that paid to come out and see him that night to give them their money's worth. He didn't, but I figured he got enough **** for it and would learn from his mistake.
Fast forward a year and a half later, he challenged Malcom Klassen for his IBF title on the HBO undercard of Diaz/Malignaggi I. Early on in the fight Guerrero rocked, out-boxed, (and if i remember correctly) dropped Klassen. There were some exciting rounds early on, and just as Guerrero was about to stop Klassen, he took his foot off the gas. In a real Oscar/Tito move, Robert got on his bike and coasted to victory.
As the bell for the 11th round rang I remember thinking "How did Guerrero manage to turn this into a boring fight?" Annoyed, I was still glad he grabbed the title as HBO panned over to his wife for the millionth time.
One year later he takes on his first "name" since Yordan, a very battle-worn Joel Casamayor on the Marquez/Diaz PPV undercard. Once again, we saw some early fireworks and a spark of excitement from Guererro, followed by him again taking his foot off the gas and coasting to boring victory when he could have probably stopped Joel before the 7th round. Roberts lazy ass got shocked when he unforgivably got dropped by Casamayor in the 11th.
I didn't see all of his last fight, but I did catch the last few boring rounds and I'm willing to bet it went just like all his HBO fights have.
How many times has HBO given this guy a chance to shine? He's had HBO date after HBO date where he's been handed boxing's entire fan base on a silver platter, only to give an underwhelming, forgettable performance each and every time.
Compare that to boxings new poster boy, Sergio Martinez. Seven months after Guerrero-Yordan, Martinez took what would have been a Gamboa/Angulo showcase and made a star-turning performance in his first appearance on HBO. Today, Martinez is in the top 5 p4p, a superstar despite no American fan-base or grasp of the English language, surely in line to win fighter of the year, and middleweight champion of the world. Guerrero? He'll probably be on some under card soon.
It's time for HBO to stop giving date after date to fighters that consistently do not deliver good performances. Guerrero has had more than enough chances.
The fight started well, but in the second round he had one of those moments that boxers just aren't supposed to have. He clearly had the fight stopped because he was afraid the accidental cut would affect his performance in the fight. And he was right, I'm sure it would have. But quitting is by far the worst sin you can commit in boxing. He owed it to everyone that paid to come out and see him that night to give them their money's worth. He didn't, but I figured he got enough **** for it and would learn from his mistake.
Fast forward a year and a half later, he challenged Malcom Klassen for his IBF title on the HBO undercard of Diaz/Malignaggi I. Early on in the fight Guerrero rocked, out-boxed, (and if i remember correctly) dropped Klassen. There were some exciting rounds early on, and just as Guerrero was about to stop Klassen, he took his foot off the gas. In a real Oscar/Tito move, Robert got on his bike and coasted to victory.
As the bell for the 11th round rang I remember thinking "How did Guerrero manage to turn this into a boring fight?" Annoyed, I was still glad he grabbed the title as HBO panned over to his wife for the millionth time.
One year later he takes on his first "name" since Yordan, a very battle-worn Joel Casamayor on the Marquez/Diaz PPV undercard. Once again, we saw some early fireworks and a spark of excitement from Guererro, followed by him again taking his foot off the gas and coasting to boring victory when he could have probably stopped Joel before the 7th round. Roberts lazy ass got shocked when he unforgivably got dropped by Casamayor in the 11th.
I didn't see all of his last fight, but I did catch the last few boring rounds and I'm willing to bet it went just like all his HBO fights have.
How many times has HBO given this guy a chance to shine? He's had HBO date after HBO date where he's been handed boxing's entire fan base on a silver platter, only to give an underwhelming, forgettable performance each and every time.
Compare that to boxings new poster boy, Sergio Martinez. Seven months after Guerrero-Yordan, Martinez took what would have been a Gamboa/Angulo showcase and made a star-turning performance in his first appearance on HBO. Today, Martinez is in the top 5 p4p, a superstar despite no American fan-base or grasp of the English language, surely in line to win fighter of the year, and middleweight champion of the world. Guerrero? He'll probably be on some under card soon.
It's time for HBO to stop giving date after date to fighters that consistently do not deliver good performances. Guerrero has had more than enough chances.
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