By Andreas Hale

Sometimes you have to know when to say when. In the case of Robert Guerrero, he was able to do what so many other boxers are unable to: walk away. After receiving the worst beating of his professional career when he was stopped in three rounds against Omar Figueroa Jr., “The Ghost” wasted no time and announced his retirement from the sport. At the age of 34, Guerrero knew his time was up and likely saved himself from irreversible bodily harm.

Guerrero, unlike other boxers, was able to see the writing on the wall before it was too late. After losing three straight and five of his last seven, Guerrero knew that it was time to call it quits.

"I'm a kid from a small town in Gilroy, California who made it to the mountaintop of the boxing world,” Guerrero said via statement. "When I was a young kid growing up, I always believed in myself, but never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined a small-town kid like myself would be fighting in front of millions of fans."

Guerrero did have an exceptional career where the kid from Gilroy wound up facing the best boxer in the world (Floyd Mayweather) while claiming world titles in two weight classes. His resume featured the likes of Orlando Salido, Joel Casamayor, Michael Katsidis, Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman, Andre Berto and others. But his career narrative took a turn when his wife was diagnosed with leukemia in 2009 and the boxer put his career on hold to tend to his ailing spouse.

With Casey Guerrero beating leukemia, Robert resumed his career with a new vigor and went on a tear that saw Guerrero claim an interim welterweight title against Andre Berto in an epic clash that set him up for a big money fight with Floyd Mayweather.

But after his fight with Berto, “The Ghost” was never the same again.

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After starting his career 31-1-1, Guerrero went 2-5 with losses to Mayweather, Thurman, Garcia, David Emanuel Peralta and this past weekend’s loss to Figueroa. The losses to Maywewather and Thurman were understandable. However, there was a noticeable dip in Guerrero’s skill when “The Ghost” was nearly stopped by unheralded Aaron Martinez in 2015. It was the first fight where the Southpaw looked shopworn and rumors suggested he came back to the ring way too soon after his war with Thurman three months earlier. Guerrero winning that fight by split decision was probably the worst thing that could have happened to him as he would go on to drop three straight and finally call it a career.

But perhaps more fighters should be like Guerrero.

"I was blessed to win multiple world titles in four-divisions,” he said. " A boxer's career is a long and tough road. Many tears were shed, lots of blood, and tons of sweat.  Many miles were traveled, thousands of rounds sparred, none were easy and nothing was ever given to me. I earned everything I got the old fashion way.  I never ducked anyone and fought the best fighters in the world.  I fought my way through every obstacle to make sure my fans enjoyed every second, of every round, of my fights.”

This is all true. Guerrero never treated the sport like a business and fought whoever they put in front of him. Nobody could accuse him of taking a round off as he fought just as hard as his wife did in beating cancer. He may not have been the most talented boxer in the game, but few could question his heart. Through it all, the valiant Guerrero knew when to say when and rather than put himself out there for permanent damage, “The Ghost” decided to fold and call it a career.

Despite losing three in a row, chances are that Guerrero will be able to spend the rest of his life with his family with his faculties intact. Boxing is a cruel sport where the long-term affects don’t really hit you until you are too far away from the sport to collect a check. Guerrero could have continued to collect a check and become a name for other fighters portfolios. Instead of that, Guerrero will save his brain and body from further damage. And when he looks back while others continue to put their health on the line for dwindling purses, he’ll know that it was all worth it.

"I competed at super-bantamweight (122 lbs.) and won world titles across multiple weight classes, closing my career at welterweight (147 lbs.), fighting the big guys 25 pounds heavier,” he said. " A good friend always told me I was God's warrior, born to fight.  I enjoyed every minute of every war.  I represented my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with the bible verse Acts 2:38 on my trunks. If I reached one person and brought that person closer to Christ, then it was all worth it."