By Andy Rivera
This Saturday on the Diego Corrales/Jose Luis Castillo undercard, Albuquerque resident Bernardo Guereca will battle unbeaten Jose Luis Buendia at the Thomas and Mack Center.
Guereca, 15-4-1, is ready for the challenge on being part of the biggest fight card in his career. Although he will be the underdog, Guereca is up and ready to go.
"I've trained hard and the call came a few weeks ago to fight Buendia, so I thought it was a good opportunity for me." states Guereca..
Guereca formerly of El Paso, Texas moved to the Land of Enchantment last month. "I have family and friends here, so I thought it would be a good change for me, plus it will help me get more involved in the local fight scene." states Guereca, the former New Mexico State welterweight Champion.
"I want to fight the best here in New Mexico and all over, I'll take on the best from 140-147." Guereca, who in his last fight lost to powerful Lee Montoya last November, but at the same time he received a lot of praise for being able to take Montoya the distance, as Montoya is the most feared puncher in the Rocky Mountain region.
Now managed by Jacob Maes on a fight by fight basis, Maes thinks the fight with Buendia is a great opportunity for Guereca.
"I got a call from a mutual friend saying Bernie needed someone to help him here once he got to Albuquerque, so through a mutual friend of ours, we got in contact with each other and so now here we are with this opportunity for him to fight on the biggest card of his career." says Maes,
"Once he gets past this guy the door will be open for bigger things for him."
As for Buendia, Guereca knows he is a tall fighter and has some power, but feels he has a huge advantage that will lead him to victory.
"I think my experience will be the edge in the fight, I have been in with a lot of good fights and I feel that will be the difference in the fight".
As for his relation with Promoter Lenny Fresquez which many here in Albuquerque wondered if they had split up, Guereca says not at all.
"I still talk to Lenny and he is a good promoter. I fought on a lot of his cards and I look forward to fighting again for him, there is nothing bad at all, so we can go on from here to bigger things."
Training in a closed camp, most were surprised that Guereca was living in Albuquerque, in fact not many know where he has been training, but truth be told he has been training out of former female professional fighter Stephanie Jaramillio's Gym. On Saturday night, Guereca will be ready to make a lot of noise by gaining a victory against Buendia.
