By Jake Donovan
Everything happens for a reason. For the past eleven or so months, former featherweight titlist Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero was forced to endure a lot of reasoning while stuck on the sidelines waiting out his arbitration hearing against now former promoter Dan Goossen.
It appears as if the ends will finally justify the means, as Guerrero finally returns to the ring for the first time since February 2008. The comeback will not be televised, as his tune-up assignment against Edel Ruiz is not quite the stuff of which HBO time slots are made.
But more important than performing in front of a camera is who will be performing for – as in, new promoter Golden Boy Promotions, and with HBO brass at ringside. His junior lightweight bout serves as a primer for the evening’s lone televised bout, Antonio Margarito’s welterweight title defense against Shane Mosley.
The last part is the difference between just winning, and the need to explode back onto the scene.
“I’m excited to get back into the ring, but I know once I’m in there, I’ll want to roll through this guy,” claims Guerrero, whose last pugilistic payday came with his eight round drubbing of Jason Litzau last February 29. “I’m not here to shake ring rust and settle for a win. I want to make a statement that I’ back and ready to take on the best junior lightweights in the world.”
Given his height and frame, it’s hard to believe that next Saturday will be his first true junior lightweight fight. He’s fought once at 129 lb, in an over-the-weight showcase appearance against Juan Polo Perez while still campaigning as a full time featherweight. This fight will be the first of what he plans to be a memorable junior lightweight run – or higher, if the right opponent comes along.
“Featherweight is done. It was great while I was there, but I’ve grown out of the weight. Just naturally getting bigger, plus the 11-month layoff, it just makes so much more sense to begin fighting at 130.”
His arrival couldn’t have come at a better time, for himself as well as the division as a whole.
A lot has changed since Guerrero’s last laced ‘em up. Gone from the division are familiar foes Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, as well as unbeaten former titlists Edwin Valero and Joan Guzman, all of whom are now campaigning five pounds north.
For boxing, it’s a bit of a blessing in disguise that he was forced to the sidelines for most of 2008, after opting to bolt from Goossen-Tutor Promotions. The case was forced to go to arbitration, where Guerrero won on all counts, and was given his release.
That he’s now forced to campaign at 130 helps atone for the massive loss of star power over the past couple of years. However, the move comes at a considerable price, with the 25-year old forced to the sidelines at a point when his career was on the verge of erupting.
“Everything was beginning to click,” explains Guerrero, who scored three straight knockouts following a 12-round No-Decision against Orlando Salido in November 2006. “I went to Denmark and knocked out (Spend) Abazi, then came back and knocked out Martin Honorio and Jason Litzau on Showtime.
“It’s never good to have to sit out while you’re in the prime of your career. It was frustrating.”
But every cloud has its silver lining. For Guerrero, the time spent away from the ring meant more time with his family, particularly wife Casey, who was diagnosed with leukemia in late 2007, but has since went into remission. While the fighter in him would’ve preferred to punch people for pay, he at least had a ringside seat to watch his wife deliver perhaps the biggest knockout victory of their lives.
“I was able to attend all of the treatments and doctor’s visits. It was a blessing to have that time and spend with her to make sure she gets healthy.”
While she was getting healthy, prime opportunities were passing by. The easy route would’ve been to bite the bullet, and decide to suspend the year-long court case with Goossen in exchange for a televised assignment or two.
Instead, the 25-year old Gilroy (CA) southpaw stuck to his principles, prepared to endure the worst in order to gain what was best for his career.
In that regard, the reward was well worth the wait. He was able to sign with Golden Boy Promotions, with his name already being mentioned for a possible slot on a March HBO Boxing After Dark telecast.
“This is exactly the reason why I was so anxious to sign with Golden Boy once I was a free agent,” exclaims Guerrero. “I now have an opportunity to get those exciting fights that I’ve been missing out on. It was a long wait, but I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“There are a lot of fights out there, fights I expect to be in.”
One potential fight that has everyone in the boxing world salivating is a potential collision with undefeated Venezuelan contender Jorge Linares. The matchup first made its way around boxing circles while both were top featherweights in 2007.
Now that they are both campaigning at 130…
“Linares is a tough, strong fighter. He’s moved up in weight. I’m excited that there are big fights there, and he’s right there at the top of my list. He was on my radar as a featherweight, and again as a junior lightweight.”
In a perfect world, the two would collide as soon as such a fight could possibly be put together. But sometimes, “too much of a good thing” is applicable. This would be one of those situations. Both fighters have big plans for 2009 and beyond. Should they be able to carry through with their plans, a collision course in 2010 is all but imminent, with plenty of riches and fame to go around for everyone.
“We’re both young fighters who aspire to be boxing superstars. I have everyone at 130 – and a few guys at 135 – on my radar, and hope to get all of them. A fight with Linares is destined to happen, but we both have time to let it marinate, and build up into a super fight.”
One such way to build a top fighter into a big star is to build up and enhance his fan base.
Guerrero’s already a well-known commodity in the Bay Area, not an easy feat considering he’s forced to compete against several pro sports teams as well as other notable boxers such as 2004 Olympic Gold medalist Andre Ward. A way to advance him from well-known to one-man franchise would be to bring a huge card to the area in which he’s included.
If fighter and promoter have their way, then there stands a very good chance that the aforementioned March 7 HBO card lands in San Jose. Guerrero’s addition would make the evening a tripleheader, joining James Kirkland-Joel Julio and Victor Ortiz-Vivian Harris on the telecast.
“The hometown fans have been starving for a big fight in this area. What better way than for their hometown champion to be a part of the show.”
Of course, none of that happens should next weekend turn out to be a total disaster.
“Just getting back in the ring is the biggest hurdle right now,” says Guerrero, whose return to the ring comes in the very same Staples Arena in which he first won his featherweight alphabet title. “It’s long overdue to get in the ring, get the train going, take the breaks off and keep on rolling.”
Putting his mind at ease is the train’s conductor.
“I have Golden Boy backing me; they have a lot of big events and promise that I will be a part of several of them. I’m excited to be part of the stable and for my career to begin to see results.”
Jake Donovan is a voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Comments/questions can be submitted to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com .