NEW YORK, NY — Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero was a southpaw and world champion in two weight classes that included title reigns at featherweight. A Mexican-American who held the IBF featherweight title twice between 2006 and 2008, and the IBF junior lightweight title from 2009 to 2010.
The Guerrero name is a part of boxing history, a name synonymous with other champions and Hall of Famers with Mexican heritage. In the current cycle, champions Ryan Garcia, David Benavidez, and Sebastian Fundora classify themselves as Mexican-American. Still they are proud to represent themselves as champions from a country embellished in that rich tradition of boxing history.
Victor Guerreo (12-0, 10 KOs), the nephew of former Mexican-American pro-boxer Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (38-6-1, 20 KOs), is making a name for himself across the sport fight by fight – Image Credit: Steve Marcus/Getty Images
Victor Guerrero, that last name is familiar in boxing circles. Though the nephew of the former champion is attempting to make boxing history as the latest Mexican-American to step in the ring and continue a legacy “The Ghost” established.
Undefeated (12-0, 10 KOs) and a native of Gilroy, California, the 27-year-old junior middleweight at 154 is not shy about his ambitions to establish his own legacy. He resides in Las Vegas where many boxing champions have made their home, though for Guerrero, very much establishing himself in a division that also includes Fundora (WBC champion), Jaron “Boots” Ennis (WBA champion) and Josh Kelly with the IBF belt.
“I’m just hitting my prime, I want to get more experience before getting big names in the division,” Guerrero said from home after another intense training session with Sid El Harrak, his confidant and trainer. “I think by next year, I’ll be coming for some big names.”
Sid El Harrak believes the sky is the limit for Victor Guerrero as the 27-year-old continues to stamp his mark on the 154 pound division – Image Credit: Courtesy of Victor Guerrero
Those names include Fundora, a tall and lean champion known as “The Towering Inferno.” The approach against him is stay busy, a fighter who goes back to the old school era of stepping in the ring three or perhaps four times a year. Guerrero looks at his uncle as one who never backed down from a challenge, defending his titles often and with pride each time. It’s still a learning process and he’s scheduled for another opportunity at the end of this month and another in December.
Regarding a clash with Fundora, a fight that can be talked about but far from being matched, he said:
“I think his best attribute is his height. I think I can definitely match him up in height. (He’s) a name I will be calling out next year, I hope we can make it happen.”
Fundora has that height advantage (6’5-½”) and reach that forces opponents to dig down and go to the body. Guerrero also has height at 6’3″ and can throw a mean punch to the body, however for now, the cards for an eventual bout have to be aligned. For now, it’s about the present and the progression working towards a title opportunity.
Sebastian Fundora (6’5″) vs. Victor Guerrero (6’3″) could be a fight boxing fans see down the line – Image Credit: Michael Bishop/Premier Boxing Champions
Knockouts are significant for a fighter, they bring wins and of course develop instant popularity with fans. Guerrero has displayed that power to finish off opponents with power and speed. He works on those techniques in the gym, follows directions from his corner, and when the bell rings, it becomes a classic.
“Those two together (power and speed) don’t get paid for overtime. I just want to get in and out,” he said with a smile referring to his fights not going the distance.
Three fights this year have ended four rounds or less via TKO, KO, or in March when the referee stopped the contest in a six-rounder scheduled for six.
It’s now a full-time job for Guerrero, helping him be marketable and speak fluent English. It’s what a fighter says is 24/7 of waking up at sunrise, putting in that long run, heading to the gym and back home to his girlfriend, pet dog and preparing for the next day. His uncle did the same and the results were a fulfillment of a championship.
In his last bout earlier this year on May 29th in Virginia, Victor Guerrero secured a fourth round TKO victory against Rakim Johnson – Image Credit: Courtesy of Victor Guerrero
“I’m from a big boxing family,” he said. “My uncle paved the way for us, showed us how to do things on a professional level. Saw his big fights. Why can’t I do it? I have all the attributes and take advantage. We are very close. He (Robert Guerrero) has a gym here in Vegas and when I first moved out here, I trained at his gym.”
There guiding Victor before he moved on to his current trainer. He stays in touch with his uncle, they have deep conversations. Though Victor takes the structured advice and is creating his own path.
“My turn to do my thing,” he said. “Mexican American fighters, we have heart and never back down from a fight. We make it a brawl. We don’t shy away from fights. Obviously my uncle Robert always puts on a show. Watching him live, he was out there and left it all in the ring and inspired me, putting fuel to the fire.”
From watching his uncle give it all in his ring, putting more fuel on the fire, Victor Guerrero now believes it’s his turn to do his thing out there – Image Credit: Ryan Greene/Premier Boxing Champions
And it’s all coming together, eventually Guerrero will put his name on the dotted line with a major promoter and streaming network. It’s part of the boxing business. He is aware that is the route to go in a quest for something.
That quest atop rankings of the major boxing sanctioning organizations and highlighting a major boxing card. Fighters today with that quest have options assuming the promoters and streaming networks want to take that chance. DAZN and Zuffa Boxing are the lead foundations in that quest.
“Who knows, maybe it works out,” Guerrero said.
In other words, the timing has to be right.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X:@Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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