Robert Guerrero: The "Holy" Ghost   By Will "The Thrill" Trillo Photos: Bret "The Threat" Newton

In a business with a stigma and a reputation built on scandal, and a sport that continues to give itself a black eye, seemingly with every promotion, it's not only refreshing, but at the same time an awakening to find that boxing and the people who connect themselves with it are not always what those on the outside looking in perceive them to be. Case in point, NABF Featherweight Title holder, Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero (14-0-1, 7 KO's). In his short 15 fight career, the lanky young man from Gilroy California has already accomplished his first goal, and with 2005 nothing short of a World Title shot will do. Inside the ring he is as tough as they come, a sharp puncher who prides himself on his conditioning and his willingness to seize the moment.
 

Outside the ring, Robert is as respectful and soft spoken young man as you would ever want to meet. His desire to win inside the ring is as strong as his desire to be a shining light to those outside the ring, especially to the youths who look up to him as an example of how to do things the right way. His Christian faith and his proclamation of Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior are not just an act, he speaks the truth and he knows it well. So how does the young man keep his focus and not fall into the trap that so many other before him have plunged into? "I have built such a strong relationship with God that whatever happens in boxing does not affect me, I put everything in his hands, my training, the negotiations, in fact everything I do in life I put in God's hands, and I pray on it, that's how I keep my balance!," says a proud Guerrero. Robert went on to say, "When I am in training, in camp, I spend the same amount of time on training as I do learning about God and The Bible. That's how I stay grounded, and it's my platform for what I want to do in life!"

You will never mistake Robert for one of those so called Christians who spends more time judging everyone else, and when they find what they think is wrong, smacking that person over the head with a Bible. Instead, Guerrero believes that his actions speak louder than his words, "I don't like to go up to people and say you are in sin, you have to be a Christian, or you are not being a good Christian, because people will get offended, and it will turn them away! I like to let my actions speak for themselves, and the best way I can present myself as a Christian is to be a shining light for people in the World!" It's no big secret that Boxing can be a very dark and lurid sport, but with fighters like Robert, who want to be a shining light, there is always one you can point to and say, "There goes one of the good ones!" Roberts intentions are simple easy and pure, " If I can inspire just one kid, or one person, every time I go out there and fight, that means more to me than winning the fight!"

 

And winning is something Robert knows all about, as he enters into his 4th year of professional boxing he has yet to taste a defeat and if not for an extremely questionable draw his record would be without a blemish. The Southpaw from Gilroy is coming off a fantastic victory that earned him a belt, as he spoke about it, you almost thought that he was giving you the blow by blow account as every detail of his championship victory was still fresh on his mind, " I went in their ready, it was the best shape I have ever been in, our game plan was to go in there and establish the jab, and that's what we did from the opening bell, everything else worked from there. I was up and down and he was getting real befuddled and he didn't know what to do. I ended up setting him up with a body shot and then I came up with a straight left hand that nailed him and put him on his seat! He got up at 8 or 9 but he was pretty wobbled, I went in real cautious with little flurries and right when he tried to land one of those desperate punches, he opened up and I landed a solid uppercut just right, it put him on his back and that was it!"
 

And what does Robert see for 2005? The Champ explains, "My plans for 2004 were to win a title, and that's what I did! For 2005, my plans are to win that World Title! I am right in the spot I need to be for 2005, I am on the right track to get a title shot by the end of the year!" Those are big goals for the young fighter who is smack dab in the middle of one of the most talent rich divisions in boxing, but mix in his natural talent and his undeniable faith, and we just may very well see this kid reach his dreams of stardom, and along the way he surely will be a positive role model for one, if not many youths, who are looking for that shining light!

 

Questions? Comments? Contact Will "The Thrill" Trillo