07.12.04 – Only 21 years old, Robert Guerrero has accomplished a lot in his three-year career, compiling an unbeaten record and amassing a sizable fan following. But everything “The Ghost” has done thus far has just been another calculated step leading up to this moment, on December 9, when he challenges for his first professional title at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California against Cesar Figueroa.
This bout, which heads up the exciting five-bout undercard to the heavyweight championship clash between Vassiliy Jirov and Michael Moorer, is scheduled for 12 rounds. Doors open at 3:30pm and the first bell rings at 4pm.
Robert Guerrero (13-0-1, 6 KOs), currently ranked 10th in the world by the WBO, and 13th by the IBF, has earned his reputation in the boxing ring with his amazing ability of speed and power between the ropes, a crowd-pleasing style, and a magnetic personality. A native of Gilroy, California (the garlic capitol of the world), “The Ghost” – who was a highly touted amateur star – has steadily ramped up his level of competition with great success, leading many boxing observers to believe that he is on a collision course with 2000 US silver medallist Rocky Juarez, also a budding pro star. On June 3, Guerrero passed his biggest test when he stopped former world champion Enrique Sanchez in eight rounds.
Showing the poise of a world champion, Guerrero told his promoter Dan Goossen his desire to fight for the world championship in 2005. “I want to fight for the world championship now and to also be a major pay-per-view star and the only way I can do that is fight the type of fights that the fans want to see and those are going to be tough challenges for me. But I’m prepared for it all. Today, Cesar Figeroa, tomorrow Rocky Juarez and after that, it’s the world.”
But in Cesar Figueroa (28-4-2, 20 KOs), Guerrero will be taking on another one of the divisions toughest customers, a hard-hitting native of Mexico City who would like nothing better than to put a “1” in the loss column of the young prospect. An eight year veteran of the ring, Figueroa stopped the former champ, Jorge Martinez in his last bout on September 16 to win the NABF crown, and he promises to do the same to Guerrero. “I will not let my title go Thursday night, I will stop Guerrero within 8 rounds. Once he feels my power, its over” stated Figeroa.
Also featured on the December 9 undercard is undefeated Mexican heavyweight sensation Cristobal Arreola. Arreola, the “Mexican Nightmare” is 7-0 with all of his wins coming by way of knockout, now makes his home in Riverside, California, will look to add another booming knockout to his record when he faces Benjamin Garcia (6-4, 3 KOs) in a four round contest. The heavyweight action continues in two other separate bouts, as the “Fighting Cop” of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Jason Gavern (6-1-1, 4 KOs), takes on Los Angeles Charles Wilson (9-4, 4 KOs) in a six round bout, and unbeaten heavyweight Travis Walker (4-0, 3 KOs) of Tallahassee, Florida battles Palmdale, California’s Sal Farnetti (3-8-3) in a four rounder.
Opening up the show will be a four round junior welterweight bout featuring debuting and amateur sensation, Lorenzo Reynolds of Saginaw, Michigan.
Tickets for this Goossen Tutor Promotion of a heavyweight night of boxing, priced at $200, $150, $125, and $75, are available at the Pechanga Box Office, or by calling 877-711-2WIN.