Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero is getting ready to challenge IBF super featherweight champion Malcolm Klassen. Guerrero has gone up to Big Bear, California for an intense training camp leading up to the contest, which will be held in Houston on August 22nd. The fight will be televised on HBO as the under card to the Juan Diaz vs. Paulie Malignaggi fight.
Guerrero sparring with Shane Mosley; says Juan Diaz turned down a fight with him
Robert, it's good to talk with you again…
You just got up to Big Bear last week to begin preparations for an August 22nd battle against Malcolm Klassen for the IBF super featherweight title. How are you feeling at the start of camp?
RG: I feel good, I've been at it for about a week already. I'm getting used to the elevation, it kind of grabbed me there. But I'm getting used to it and it's gonna be good to be out here and getting ready for the fight.
You fought just over a month ago and your upcoming fight will be held basically in 5 weeks from now. That's after a stretch where you only had two rounds of boxing in over a year. How nice is it for you just to be active again?
RG: Oh, I'm pumped about that. That's one of things we talked about with my manager Bob Santos and Shelly Finkel, is keeping busy all the time. There were times when it would be a year and a half, a year, and now to be fighting in a row like this it's a great opportunity to be into it and get sharp.
It's been a long road for you over the last 18 months since you were the IBF featherweight champion, obviously with your wife's illness, the promotional problems and the quick end to your fight with Daud Yordan… but finally your title shot is here. Can you describe what that's like for you?
RG: It's exciting, I'll be going for my third world championship in two weight classes and I'm excited about it. I'm even more excited about this fight to be moving up to super featherweight and fighting for the world championship. I didn't think I was going to get the shot this soon, I thought it would be towards the end of the year. But getting it this next fight, I'm excited about it. It came earlier than I thought and I just can't wait and that's why I'm out here in Big Bear getting ready for the fight and doing everything that's necessary to be ready for it.
After checking out your fight history, it looks like you fought once in Denmark and I believe four times in Florida and everything else has been on the west coast or in the southwest. Do you have a lot of fans in Houston and what do you expect from the crowd that night?
RG: Yea I have a lot of family out in Texas and they're gonna be there on fight night. I'll be out there as the American fighting for the world championship. It's going to be a hometown crowd and I'm excited about it. It's going to be an exciting fight.
There had been some rumors circulating that you and Juan Diaz were going to be matched up against one another, and obviously now you're on the undercard to his fight against Paulie Malignaggi. Was there any truth to that and if so why did the fight fall apart?
RG: They were trying to make the fight with Juan Diaz for this upcoming August fight. My management team sent the offers and they got turned down. They made the fight with Paul Malignaggi and I don't know too much how that went but we were trying to get the fight with Diaz and they turned it down.
Was that a fight HBO was pushing for?
RG: HBO wanted the fight but it didn't happen.
Well then maybe you two can hook up in the future at some point. I've read that you're planning on doing some sparring with Shane Mosley. Have you sparred with him before?
RG: Yea, I sparred with him the first time I ever came out here. I was actually getting ready for Rocky Juarez. That fight fell out, he ended up fighting Marquez and I fought Martin Honorio. I knocked him out in 56 seconds…
…A bit easier than sparring with Mosley?
RG: (laughs) He was like a turtle compared to Shane. I was on it and I was sharp. So I'm excited to be working with Shane. Shane's on top of his game right now. He's out here and he's going to help me out with this fight. Klassen has quick hands, and I don't think anybody in boxing has quicker hands than Shane Mosley right now, so it's gonna be good for me.
You're both California based fighters, how long have you known Shane?
RG: I've known Shane since, I'd say going on about three years since the first time I came out here was when I met him. Ever since then he's been a gentlemen and always is throwing his tips in there to help me out. One thing about Shane is that he's always there to help.
Who else will you be sparring with for this camp?
RG: We're going to be sparring with another guy, Eloy Perez, who always spars with me and helps me out with the fights and he's also out here. There's one more guy that they're going to be bringing in, he's fighting Luevano for the title at featherweight. [Bernabe Concepion]. He needs left handed sparring so I'm perfect sparring for him, since Luevano is also a tall fighter and a southpaw. [The arrangement hasn't been finalized as of yet]… If it does go through it will work out nice because he's about 5'4", about Klassen's size and I'm Stevie Luevano's size.
You mentioned that Klassen has fast hands, what else can you tell us about him? Most American fight fans haven't seen much of him…
RG: He's tough, like most African fighters are. They keep coming, throw a lot of punches, they're in great shape. And he has fast hands, fast feet, he gets in and out and... I mean, he's a fighter.
He's on a five fight knockout streak and you haven't had a win go to the scorecards in about 7 years. Is it safe to say we will be seeing some fireworks on August 22?
RG: Oh yea. You know how those Africans are, they come to fight. So I know he's coming to fight. It's going to be a good fight and I'm excited about it because I love fighting… I love getting in there and mixing it up. So there's gonna be a lot of fireworks.
What do you think is going to give you the edge in this fight and how do you see it playing out?
RG: Height. Speed. Power. The southpaw stance. I got a big advantage and it's about using it and getting established in the ring.
Would you be disappointed with anything outside of a knockout win?
RG: No, a win is a win and he's a champion. A two time IBF world champion and he's not there for nothing and I know he's coming to fight. Getting the win, whether it goes to the scorecards or it's short, it's always a good win.
It's August 23rd and you're the new IBF super featherweight champion. What's your dream end to the year following that?
RG: God willing, everything goes great? Shoot for that unification belt. I know there's talks about Jorge Linares and Humberto Soto unifying titles, and the winner out of them… hey, I'd love to unify with them.
I'm sure you have some high altitude hills to run so I won't keep you from your training, thanks for the time and good luck.
RG: No problem, thank you.
This intervew was conducted by Jake Emen for Pro Fighting Fans and was also published on Associated Content.
