Can Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero Leap Over Andre Berto? |
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| Written by David A. Avila | |||
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Friday, 23 November 2012 22:47
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Guerrero (30-1-1, 18 KOs) meets Berto (28-1, 22 KOs) in a battle between two incredibly athletic prizefighters for the interim WBC welterweight title on Saturday, Nov. 24. Golden Boy Promotions stages the fight at the Citizens Business Bank Arena. HBO will televise on delay in the West Coast. As Berto stepped on the scale the amiable boxer from Florida looked anxious to step into the ring and perhaps erase those demons of doubt stemming from a failed drug test, loss to Victor Ortiz and the months of possible ring rust. Guerrero looked anxious to prove that he can indeed fight anyone at 147 pounds and has that eagerness that comes with knowing he faced a hard hitter and survived. Now the two are set to finally meet. The winner will probably get that nod to fight Floyd Mayweather next. Just four years ago Guerrero was a lanky southpaw boxer-puncher who took out Jason Litzau with a swift left uppercut in the eight round. Yes, he has power. But few realize how athletic the Gilroy prizefighter really is. Two years ago while visiting him in Big Bear Lake we saw Guerrero at Abel Sanchez’s boxing gym. As we talked Sanchez was talking about the Ghost’s leaping ability. He asked Guerrero to show us. Standing outside of the boxing ring - that had a foot high platform - without a running start Guerrero leaped over the four ring ropes in a single bound without use of his hands. It was a jump that would make L.A. Clipper Blake Griffin do a double take. We couldn’t believe it. We had a video camera with us but were caught by surprise. Guerrero offered to repeat it but I said no. I didn’t want to be responsible for an accident should he not be successful again. “My first year in football I was a second string quarterback. I couldn’t throw a pass so I ran it. I had three touchdowns,” said Guerrero, who attended Gilroy High. Guerrero is a wiry strong, quick fisted and sleek footed boxer whose knockouts have kind of blinded the fans into thinking he’s one dimensional. Far from it. “I can’t wait to get out there; I’m just chomping at the bit. All that’s left is to just go in there and fight,” Guerrero said. Berto reminds many of Sugar Shane Mosley who despite a lack of height used his speed and power to blinding effectiveness. A few months back I saw Berto doing some drills in a Van Nuys boxing gym and the Floridian looked fluid and quick. He’s the only fighter that ever dominated Steve Forbes, who fought a ton of fighters from Oscar De La Hoya to Cornelius Bundrage. But when they met on September 2008, Berto dominated. Now Berto faces someone who is similar in athleticism but he feels he still has advantages. “My advantage is definitely my speed and a power advantage,” says Berto. “Robert is a tough fighter. He’s a crafty southpaw. We’re just going to be ready for whatever.” Berto weighed 146.8 pounds and Guerrero 146.4 pounds at the official weigh in that took place at Dave & Busters in the Ontario Mills Mall on Friday afternoon. Odds and Ends New WBC lightweight champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner showed up at the weigh in and when asked who would be his dream fight he answer: “Adrien Broner. I’d kick his ass.” A number of boxing journalists met at the Club Hi Brow sports bar in Upland, California. The establishment is owned by the wife of one of the premiere sportswriters in Southern California. It’s located on 925 W. Foothill Blvd. Tattoo emceed the boxing proceedings at the Golden Boy Promotions weigh in. The KDAY radio disc jock has one of the most popular Hip Hop shows in Southern California. He always adds something special to the boxing events. Tickets are priced at $200, $100, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable service charges and taxes, are available for purchase by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or by calling AXS at (888) 9AXS- TIX (888-929-7849), at the Citizens Business Bank Arena box office or online at www.ticketmaster.com, www.cbbankarena.com or www.axs.com. Spinach Chin says:
Never seen Robert hurt or dropped....Berto's explosive but was lucky to get the W against unknown Zaveck. Going with the tortoise to beat the hare by decision. ali says:
The ghost is about to get scraped. Berto does slot of dumb **** in the ring but I think his speed and power will make up for it. brownsugar says:
Robert is always the better technician and has be considered the smarter and more skilled boxer. He can box from the outside or he can grab, punch and clinch (in that order) as he proved against Selcuk. Yordan is the only boxer I've seen who was able to penetrated his aura of invicibility.... but we do know that Guerrero was under duress at the time about his wifes condition and ultimately the fight was stopped early on cuts.. Yordan hasn't made much of a name for himself since. Bernie Campbell says:
Joe Watson and his 2 sons got to stop stealing the limelight! Get this joker off the TV screen! Radam G says:
Danggit , BerCamp, you really don't dig Sam and his sons. Haha! That always-in-the-ring Sam ain't Uncle Sam or piano-playing Sam in the old flick "Casablanca." Holla! the Roast says:
Great fight tonight. That was rugged for sure. The ref could have done a better job breaking them and controling the action. Floyd will toy with Guerrero if it happens. brownsugar says:
Whoo Wee...... awsome. Shoulder Roll Defense says:
Well, I just finished eating my crow sandwich. Guerrero suprised me with how strong and durable he is; he has quite a chin. He turned the boxing match into a "street fight" and Berto couldn't adjust. Why did Berto try to use the "Philly Shell" style of defense? The "Philly Shell" isn't a defense that you can just learn and implement at the last minute, it takes years to perfect it. Berto should have used the traditional orthodox high guard stance that he usually uses. Also, Berto's poor footwork hasn't improved, he didn't know how to weave and spin Guerrero, thus he allowed himself to be pinned on the ropes. Berto makes exciting fights, but almost a "shot" fighter because of his defensive deficiencies. I don't see him beating any of the elite welterweights, with the exception of maybe Paulie Malinaggi. brownsugar says:
Berto is another in a long line of boxers who don't have a clue of how to position their bodies for maximum leverage inside. (like SouthPaul says:
The ghost is about to get scraped. Berto does alot of dumb **** in the ring but I think his speed and power will make up for it. Boy oh boy, Ali, Berto out did himself last night in the dumb dumb department! Halloween has passed but Berto didn't care... As he still was dressed down in a poorly created MAyweather costume. By the way, good feed back from every one here. Thanks for the Sunday read.
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ONTARIO, CALIF.-Face to face you would never know that Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero was a 126-pound world champion. Or that Andre Berto dominated welterweights until toppling one time a few years back.
i got 25/1 odds on a draw...
it seems what one brings in athleticism and craft, the other matches with power and aggression.. The BLH staff picks had it 4-3 Berto. And i'm favouring Guerrero just because of intelligence and chin.
But i have a sneaking suspicion the judges will cower away from acknowledging Guerrero's technical superiority and split it even based on Berto bringing a strong fight to the ring tonight.
25/1 Draw tonight.. Fiver down. One hundred and twenty five back!