Robert
”
The Ghost
”
Guerrero physically dominated Michael Katsidis to earn the
interim WBO and WBA Lightweight world championships with a
convincing unanimous decision Saturday night in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS
Though no one seemed to be listening, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero knew it all along.
He understood he had more to give, more to show and tons to prove. And he knew he had it in him to accomplish all of that.
Bearing the weight of doubters, yet looking more comfortable than ever, Guerrero delivered punishing punch after crippling blow and physically dominated Michael Katsidis to earn the vacant WBO and WBA interim lightweight world championships with a unanimous decision victory Saturday night in Las Vegas.
The three ringside judges ruled the fight 117-108, 118-106 and 118-107 in favor of The Ghost, who now holds five world titles in three weight divisions.
Immediately after the final bell, Guerrero raised his arms in triumph. There is no hiding this “ghost” any longer.
“I feel great that I was able to perform at a high level and show the fans what I’m all about,” Guerrero said Monday. “It feels fantastic.”
For nearly a year the Ghost had been overlooked by opponents despite his efforts to the contrary, even picked by many pundits to lose Saturday’s fight to the veteran Katsidis.
A rousing win Saturday, though, did more for the 28-year-old Gilroy native than any hyped-up news conference could ever do. His meticulous and often ferocious breakdown of a steadfast and power-packed Katsidis — plus two more world titles — will assuredly catapult a career that has been so close to greatness for so long.
“It’s very rewarding to know you put in all the hard work and the price was paid to get in great shape to give the fans a great show,” he said.
Guerrero’s “want” list of opponents is extensive, topped perhaps by Juan Manuel Marquez, who refused The Ghost’s advances in search of a third chance at Manny Pacquiao. The Ghost said he’d take on any of the upper-echelon fighters at 135 or 140 pounds.
“People are starting to realize that the weight is off my back with my wife and I’m going to be way more focused for fights,” Guerrero said. “I’ll fight either of them anytime, anywhere. I also want (Floyd) Mayweather and Pacquiao if they can make it happen. I want to fight the best out there.”
With his wife Casey in remission for more than a year, Guerrero participated in his first training camp away from home in three years, and it paid dividends in the biggest moments Saturday as Guerrero looked as prepared and in the best shape of his career.
“I felt great,” Guerrero said. “Like I said, we paid the price when we went out to Las Vegas. We were running in high elevation every day. I have to give credit to my father Ruben and my manager, nutritionist Bob Santos for sacrificing and leaving home so I could be ready.”
In a heavy hitting affair, round after round, Guerrero kept pace with the hard-charging Katsidis.
“With Katsidis, you know he’s going to come forward, but you can’t let him get in a rhythm,” he said. “I wanted to let him know I wasn’t going anywhere. I used my jab to keep him away. It was a great game plan.”
Guerrero, who held a distinct size advantage over the much shorter Katsidis, convincingly outpointed an aggressive and rarely yielding Katsidis (27-4, 22 KOs) in the 12-round slugfest — billed as a co-feature to the night’s main event between Erik Morales and Marcos Maidana — shaking off an early second-round stumble to fully breakdown his would-be opponent as the bout continued.
Early in the fight Guerrero was caught off-balance as Katsidis threw a left hook. The Ghost’s glove touched down on the canvas, but it was not ruled a knockdown.
“He stepped on my foot and hit me when I was off balance,” Guerrero said. “I was never hurt.”
In his most offensive performance of his career, Guerrero (29-1-1, 18 KOs) landed 48 percent of his punches (429 punches of 890), fluidly connecting with right-handed jabs to set up his left and pin-point upper cuts.
Guerrero, who really never lost control of the bout, seized momentum in the fifth when he connected on 35 of 50 power shots, including a left to the center of Katsidis’ face, sending the Australian into the ropes where Guerrero delivered a multitude of punches.
Both boxers had point deductions for low blows in the latter rounds; Katsidis was docked twice in the eighth and Guerrero once in the ninth. Katsidis continued to stick around despite significant swelling around both eyes, and action ceased only when the final bell sounded.
