Robert Guerrero didn’t want to get drawn into the controversial
decision Saturday night that gave the heavyweight elimination fight
to Samuel Peter over James Tone
Robert Guerrero didn’t want to get drawn into the controversial decision Saturday night that gave the heavyweight elimination fight to Samuel Peter over James Toney.
“That’s why I don’t like to leave it in the judges’ hands,” Guerrero said in a non-committal tone.
Guerrero didn’t leave anything to chance or the judges when he brought the International Boxing Federation title home to Gilroy. He so thoroughly dominated Eric Aiken that the former champion won just one round on the scoring card of one judge.
Judges are supposed to be impartial, but they are human. Therefore, when Toney pops off before the fight about sending Peter “back to Africa in a banana boat,” it is bound to get some unwarranted attention.
Of course, much of Toney’s prefight hype is to get into an opponent’s head or to promote the fight. It is not meant out of malice. But some people who don’t understand Toney or appreciate his boxing skills see what they want to see during his fights.
Which brings us back to Guerrero. He inflicted such punishment on Aiken that Guerrero’s co-manager Bob Santos had some concern about whether the former champion would ever be the same.
“After tonight, a lot of people will not want to fight (Guerrero),” Santos said. “They will see that this kid has star written all over him, and that if they want to make money they are going to have to get in the ring with him.”
It’s a two-way street, so Guerrero wants the best fighters as well. It could mean a foray into the super featherweight division in the near future.
At this point, though, Guerrero will take a well-deserved rest. He and close friend Jesus Begines and their significant others will take a camping trip at the end of the week.
Meanwhile, Guerrero’s promoter and managers will get busy beginning to map out the future of the sport’s newest world champion. Promoter Dan Goosen and co-manager Shelly Finkel have plenty of connections in the boxing world.
“This couldn’t be happening at a better time,” Santos said. “There are so many multi-million dollar fights out there. We want to keep him active and put him back in the ring as soon as possible. I’ll sit down with Shelly and look at the networks and go from there.”
That is the only judgment call that Guerrero wants to put to chance. Judging from the Toney-Peter fight and so many others in the past, that is good judgment on Guerrero’s part.
