Robert
”
The Ghost
”
Guerrero wins super featherweight bout by knockout 43 seconds
into the first round
LOS ANGELES — It’s never a good sign for a boxer when his theme song entering the ring lasts longer than he does.
Gilroy native Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero didn’t have that problem Saturday night at Staples Center in Los Angeles, but his opponent Edel Ruiz sure did.
Guerrero (23-1-1, 16 KOs), fighting for the first time in almost a year, delivered a vicious left uppercut to Ruiz’s ribs to win their super featherweight bout by knockout 43 seconds into the first round.
“The weird thing about it is I come out, I don’t hear anything,” Guerrero said. “Everything is just a blur.”
The fans in attendance could say the same about the bout. Many were still arriving to their seats, missing a fight that was blink-and-you-miss-it fast.
Guerrero and Ruiz were fifth on an eight-fight card, headlined by Antonio Margarito defending his WBA welterweight title against Shane Mosley. Mosley took the title by scoring a knockout 43 seconds into the ninth round.
Ruiz’s undoing was tossing an overhand right at Guerrero. The punch was quickly shrugged off and countered by a left to the body, dropping a breathless Ruiz to his knees.
“I knew he wasn’t going to get up,” Guerrero said of the shot, adding that he didn’t think he threw more than six punches total.
Ruiz’s record took yet another hit, as the Mexican boxer has now lost eight of his last 11 fights to drop to 31-22-4 (22 KOs).
Guerrero said he was excited with the win for several reasons. The victory was a good way to shake off ring rust after being held out since an eighth-round knockout of Jason Litzau on Feb. 29, 2008. The layoff was due to a lingering arbitration case with his former promoter, Goossen Tutor. After winning that case and becoming a free agent, Guerrero signed with Golden Boy Promotions.
His new promoters were more than pleased with Saturday’s showing.
“They all came back (to the dressing room) and were like, ‘Man, that was an incredible shot,'” Guerrero said.
The bout marked just the second time Guerrero has fought at Staples Center, with both fights ending in victory. Guerrero won the IBF featherweight title for the first time of his career here by forcing Eric Aiken to quit after eight rounds on Sept. 2, 2006.
Guerrero has fought just five times since, but is expected to have a short turnaround and take part in a card on March 7.
“Hopefully, I get four fights in this year, or two or three title fights,” he said.
