BTG Interview: Robert Guerrero talks Keith Thurman, crossfit training and more

Gilroy, California’s Robert Guerrero (32-2-1 18 KO) is a fighter. A warrior by name and in the ring. His elusiveness earned him the “The Ghost” moniker but make no mistake, as he moved through four weight classes winning titles at each stop, he’s done so by brawling with bad intentions as well.

In his last fight in June of 2014, the southpaw pressure fighter beat Japan’s Yoshihiro Kamegai (25-2-1 22 KO) by unanimous decision in a twelve round fight of the year candidate. We were reminded once again why we love this guy. He flat out comes to fight.

Early against Kamegai, it looked like he planned on boxing more, being more ghost like, and after a well publicized training regimen powered by CrossFit, he looked like he could go 15+ rounds. The plan was short lived as once he tasted a solid power shot from Kamegai, all bets were off and as his last name implies; the “warrior” came out.

Guerrero acknowledges this, saying after the fight, “I fell into that banging again, and that’s something I got to work on. I wanted to box on the outside but I have a habit of banging anyway and exchanging anyway” Guerrero fought most of the later rounds with a cut and badly swollen left eye. Yes, he loves to fight and he does it for the love of the game.

On March 7th, Guerrero returns to the ring against Clearwater Florida’s Keith “One Time” Thurman (24-0 21 KO) on Al Haymon’s inaugural Premier Boxing Champions on NBC card, or the PBC on NBC.

Thurman has been vocal about the lack of opponents eager to step in the ring with him but he need not look any further, he’s got a very willing opponent on March 7.

Behind the Gloves’ Rick Guerrero spoke to The Ghost about his family, CrossFit training, Thurman, and a few other topics.

BTG- It’s well chronicled that you are a strong family man and that you give back to the community, so let me start out first by asking how your family is doing and what community work you have been involved in recently.

RG: My family is great, my wife just celebrated 5 years since she had a bone marrow transplant. I’ve been helping out with the Salvation Army and BeTheMatch.org. I’m also part of a campaign to help keep our storm drains clean from people dumping oil in their gutters. I try to keep active in those areas.

BTG- A three part CrossFit question- How is your CrossFit training progressing, what was the biggest benefit that you experienced in the Kamegai fight as a result of combining this training with traditional methods, and can we expect to see competitive Ghost in the CrossFit games after boxing?

RG: I’m working out a few days every week and my training is progressing very well. CrossFit has brought a lot of overall strength to my game. My core is stronger and I’m more durable. The CrossFit games are unbelievable and I have a lot of respect for all those athletes that compete on an international level. My good friend Dave Castro runs the CrossFit games, but you’ll only see me in the stands watching on…lol. I’m going to stick to what I know best and that’s boxing.

BTG- Since 2011, you have had only five fights, can we expect to see you in the ring more frequently going forward?

RG: Everyone will be seeing more of me moving forward. Right now I’m in a good place with Haymon Boxing and all the great things they are doing.

BTG- After a few years of growing into 147, do you feel stronger now for this fight than at any other point?

RG: Yes I feel like I’ve grown into the weight pretty good. I’ve had a few fights at this weight and I’m very comfortable at 147. I can see myself moving up as I get older.

BTG- Your March 7 opponent, Keith Thurman, is similar to you in style in that he can box or punch, how do you envision the fight playing out?

RG: I think it’s going to be a war. He said he’s coming to knock me out, but he didn’t really show that aggressiveness in his last fight, so I have to be prepared for everything.

BTG- What does it mean to you to be headlining the first Haymon Boxing card, “Premier Boxing Champions” on NBC?

RG: I’m happy to be headlining the first fight back on NBC. I’m really going to be throwing a lot of hard punches. The fans are going to see a great fight and I hope the popularity of boxing grows to new heights. Al Haymon and NBC are really changing the game in a positive way.

BTG- Beating Thurman would start you on your path to reaching your goal of being the 2015 Fighter of The Year. Who would you be looking towards next?

RG: I’m not even going to go there. My only focus is on Thurman.

BTG- If it was Robert Guerrero getting a second May date with Floyd Mayweather, how would you adjust in the rematch from lessons learned in the first one?

RG: That information is private, but let’s just say I’ll be ready to bring a different game if that fight were to ever happen.

Many thanks to Robert for taking a few moments away from his training camp in answering the questions and to Mario for the coordination.

– Rick Guerrero / @lappittrick