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02/24/2007 Archived Entry: "'Ghost' Guerrero Now 2-Time Champ!"
'Ghost' Guerrero Now 2-Time Champ!
Press Release
Guerrero (on the right) with Spend Abazi in the left photo and with his team in the photo at right
COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- WALKING in the ring with the American flag by his side, Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero was greeted with boos from a hostile crowd at the Falconer Center.
Cheers of support then erupted for Spend Abazi, the hometown hero, as he entered the ring looking to win his first world title.
Having fought in championship bouts back in the USA, Guerrero showed no signs of doubt. The fight was on.
In rounds one and two, "The Ghost" used his reach, jabbing and teeing off with straight lefts, and stunning the Dane with clean shots.
With confidence mounting, Guerrero came out guns blazing in the third, and dropped Abazi with a wicked straight left that landed flush on the face. Abazi got up after an eight count, and Guerrero jumped on him. He landed a barrage of punches as the bell ended the onslaught.
Showing great heart, Abazi mounted a comeback in round four, winning a close round with a nice steady attack, throwing punches from all angles. Ghost had his moments landing his jab, but Abazi was more active.
Round five started out tremendous for Guerrero as he once again dropped Abazi with a devastated straight left cutting the eye of the Denmark native. Not letting Abazi breath, "The Ghost" was all business, landing at will with is jab and right hook to the body.
Not knowing how to deal with the right-jab-straight-left combo, Abazi had no answers in rounds six and seven. Guerrero again showed great skills and lateral movement as he moved closer to victory.
With a blooding nose and a right eye gashed, Guerrero put the final touches on the Danish fighter in the eighth. The fight ended when Abazi's corner called it quits before the ninth began, and Guerrero was crowned IBF champion.
Showing class, Guerrero went to Abazi's corner and gave him and his team a good old American handshake and hug. Guerrero then took Abazi from his stool and raised his hands to his hometown crowd, telling them that he is a true warrior.
"The Ghost" now a two time world champion, looks to move forward with his career and fight the bigger names at 126 and 130. Stay tuned as the storybook of "The Ghost" continues.
Guerrero celebrates
Just five days removed from experiencing the joy of the birth of his first son, Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero (20-2-1, 13 KOs) celebrated on Friday night by stopping Denmark native Spend Abazi in his own home country to capture the vacant IBF Featherweight Title he formerly held.
In regaining the title that he lost to Mexico's Orlando Salido (who was later stripped due to a positive steroid finding in the post-fight exam), Guerrero, rated #1 contender coming in, thoroughly dominated the #2 ranked Dane who was bloodied, battered and failed to answer the bell for the ninth round.
"The fight went real good," the pride of Gilroy, California, said via conference call from his dressing room immediately after the fight. "I totally dominated using my jab. There were some things I could have done better, but I got him out of there. Now that I'm two-time world champion, it feels good.
"He's a really tough guy," Guerrero, who sent Abazi (35-2, 10 KOs) to the canvas in the third and fifth rounds. "He can take a shot. I hit him with some deadly shots and he kept getting up. But in the eighth I finally got him out of there."
Rueben Guerrero (Robert's father) and Bob Santos, co-manager of Guerrero, made a seamless transition to trainer and cornerman, respectively, keeping 'The Ghost' focused on the game plan that was set while preparing in Los Angeles.
"Robert had dropped him a couple of times and we told him to pick up the pace," Santos revealed. "Obviously, he did pick up the pace and made Abazi quit on his stool.
Goossen Tutor's Craig Goossen, who made the trip to Denmark, described Guerrero's victory most succinctly: "Bigger man, stronger puncher, could not be hurt by Abazi."
"Going to Denmark was a decision based on getting the title immediately back and with the resounding KO victory, it puts Robert right back at the top," promoter Dan Goossen explained. "He's got the type of offense and power that will make him a fan and TV favorite for a long time.
"The 126 and 130 lb. divisions are really hot right now with Barrera, Pacquiao, (and) Marquez being the marquis names."
"Line 'em up," Guerrero insisted. "I'm right back in the mix." "Now that I have gotten my world title back I can start looking at some of those big fights."
Guerrero's co-manager Shelly Finkel on Guerrero's victory said, "It's great for all of us. He's only 23. There are a lot of great opponents. And if he keeps working and improving the way he did tonight there will be no stopping him."
Guerrero dedicated the victory to his wife, Casey, and newborn son, Robert, Jr, who tipped the scales at a healthy 7 lbs, 2 oz.
"Sounds like a middleweight," quipped Dan Goossen.
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