Ghost Guerrero needs to be more lucid against Katsidis

With three titles across two weight classes to his name, Robert Guerrero should be a household name at this point of his career, yet "The Ghost" is still looking for a career defining victory. Against Michael Katsidis he has a chance to steal the show on April 9ths pay-per-view at the Mandalay Bay, will he carpe diem?

This content is protected

Ghost Guerrero needs to be more lucid against Katsidis
Mark Ortega

He hasn't lost in almost five years, has claimed world titles three times in two different weight classes, has fought on HBO in three of his last four and, at 28 years old, he should be hitting his physical prime. With credentials like those, one must assume the fighter in question is a pound-for-pound entrant that the casual fan is likely aware of.

Unfortunately, the fighter in discussion is Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, who on April 9th will meet the always tough Michael Katsidis for the vacant interim WBA and WBO lightweight titles on the undercard of Erik Morales' return to Las Vegas against Marcos Maidana on HBO-PPV. Yes, its a vacant interim unification bout.

Apart from a loss to Orlando Salido in November of 2006 that was later overturned to a no contest when Salido tested positive for steroids, Guerrero has only suffered one defeat; a twelve round split decision at the hands of trial horse Gamaliel Diaz when the young fighter from Gilroy, California was on his way up the ladder. Guerrero avenged that loss six months later close to home in the Bay Area's Oracle Arena in Oakland, California when he stopped Diaz with a single brutal shot to the liver in the sixth round, though Guerrero struggled a bit prior to getting there.

Despite going 9-0 with one no decision since the Salido letdown, Guerrero [28-1-1, 18 KOs] is still looking for a career defining victory despite having claimed a world championship in two different weight classes.

In Katsidis [27-3, 22 KOs], Guerrero has found an opponent that will likely step up his watch ability factor by at least ten as the Australian has hardly been in a dull fight over the course of his career. If there was ever an opportunity to remind the hardcore boxing fan that he is a fighter that demands respect, this is it. Guerrero promoter Golden Boy Promotions has done all they can in moving Guerrero into his current spot, featuring him on HBO programming four times since joining forces.

Guerrero has partially himself to blame for his lack of notoriety amongst boxing's casual fans. In fights against Malcolm Klassen and Joel Casamayor, he looked far from spectacular.

Click here to read the rest