Robert Guerrero (Getty)
Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero will face off against Keith Thurman on March 7 as part of the double-header debut of Premier Boxing Champions at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. NBC will broadcast the bout (8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT).
The fight helps to kick off enigmatic manager Al Haymon’s new PBC on NBC series. The return of professional boxing to prime-time network television offers The Ghost, and the sport, an opportunity to impress on the grand stage.
Robert Guerrero, 31 years old, is no stranger to the limelight. Going up against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May 2013 also meant enduring the hectic pre-fight promotion engagements, the media scrutiny, and the rest of the fiasco that came along with the big payday.
“It’s an experience,” the Gilroy, California native Guerrero said in a recent media conference call. “Especially everything that comes around, the whole circus with Floyd and with All Access and all that stuff in your camp, following you around day to day. It’s a big deal. It’s a big deal and you got to be well prepared for it. It could be a distraction if you let it and you got to be 100 percent focused and I think this is going to be even bigger, with the viewing audience that comes along with NBC. It’s going to be even bigger so, I’m excited about it and very focused and ready to go.”
In his previous fight, Robert Guerrero defeated Yoshihiro Kamegai in a savage 2014 Fight of the Year candidate at the StubHub Center in California. That bout followed Guerrero’s loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“Hey, you learn from experiences. Mayweather was a big experience for me,” Guerrero said. “You go down. You break down tape and you work off your game plan and that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to work off our game plan. We’re breaking down film on Keith and we’ve got something in store for him.”
Keith Thurman (right) hits Leonard Bundu. (Getty)
Thurman, 26 years old, comes to the fight having previously outpointed Leonard Bundu in a tactical chess match in December 2014. Before Bundu, Thurman had stopped Julio Dian and veteran Jesus Soto Karass.
“Keith Thurman, he’s a great fighter,” Guerrero said. “He’s quick on his feet, quick hands, has power. You have to respect that. My whole idea is to come ready for whatever’s going to happen in that ring. Whether it’s inside, outside, whatever happens. He gets on the move; you have to be ready for it. It’s being well prepared for the fight and we’re professionals and that’s what we do is we get well prepared to be in that ring.”
Clearwater, Florida native Keith Thurman, who has made three successful title defenses since lifting the interim WBA Welterweight World from Diego Chaves in July of 2013, was recently elevated from interim to full welterweight champion by the World Boxing Association.
“One thing I got to say is, Keith hasn’t fought nobody like me,” Guerrero said. “He’s fought tough guys, guys with experience, but he hasn’t fought nobody like me. So, we’re going to be 100 percent prepared and, you see me in the gym. We’re determined and we get it. We’re determined to get it and we work hard. “
Also co-featured on the evening’s card, former WBA World welterweight champion Adrien Broner takes on John Molina Jr.
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Robert Guerrero: Focused & Ready to Go