A “Ghost” From the Past

In an era which seems to take many males extended time to mature into men, Gilroy, CA, native Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (26-1-1, 17KO), is a throwback personality of times gone by. The 27-year-old southpaw scrapper is a refreshing glimpse into the veracity of a man. Before I get to the remarkable story of this westcoast upshot, let me first say I admire Guerrero for his integrity, morals, selflessness, work ethic, sense of community, courage, and most of all devotion to family, which I believe to be a man’s utmost responsibility.

This Saturday July 31, 2010 on the Marquez-Diaz undercard, “The Ghost” will be engaging in his second toughest fight to date against future hall of famer Joel “El Cepillo” Casamayor (37-4-1, 22KO), at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, NV, on (HBO PPV, $49.95, 9 ET). The toughest being the fight for his family and beloved wife Casey Guerrero who has been his best friend and partner since the age of fourteen. In November of 2007 in the latter half of Guerrero’s training camp for the defense of his IBF featherweight belt against Martin Honorio, Casey was feeling sick as if she had a prolonged flu, which she said felt like an ulcer. At this point Robert decided to take his wife to the emergency room where they were informed that Casey’s white blood cell count was elevated.

Robert said the doctor sat him down and told him Casey had leukemia. Guerrero stated, “In boxing, you take a lot of abuse, deal with a lot of aches and pains. But nothing could really help you deal with that. It felt like the hardest punch I had ever been hit with. A million thoughts go through your mind at that point, but I knew I was going to do whatever I had to do to be there for casey.”

Robert and Casey went to the same junior high school growing up and lived around the corner from eachother. It didn’t take long for her to notice him, “I pretty much had this really serious crush on him from the minute I’d seen him,” said Casey. The feeling was mutual for Robert but Casey did not play easy to get and swoon over him like other girls who knew of Guerrero’s boxing exploits. “The Ghost” was a popular local celebrity in his teens and attracted the girls, but the lady he wanted wasn’t falling over her feet to get to him, however, she did see him. Once a friend introduced them, as they say the rest is history.

Once again in March of 2009 when Guerrero was preparing to step into the ring for a very important fight against Duad Yordan he received more devastating news. It was confirmed by doctors that Mrs. Guerrero was in earnest need of a bone marrow transplant and there were no donor matches. It became soberingly clear to Robert and the Guerrero family that the rest of Casey’s life could be cut very short. Robert being of devout Christian faith stated, “I had a lot of sleepless nights where I’d cried myself to sleep. You can’t help but think of what’s happening to this person you love more than life itself. And we were helpless in this. That’s where my faith came in. It was in God’s hands.”

Beginning with the conception of Casey’s diagnoses Robert had taken time off from boxing frequently to be at his wife’s side and take care of their two young children, Savannah, 5, and Robert Jr., 3. Then in January 09′ he was a couple months away from the biggest fight of his career with Michael Katsidis, a victory against Katsidis would make Robert a bonafide star and catapult him to the top. It was not to be, after coming up on a year of chemotherapy treatment a bone marrow donor in Europe was located for Casey and the doctors informed Robert and his wife that she would only have a 50-50 chance of surviving the transplant surgery.

Robert surrendered his title which had no meaning to him at that point in his wife’s gloomiset hour. He took care of their children and drove 50 miles to Stanford Hospital daily to be at the side of his beloved, often crying the duration of the journey home. Casey acknowledged she was impressed, “I think he did great because he had to step up and learn how to do a little girl’s hair, and get her dressed, so, yeah, he did a great job.” “I was relieved and happy to have him stay. The things the doctors were telling me were straight up and scary. I wanted him by my side for it. But it was all his idea.” Casey relayed that Robert was bed side to watch movies with her and immerse in the small talk of life as they did as youngsters coming up in Gilroy, CA. “It was going to be the fight of my career,” said Robert. “I had to push it aside for the fight of my wife’s life.”

After undergoing treatment and surviving three relapses of the disease during the time of 2007 to 2009, Casey underwent a January 10′ transplant operation and Robert said he could not get one doctor’s bleak post-opt advice out of his mind: “Be ready to make arrangements,” Robert said they did not sugarcoat anything.

Just over six months after the surgery Casey’s doctors declared it a success and informed the 26-year-old that she was cancer-free and would be able to attend her husband’s second biggest fight ever on Saturday July 31, 2010, against Joel “El Cepillo” Casamayor in Las Vegas. This fight will be the first time “The Ghost” will be going into a fight with a clear mind knowing his wife is okay, and a fully focused fighter is always more dangerous.

With the Guerrero’s story gaining much notoriety outside of boxing a documentary has come about highlighting Robert and Casey’s journey. The documentary is being filmed and slated to be released sometime next spring according to Guerrero’s publicist, Mario Serrano. It is being directed by Andrew Johnston in association with Golden Boy Promotions and photography director Jeffrey Bell. “There is a lot to it, whether he is dealing with his wife’s leukemia, and, you know, being out of the ring with contract disputes, having to travel overseas to fight for titles in other people’s back yards,” said Serrano of Guerrero,” “It’s just an uplifting story of a man who is trying to get to the top of the game and at the same time trying to take care of his sick wife as she tries to get better.”

Robert was praised by his trainer Bob Santos, “I’ve been with him for a long, long time and I remember thinking that if I could mold a human being after someone, to make that person I’d want my son to grow up to be, it would be Robert Guerrero,” “Just a great, humble, wonderful human being,” said Santos.

“It might sound a little weird when I say this, but I feel I’ve been truly blessed,” Guerrero acknowledged. “I have Casey and she’s the most amazing person. She’s cancer-free now. That’s more important to me than any fight, any title. We have a chance to grow old together and raise our children and live our lives. “God has blessed me in so many ways. I’m thankful to him for what he’s given me and for the fact that he’s given Casey her health. And on top of this, I have a fight against a great champion like Casamayor that could do so many good things for me.” “Casey is a special person and she means more to me than I could ever tell you,” Guerrero said. “To see her now, and for her to have her health back and be cancer-free, I couldn’t ask for anything more. I am really and truly a blessed man.”

Robert’s second half will be ringside to watch her heavenly “Ghost” Saturday evening in what will undoubtedly be one of 2010’s most touching boxing moments, when Robert Guerrero makes his way to the squared circle to continue his boxing career, but more importantly to continue his life with the love of his life, Mrs. Casey Guerrero.

“The Ghost” is a reminder to a time when men grew up fast, and for the many admirable traits that could describe the fistic warrior, Robert Guerrero is a true gentleman.

Photos by Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos/GBP