IBF Featherweight champion Robert Guerrero has already lost and regained his IBF Title, he has recently became a father.  And now he wants a chance to fight one of the top 2 fighters in the world pound for pound, Manny Pacquiao.  Some may not feel the young Guerrero is ready for such a daunting challenge, but don’t count him among that crowd.  We caught with him recently to discuss his career and much more.

What have you been doing since you won back the IBF crown?

Guerrero:  Working out, staying on target and staying sharp.

In February you won back the IBF belt going over to Denmark, knocking out Spend Abazi in his home country.  Describe that experience.

Guerrero:  It was tough.  The fight out there, getting acclimated to the time.  It was also cold and there was snow.  So I had to get adjust.  It was tough.  But it was rewarding in the end.

I know that that situation was tough, but you dealt with it, and won decisively.  How does that help your confidence?

Guerrero:  It makes me feel great.  It gives me more confidence.  I know I can go in somebody’s back yard, their country and win.  I have never heard so many boos before in my life.  I went in there and did my job.

Changing the subject a little bit, how is it working with Freddie Roach and has that helped you. 

Guerrero:  Freddie is a great trainer.  Most of the work I did was with Justin Fortune, and he showed me a lot of stuff, because Freddie was on the press tour with De La Hoya.  I have lot of confidence now because of them; they know how to light my fire. 

Speaking trainers, are you going to be working with Fortune or Roach?

Guerrero:  All of that is up in the air.  I love working with them, but right now my father is keeping me sharp and focused. 

You are married and you have a child now, how is that going? 

Guerrero:  It is great; my son was born when I was in Denmark.  When he was born it was just great.  I broke down; it is just amazing that I was responsible for something so beautiful. 

Looking at boxing again, you have had some setbacks early in your career, but how has that helped you?

Guerrero: Yes I have had some setbacks, but that is what makes champions who they are, it is how you respond to adversity.

So now who do you want to fight?

Guerrero: I want to fight the big names.  I want to fight the best.   I fought Orlando Salido, but he had to cheat and use drugs, so I have no respect for him.  I mean I would love a rematch with him, but not if he is going to cheat.  I have no respect for that.

So what big names are you thinking about?  Rocky Juarez maybe?

Guerrero:  Yeah Juarez is a good fight.  I feel his style is tailor made for my style.  I have really seen no improvement in what he brings to the table.  Really I want it to build up so we can fight in a big fight.  The fight I want right now is Manny Pacquiao.  I don’t want to fight him when he is not in his prime, when people will say I beat him past his best.  I want to fight him in his prime. 

It would be 2 lefties going at it.  It would be a great fight.  He is a great champion, and I know it would be a great fight.  I don’t want it to be like De La Hoya-Chavez, when people said Chavez was past his best. 

You are a big featherweight, 5’9”, so do you think you would be comfortable at 130?

Guerrero:  I think I would be more effective at 130 pounds.  I am growing, still filling out.  I can make 126 easy still, but fighting Pacquiao at 130 would be icing on the cake.

So you feel at this point in your career you are ready for Manny Pacquiao?

Guerrero:  Pacquiao is an explosive exciting fighter; that hits extremely hard.  But he can only come forward.  I have a solid jab, my left hand is solid.  If you watch the first (Erik) Morales fight you see he had trouble with his boxing style.  Morales just did not have enough juice in the next few fights.  Guys are too worried about getting knocked out by Manny, so they don’t stick to their game plan.  I would box him, keep turning him and I would keep him at range.  I have faced 5 south paws already.  Juan Manual Marquez underestimated Pacquiao, and that is something I wouldn’t do.

All the fights in my career so far have prepared me for these big fights.  I have faced and defeated difficult veteran fighters.  I fought and won in Denmark, I knocked out Gamiel Diaz in the rematch.  So I feel I am prepared for a fight like this.

Sounds great Robert, what do you have to say to your fans in closing.

Guerrero:  Thanks for sticking with me.  And expect to see me in big fights soon.