Just five days from the highly-anticipated September 2nd “NO RISK, NO REWARD” boxing show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, two of the principal combatants on the card held open workouts for a large throng of media at Boxing Academy LA on Willow Street. “The media stuff is great; it’s exciting,” said Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, the Gilroy, CA native and NABF featherweight champion who will get his world title shot against IBF Featherweight Champion Eric “Mighty Mouse” Aiken on the opening bout of the Showtime Championship Boxing telecast from Staples. 

 

Guerrero pointed out that he is just winding down now, maintaining weight and sharpening up, but he clearly understands and relishes his role outside the ring for his upcoming title opportunity as well as inside.

 

“All the cameras are around.  You’re in the spotlight.  Everybody’s watching you.  I mean it’s cool.  I like it,” he insists.  It’s the big stage now.  This is what you gotta do if you want to be a superstar in boxing.  You gotta do the media stuff.  You gotta basically be a role model for everybody who watches boxing.  The fans want to read about you, see what you’re doing in camp, see what you’re doing right before the fight.  You know they like to read that stuff.  I know I do as a boxing fan.”

 

“Robert’s training camp went wonderful,” exclaimed trainer John Bray.  “Plenty of sparring at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym.  Days of 14 rounds with four different guys.  Days of 17 rounds with four different guys.  So we’re ready to fight 12 hard rounds.  It’s gonna be a fight.  This guy (Aiken) doesn’t want to lose the title and we’re gonna take it.”

 

Asked for a prediction, Guerrero said to listen for three words:  “And the new…”.

 

Also working out and entertaining the media today was heavyweight world contender Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter, who will be looking to knock out James “Lights Out” Toney in their scheduled 12-round WBC Heavyweight Eliminator main event.

 

A smiling Peter went through his workout in the ring with his trainers sometimes serious and other times playfully clowning, but continually pounding the mitts with authority.

 

“I’m looking forward to putting the Lights Out on Saturday night,” Peter, obviously enjoying the exchanges with the media, chuckled.   “I’m smiling and having fun today, but I will be in full mean mode when Toney and I meet in the ring.  I will be his worst Nightmare.”

 

“We had a real good camp and now we’re down here to loosen up,” Andy “Pops” Anderson, Peter’s head trainer revealed.  “We’re trying to get him more relaxed and into the frame of what he is going to do to Toney on the 2nd of September.  Samuel has a lot of potential and a lot of ability.  Toney will bring out the best in Samuel.  That’s one of the reasons we took the fight was because Toney will bring out the best in Samuel.”

 

A WBC Heavyweight Elimination bout, “No Risk, No Reward” is co-promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, Don King Productions and Duva Boxing and will be the main event on the live “Showtime Championship Boxing” telecast.

Tickets priced at $300, $150, $75, and $50 are available at STAPLES CENTER box office or www.Ticketmaster.com.