EXCLUSIVE POST FIGHT INTERVIEW: ROBERT "THE GHOST" GUERRERO
By Ryan Burton

Robert Guerrero won an IBF title in a second weight class on Saturday night, defeating South Africa's Malcolm Klassen for the much-traveled IBF's version of the 130-pound championship.  Guerrero won a twelve-round decision by the scores of 117-111, 116-113 and 116-112. 

Boxingtalk: Robert, how do you rate your performance?

Robert Guerrero:  I give myself like a C.  There is still a lot of stuff I have to improve on.  There are a lot of things I did good too.  I stuck to the game plan and did what I had to do.

BT:  You came out very fast and Malcolm Klassen seemed to start very slowly.  What do you attribute that to?

RG:  The game plan was to come out be first.  That was one of the things that we wanted to do.  We wanted to get out there and establish that jab and circle and be first.  We wanted to keep him off his game because once you let Klassen get going, he is going.  There were a couple rounds where I let him get on his game and he came out and threw some shots.   I let myself get away from my game plan and he started getting some punches through.

BT:  When you were headbutted, it seemed to throw you off for a round or two.  Did it affect you?

RG:  It didn't affect me at all.  It happens when you have a lefthander and a righthander.  The headbutts are always there.  A lot of times when I was coming to the body and he was coming in we clashed heads.  Pretty much throughout the fight, I kept him at bay and did what I had to do.

BT:  Do you think that answers the critics who said you didn't want to or couldn't fight with a cut after your no contest with Daud Yordan?

RG:  Yes I do.  If there was any doubt in anybody's mind or questioning of my heart, that should answer it.  I got cut, it didn't bother me and I fought through it.  Also halfway through the fight, I busted my left hand up and I couldn't throw it.  I just threw it as much as I could.  I hurt my hand and I got the cut and that goes to show what kind of fighter I am.

BT:  Who do you want next?

RG:  Right now I am going to take my time and see what my management team wants to do.  I am looking forward to trying to unify titles at 130 pounds.  I think that's the next big thing and trying to get big fights.  I got a great management team and promotional team and they are doing a great job.  We will see what they have in store for me.

BT:  What did you think of the Juan Diaz vs. Paul Malignaggi fight?

RG:  To tell you the truth I really didn't get to see it because I was getting stitched up in the back so I can't really answer it.

BT:  Do you have a message for the fans?

RG:  The Ghost is back.  Three-time world champ [Editor's note: Guerrero won the IBF 126-pound title vs. Robert Aiken in 2006. He lost his first defense to Orlando Salido, but Salido tested positive for performance enhancers, and Guerrero defeated Spend Abazi for the vacted title in 2007, thus paving the way for him to claim he was a two-time champ at featherweight].  Keep looking out for me.  I am hoping to unify titles by the end of this year.

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