ROBERT GUERRERO: TELL CASAMAYOR I'M NOT THE SAME KID HE MET IN 2004
By Benny Henderson Jr

This Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, NV, televised live on HBO PPV, two former two division champions meet up in a cross roads showdown, as the once beaten Robert Guerrero 26-1-1 (18) takes on rugged veteran Joel Casamayor 37-4-1 (22) in a scheduled twelve round junior welterweight clash. Guerrero, who has earned himself three world straps in his time as a professional banger, aims for more world championship hardware, but the tough and rugged Cuban, Casamayor stands in Robert’s way of garnering any more belts.

It is youth versus the old experienced dog in this scrap, and it is a scrap that the stinging southpaw (Guerrero) wants to get too bigger names and more titles.

In this exclusive interview conducted by BoxingTalk, Guerrero speaks out on hi up coming fight against Joel Casamayor, enjoy.

Benny Henderson: You have the fight coming up this weekend against Joel Casamayor; give the readers your thoughts on that fight.

Robert Guerrero: I am excited about it, I am excited about this fight, I need those big names and this is what I need to get over that hump and move on to bigger things. It is an honor, to look up to somebody when you were younger, I mean Casamayor was a world champion when I started; he took me under his wing and showed me a lot of stuff. It is an honor to know that I have worked my way up to the level that he is at, and I am going to have the opportunity to fight him and other world champs besides him. It truly is an honor to be in the ring with him.

BH: He is a real tough veteran, he has fought the likes of Diego Corrales on three separate occasions, and he has been around since 1996, so he has a lot of experience. How do you combat that knowledge when it comes fight time?

RG: You have to be well prepared, you cannot leave any stone unturned, you have to really study him, break him down and work on everything to defeat him.

BH: I forgot to ask but how is your wife Cassie doing?

RG: She is doing great, thanks for asking. She is doing really well and I couldn’t be happier with how good she is doing right now.

BH: You have strapped on a world title, not once, but three times in your nine year career, and could possibly hold a few more. You are only twenty-seven years old so time is on your side, but how would you define your career up to this point and time?

RG: Tough, it has been like a roller coaster, with the loops and everything. It has been a tough ride but I thank God because He has gotten me through everything. No matter what it is God seems to get me through it and helps me to move forward as a stronger person. God has a plan, I don’t know what it is but I just follow it, and I know it is for the better.

Bob Carroll: Like Benny said, Casamayor has a lot of experience, so what type of fight are you expecting from Joel when the bell rings?

RG: I am expecting him to get up for this fight, to be in tremendous shape and ready to go, this is a fight where Casamayor is coming to prove a point that he is still on top. And I am coming as well to show the world that I should be in those big mega fights. He is going to come 100% ready to go and be on fire for this fight, he is coming to show the world that he is not done yet.

Bob Carroll:How do you train for a fighter at this level and what type of sparring partners did you bring in to prepare for this fight to get the feel of Casamayor?

RG: We brought in some great sparring partners, and in preparation, you have to know that youth can play a factor in this fight, I am a lot younger and faster, and you have to use that as a tool. For Casamayor you have to be at your best, you have to be sharp, you have to be ready for him at all times.

BH: Is there a message you would like to send out to Joel Casamayor before this fight?

RG: I am ready to go, and I am not the kid that he knew back in 2004, I have been working hard and it is my time. Be ready for a Robert Guerrero that comes prepared and ready to fight.

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