Champion Boxer Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero Chooses His Wife Over His Title

IBF junior lightweight champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero this weekend vacated his title and canceled his upcoming March 27 fight versus Michael Katsidis (26-2, 21 KOs) on HBO so that he can spend more time with his wife, Casey, who is battling Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.

“All she (Casey) sees is my eyes. Every time I get there (to the hospital) she’s happy and smiling,” said Guerrero, 26, a southpaw who is also a former two-time IBF featherweight and IBF super featherweight champ.

“If I’m not there or I take a little longer to get there she will call me and ask where I’m at.”

Guerrero (25-1-1, 17 KOs), who turned professional at the age of 18, captured his crown last August when he defeated Malcolm Klassen (24-5-2, 15 KOs) by a unanimous decision.

Months before he trumped Klassen, Guerrero scrapped Daud Yordan (25-0, 19 KOs) in his HBO debut on March 7, 2009.

During the bout, Guerrero received a nasty gash above his eye as the result of an inadvertent headbutt by Yordan.

Guerrero informed the ringside doctor that the wound had impaired his vision and subsequently the referee declared the matchup a “no contest.”

Many analysts were disappointed by Guerrero’s seeming lack of courage and some harshly questioned his heart.

Only three months after Guerrero’s controversial bout against Yordan, “The Ghost” fought Efren Hinojosa (30-7-1, 17 KOs) at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.

Yet again, Guerrero suffered a serious cut near his left eye after he butted heads with Hinojosa.

Despite the serious slice, Guerrero continued to box and he ultimately emerged victorious by an eighth round TKO.

At this juncture, Guerrero has not provided a timetable for his return to the ring.

Robert Guerrero is no longer in possession of the IBF junior lightweight crown.

However, it is evident that “The Ghost” has a firm grasp on reality and he understands what is truly important in life.

Robert Guerrero is more of a champion today than he was at any other point in his career as a prizefighter.