Casey Guerrero and "The Ghost" need your prayers

By David Surgick: The wife of IBF Super featherweight Champion Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero, 25-1-1(17), Casey Guerrero, is in the toughest fight of her young life against one of the most dangerous diseases known to mankind; cancer. Leukaemia to be exact. The young couple had faced this dreaded disease before, stared it in its face, and beat it into submission back in 2007.

"The Ghost" received the news about Casey’s first diagnosis with leukaemia back in 2007 before his title defense against tough veteran Martin Honorio, 24-3-1(12), at the time of the bout. Keeping to his routine of training in southern California and making the trips back home to be at his sick wife’s bedside, the couple beat back the odds against the disease as the leukaemia went into submission like many of the opponents Robert had faced inside the ring.

Robert, Casey, and their family never wavered in their faith in God and their belief that it was in his plans for her to recover as she did. Guerrero went on to stop Honorio in 00:56 of round one, the quickest title defense of his then IBF featherweight crown.

After a long, protracted lawsuit involving then promoter Dan Goosen of Goosen/Tudor Promotions, it looked like life would finally start to be what it was meant to be; good.

With the lawsuit behind him, a new promoter (Golden Boy Promotions), and his wife in good health plus the birth of two children what more could a man, a fighter ask for? A new contract, several high profile bouts on HBO and a promise to fight for a title if he continued to win. And win he did.

The press release as of a month ago stated the "The Ghost" would move up in weight to take on the tough lightweight interim WBO champion Michael Katsidis, 26-2(21), of Australia. Unbeknownst to many around him his wife had been given notice of the return of the leukaemia earlier in the year of 2009 before his bout against undefeated Daud Yordan.

As usual a man of deep faith, Robert went to training camp to go about his preparations for the bout while travelling back to be at his wife’s side. At the urging of his father and camp he was told that this wasn’t a good time to take the fight and that his attention was needed most at home with his wife and young children.

Armed with hope from medical staff, the search went out for a bone marrow donor which was found in Europe. The doctors are hopeful that the marrow will take, but to date Casey is not out of the grip of the disease as of yet and is certainly not without hope from the many well wishers of family, friends and fans.

I’ve known Robert since I first interviewed him before his bout against Eddie Castro in Monterey, California, in what was one of the "Riot at the Hyatt" fight series put on by local promoter Jerry Hoffman.

Guerrero was a fairly quiet 19 year old on his way to take the spot light in a well respected local show. To my surprise I noticed the now late corner man, trainer and cut man Chuck Bodak at his side which certainly peaked my interest. My thinking was "this kid must have something for a respected veteran like Bodak to be here."

I went on to interview Robert who didn’t speak much, but was always gracious and smiling from ear to ear the whole time. His handlers did most of the talking as the youngster would give an occasional confirmation of "yes" or a sentence or two.

Over the years I’ve conducted interviews over the phone Robert, at press conferences and at restaurants. It was refreshing to see how he had progressed into a polished, well poised man when posed with questions, always giving an honest answer while always assured of his skills inside the ring. I’ve seen him progress from this bright eyed, talented youngster into a man who has accomplished his dreams at the highest heights of his chosen profession.

The one thing that never changed is his positive attitude, unwavering belief in God, a zest for life and love of those around him. There is something infectious about Robert that not many people I’ve met over the course of my life have. There’s a calmness, a sense of peace or harmony if you will that I’ve rarely sensed in others only a handful of times in my life.

I’ve been told several times over the years by Robert that he never forgot that I was the first to interview him and what that meant to him. This may be true, but the fact is that he was MY first interview and I’ve never forgot what that meant to me. I’ve covered fights before but have never done any sit-down interviews with any of the fighters at the time. Their willingness to give me the opportunity to sit down and "learn" on the job was a valued experience. One I’ll never forget.

We at Secondsout.com want you to know that we are here praying for Casey, you, your children and family. We want you to know that there is many fight fans out here doing the same and wish Casey a full and speedy recovery.

February 15, 2010