Why doubting Robert Guerrero for Garcia fight is a mistake!

By Boxing News - 01/06/2016 - Comments

guerrero45By Hector Gonzalez: Robert Guerrero and Danny Garcia will be facing off January 23rd, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. I’m reading all over the internet how Danny Garcia is the heavy favorite against “The Ghost” Guerrero. Truth be told Guerrero is a fading warrior way past his prime. I, however, believe that he has a solid chance against Garcia.

Reading some of the predictions online, I think that fans are focusing on the wrong things; fans are focusing on Guerrero’s loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Keith Thurman, as opposed to basing it on the skill set that each fighter brings to the ring. Guerrero perhaps will never be a champion again. It’s safe to say that he will end his career as a fading journeymen who should consider retiring in the near future. But let’s also keep in mind, to give perspective, Danny Garcia’s skill level is also unclear, especially after his fight with Mauricio Herrera and Lamont Peterson.

Skill level

I recently read an article on a mainstream site stating that “Garcia is a better boxer than Guerrero”. I disagree. Respectfully, besides Garcia’s left hook, it’s hard to gauge exactly his strong qualities as a boxer. Guerrero in the other hand is a lot more crafty and sneaky with his punches. He’s a better combination puncher, has a better jab as well as better uppercut than Garcia. Understandably, many fans will have a hard time ganging Guerrero’s skill set because of his loses to Keith Thurman and Mayweather, but there are two things to keep in mind, Garcia is not a Thurman or a Mayweather. A more appropriate example of Guerrero’s skill level is looking at what Guerrero was able to do to Andre Berto.

Mauricio Herrera and Lamont Peterson

Boxing politics aside, Garcia was out boxed by Herrera. I don’t think that’s debatable. What we could take away Herrera/ Peterson vs Garcia from those fights is that Garcia has a hard time against boxer punchers, especially punchers who could land combinations. In fact, combination punches tent to land accurately and consistently on Garcia especially when Garcia is on the back foot. For lack of a better word, Garcia appeared to run out of tricks against Herrera.

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Styles makes fight

The way I see it, there are too many things that Guerrero does right and there are too many things that Garcia does wrong. Garcia for example keeps his hands too wide and lunges in too often. Guerrero is not the perfect fighter, I would describe him as a solid fighter but not on the lite level. Guerrero for example would do terrible against the likes of Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Thurman, Tim Bradley, Kell Brooks, etc. Guerrero would, however, do very well against the likes of Berto, Brandon Rios, Mike Alvarado, Amir Khan, Shawn Porter, and Garcia.

Guerrero fights well on the outside, inside, off the ropes, throws in bunches, etc. To give context, I believe that Guerrero is a more polished and stronger version of Mauricio Herrera. In fact, most of the tricks that Herrera used against Garcia are tricks that Guerrero is known for. I see the fight as being a close fight, but I would give Guerrero the advantage.

You could contact Hector Gonzalez at Hect59@hotmail.com



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