Robert Guerrero vacates title to care for ailing wife
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Two-time world champion Robert Guerrero will vacate his International Boxing Federation super-featherweight title to care for his wife Casey, who is battling leukemia.
‘I feel that it is in the best interest of the sport and the fans that I care so deeply for to give someone else a chance to fulfill their dream of becoming a world champion,’ Guerrero, 26, said in statement. ‘I am now focused on my wife as undoubtedly we face the greatest opponent of our life, cancer.’
Casey Guerrero was diagnosed with cancer in 2007 and is receiving a bone-marrow transplant as well as chemotherapy. It will be at least two weeks before doctors will know whether the treatment has stopped the cancer’s spread.
Guerrero (25-1, 17 knockouts) last fought in August, winning a unanimous decision over Malcolm Klassen in Houston to claim the IBF super-featherweight title. The Gilroy native won the featherweight crown in 2006 in an eight-round TKO over Eric Aiken.
With Guerrero vacating the IBF title, No. 1 challenger Mzonke Fana (29-4, 12 KOs) of South Africa is likely to get a shot at the belt.
-- Kevin Baxter