With Wife's Leukemia In Remission, Guerrero Can Focus On Casamayor

Robert Guerrero has been seeking a career defining fight for a couple years, but he hasnt been wasting time grousing about boxing politricks, whining about the hard road to the promised land.

Guerrero sees the bigger picture in life, because his wife Casey has been battling leukemia. She is just off a month of treatments to combat the dreaded disease, and Guerrero ( (26-1-1, 18 knockouts) happily reported on a Thursday conference call to hype his July 31 junior welter tangle with ultra-crafty Cuban vet Joel Casamayor, his wife is in remission.

Yes, shes cancer free, the 27-year-old California hitter said of Casey, who was diagnosed in 2007 and has been through a bone marrow transplant, followed by chemotherapy. Now its all about monitoring. My wife is doing great. Thats why Im taking the big fight. If not, I wouldnt be taking big fights. For a fight with Casamayor, you need to be one hundred percent.

The four-time champ Casamayor (37-4-1 with 22 knockouts) is 38, on the downside of a pro career that kicked off in 1992, and has some ring rust to shed. He last laced up against journeyman Jason Davis (UD8 win) on Nov. 6, 2009. El Cepillo lost his last megafight, against Juan Manuel Marquez, on Sept. 13, 2008, via TKO11.

From my seat, I like the kid in this lefty vs. lefty beef. The three-time titlist Guerrero looked in complete control, like he was ready to make a leap to the bigtime, when he downed Malcom Klassen on Aug. 22, 2009 (UD12). He stayed busy with a TKO8 win over Roberto Arrieta in April, after putting off a March 27 match with Michael Katsidis when his wifes cancer kicked up. If his head is on straight after the draining stint overseeing his wifes treatment, he might be a nail in the Casamayor career coffin.

The winner should get a crack at Juan Manuel Marquez, or maybe Amir Khan, both under the Golden Boy umbrella. Casamayor and Khan were slated to tangle, and Casamayor was amped, saying, I am going to knock out Amir Khan dead, but that went off the rails and Khan instead gloved up against Paul Malignaggi.

Casamayor and Guerrero both showed ample respect for the other on the call, with Guerrero admitting Casamayor, even at 38, is the sternest test hes faced to this point. Casamayor lauded Guerreros skills (hes one of the best up and coming fighters in the world), but said losing isnt an option, retirement isnt on the table, and that he craves a re-do with Marquez. He did acknowledge that he is off his peak, that he has to rely on guile more than before.

Guerrero is a good young fighter but hes stepped up to fast, the Cuban said. Hes against a guy whose back is up against the wall.

TSS U, who do ya like?

SPEEDBAG Promoter Richard Schaefer said hes hoping to lock up a PPV preview hour, so he can show the Sakio Bika (28-3)-Jean Paul Mendy (28-0) 168 pound title eliminator before the PPV card kicks off.