Mancuso: Crossroads Fight for Guerrero at Nassau Coliseum

 

Robert Guerrero is a four-time division champion and Omar Figueroa Jr. is an undefeated and former lightweight champion coming off a 19-month layoff. They will meet in the main event Saturday evening at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum that will be televised on FOX Sports and FOX Deportes as part of a PBC and DiBella Entertainment promotion.

The significance here is the crossroads fight that is common in boxing. Then there is the return of boxing to the renovated venue and the last time that happened was 31- years ago with someone named Mike Tyson.  Reliving the history is always good for the boxing fan, and because promoter Lou DiBella has that passion for boxing in New York there will always be that emphasis to keep the fighters busy.

Though Guerrero and Figueroa are more accustomed to fighting around the bright lights of the Las Vegas strip, or somewhere in Northern California which has quickly become a hotbed for the sport, this is new to them. But it is nothing new to be a part of a crossroads fight and one that will live up to expectations .

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor this week have made a four-city press tour into a total circus. In the meantime, Guerrero and Figueroa have conducted business this week the way it should. They are promoting a fight with no drama, racial overtones, or using the obscene language.

This is strictly business the way it should be and Wednesday afternoon at Gallagher’s Steak House in New York they made their final points about strategy before they meet in the ring Saturday night. This is the way it is supposed to be for a fight that will have that hype in the ring.

“I’m expecting Omar to come to fight,” said Guerrero. “He’s undefeated with a great record so if it’s not broken, I don’t expect him to change his style. “You have to prepare for everything for a guy as awkward as Omar. I’m going to have to make adjustments in the ring. If I can stay focused I know I can get the victory.”

Adjustments against an undefeated fighter and that is what boxing is all about. As for a crossroads fight, DiBella has promoted more than one of those in his career of putting a spotlight on the sport.  Guerrero, a southpaw, is a veteran and a win could start the talk about being in the mix of a competitive welterweight division or could go back to 140 and try for another title.

And the interest to this crossroads path is a similar style of both fighters staying in the middle and not holding back.  Guerrero needs a win having lost four fights that included the undefeated Mayweather and welterweight champion Keith Thurman. The last time Tyson was in the old Coliseum there was a similar style, though his early stoppage of Steve Zouski was not in that crossroads category.

However this is only the beginning of more to come at the Coliseum. In association with Brooklyn Boxing, that also hosts fight shows at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, there is that commitment to stage more fights with world class fighters.

And for Robert Guerrero, known as “The Ghost” fighting in New York could be his time to make that statement in that crossroads fight.

“I’ve said before,” said Guerrero “ that I had to go to the drawing board but this time we erased everything and rewrote it. This layoff has really helped me get in great shape and I’m really excited to get in the ring. I’m ready to turn the page to the next chapter of my career and that starts with this fight.”

That alone can tell you that Saturday night will have that crossroads theme as the Nassau Coliseum is back in business when it comes to sport of boxing. And Robert Guerrero intends to also make it known that he is back in business.

Comment Rich Mancuso: [email protected]  Twitter@Ring786  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso

About the Author

Rich Mancuso

Rich Mancuso is a regular contributor at NY Sports Day, covering countless New York Mets, Yankees, and MLB teams along with some of the greatest boxing matches over the years. He is an award winning sports journalist and previously worked for The Associated Press, New York Daily News, Gannett, and BoxingInsider.com, in a career that spans almost 40 years.

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