When Robert “Ghost” Guerrero climbs through the ring ropes on June 21, it will be for the first time since he was cleanly defeated by Floyd Mayweather a year ago. The three division titlist is no stranger to lengthy lay-offs, having taken one in 2009-2010 to tend to his ailing wife, and again in 2011-2012 to recuperate from knee surgery.
Why Guerrero waited so long is a matter of conjecture. Rumor has it he was trying to get out of his Golden Boy contract, most likely with an eye on getting involved in some of that Bradley-Marquez-Pacquiao action over at HBO. Since then though, he’s signed with Al Haymon, and figures to get back into the mix in a deep welterweight division filled with other Haymon clients.
What makes this return different is that Guerrero is making it after what was his first loss since 2005, giving the return fight the air of a comeback. Also lending the fight a comeback aspect is that despite being a main event, Guerrero is fighting a mere journeyman. His opponent is an import from Japan, Yoshihiro Kamegai. Despite a respectable paper record showing only a single loss, Kamegai is nothing special and should pose no problems for Ghost, so long as the California fighter shows up focused and prepared.
Because Guerrero vs. Kamegai is so obviously a tune-up, the better part of Showtime’s June 21 fight night is in its two undercard bouts, Gary Russell vs. Vasyl Lomachenko and Devon Alexander vs. Jesus Soto-Karass.
Russell vs. Lomachenko: Which Uber Prospect Advances?
This bout marks the first major outing — after years of agonizingly slow development — for Washington, DC’s Gary Russell, one of America’s best amateur boxers in recent memory and a much-watched prospect. It also marks the second attempt in three professional fights for uber-impatient phenom Vasyl Lomachenko.
Both men are skilled amateur stars and talented boxer-punchers, but of widely different molds. Russell is a slickster with good power and fast hands, while Lomchenko is more of an offensive technician.
I’m picking Lomachenko to win this fight for a few different reasons: we know Lomachenko can take a good shot, but are not so sure about Russell; the Ukrainian has the timing to match or even overcome Russell’s superior speed; and Russell will be fighting not just a fellow southpaw, but one with a substantial height and reach advantage.
Alexander vs. Soto-Karass: Duel of the Grizzled Veterans
If Guerrero vs. Kamegai is a tune-up and Russell vs. Lomachenko is a clash of hot prospects, Devon Alexander taking on Jesus Soto Karass is a solid match-up between two very familiar faces. Of the two, Alexander is the real world class welterweight, whereas Karass is more of a rugged fringe contender. Both are coming off losses — Alexander to Shawn Porter and Karass to Keith Thurman — so both need a strong win to make a statement and get back into contention.
This fight should come out as a win for Alexander, who has everything needed to out-box Karass. It’s also not like Karass is the toughest or most powerful opponent Alexander has ever fought either. Still, Karass is rugged, can fight, and is not known for being a quitter. He will make Alexander work for the win, and that gives this bout some serious entertainment value.
