From the day he first laced up a pair of boxing gloves, Fernando Guerrero was destined for stardom.
Born in the Dominican Republic and raised Salisbury, Maryland, Guerrero has natural talent as well as a work ethic that is second to none. The 22 year old southpaw’s refusal to be anything but the best guided him on his active journey to become a world champion.
Guerrero started to create waves in boxing circles from the age of 16, honing his talents in illustrious competitions such as the U.S. National Junior Olympics Tournament in and World Cadet Junior Olympics. At the World Cadet Junior Olympics, Guerrero scored a shocking upset over Shawn Porter to win the gold medal. The victory over a highly rated Porter not only made him the talk of the town but a fighter that fans from all four corners of the globe were now keeping an eye on.
His brilliance as an amateur also saw him capture a silver medal at the 2006 National Golden Gloves Tournament and gold in the 2007 National Golden Gloves Tournament. In the Nationals, Guerrero once again defeated Porter. The very next year, Porter was a member of the United States Olympic Team. Even though the immensely talented Guerrero fell short of earning a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, his well-rounded skill set made him a hot pro prospect.
Guerrero started his professional prizefighting career with a bang, stopping Derrick Douglas in two rounds on December 8, 2007. With momentum already on his side, he won his next eight fights by knockout, impressing fans in Mississippi, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. Four of the eight opponents failed to make it out of the opening stanza. Even though he had been a professional for less than one year, Guerrero was creating a nationwide buzz. With a rapidly increasing demand to watch him fight, Guerrero hit national airwaves on October 3, 2008.
Fighting for the first time in his native Salisbury, Guerrero shut out unbeaten Tyrone Watson on Showtime’s ShoBox: The Next Generation. Supported by 8,000 of his closest friends at the Wicomico Civic Center, Guerrero overwhelmed Watson throughout the contest.
Guerrero remained active following his ShoBox success, scoring impressive knockout victories over Gevonte Davis November 15 and Ernesto Zamora just one week later before heading back to Salisbury.
Spotlighted once again by National TV, Guerrero earned a heroic unanimous decision over grizzled Philadelphian Gabriel Rosado on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights February 6, 2009. Guerrero tasted the canvas for the first time in his career but recovered to outwork his tough as nails opponent. Following his defeat to Guerrero, Rosado defeated former world champion Kassim Ouma as well as headlined on ESPN against highly rated Alfredo Angulo.
With demands at an all-time high, Guerrero returned to Salisbury on June 16 to stop veteran Brian Norman inside of two rounds. The electrifying Guerrero dropped Norman twice before the bout was mercifully halted. Prior to facing Guerrero, Norman went the distance with current Light Heavyweight champion Jean Pascal
Guerrero stepped up to Super Middleweight to demolish Chris Archer in three rounds on August 29. Fighting at his second home of Fitzgerald’s Casino and Hotel in Tunica, MS, Guerrero had little problem adjusting to a new weight class and dropped Archer three times prior to the stoppage. The masterful performance headlined an internet pay per view.
In his most recent bout, Guerrero won the NABO Interim Middleweight title with a hard fought decision over rugged contender Ossie Duran at Perdue Stadium in Salisbury. Backed by more than 5,000 screaming fans even with weather complications throughout the day, Guerrero outworked Duran over ten rounds to capture his first title.
Guerrero became a champion for the first time October 10, winning the NABO Interim Middleweight title with a hard fought decision over rugged contender Ossie Duran at Perdue Stadium in Salisbury. Backed by more than 5,000 screaming fans even with weather complications throughout the day, Guerrero outworked the gritty Duran and fought through a cut en route to victory.
In his most recent bout, Guerrero returned to the Showtime Network with a dominant stoppage victory over amateur rival Jesse Nicklow. Guerrero overwhelmed his game opponent, dropping him in the fourth and final round before a sizzling follow up barrage forced the referee to save Nicklow from further punishment. After dismantling Nicklow, the Showtime broadcast team was in agreement that Guerrero is amongst the best young fighters in the sport today.
His professional ledger currently stands at 17-0 with 14 knockouts and his next fight is scheduled for February 19, 2010. Guerrero is promoted by Prize Fight Boxing. His manager and trainer is Hal Chernoff. The proficient Barry Hunter serves as co-trainer. |
