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Sports

Robert Guerrero Coming to Dutchman's Pizza Saturday

The five-time world champion boxer and Gilroy native will be at the pizza parlor on May 5 from 12 to 3 p.m. to meet his fans and sell tickets to his upcoming title fight.

Five-time world title-holding boxer Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero likes to keep a low profile around Gilroy, but soon he'll be in the spotlight—in front of an audience of millions no less.

While his July 28 bout at HP Pavilion against Selcuk Aydin for the World Boxing Council interim welterweight title looms large, Guerrero is taking some time out from training to connect with fans and to sell some coveted tickets to the fight this Saturday from 12 to 3 p.m. at in Gilroy.

"The event is really about making people aware of the fight, bringing them together and hopefully selling some tickets," said Jim Shuster, the owner of Dutchman's.

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Shuster said he's been friends with the champ and his family for several years. He calls Guerrero, 29, a "quiet champion" who always likes to give back to the community.

"He comes into Dutchman's a lot," he said. "He holds birthday parties here. He's a good family man and a good person."

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This fight, for his sixth world title, has been a long time coming. Guerrero had to postpone several bouts due to his wife Casey's battle with leukemia and for his last major fight.

While the road hasn't always been smooth for the southpaw, things are starting to look up.

"Oscar De La Hoya just signed as his promoter," Shuster said. "Now he's got a huge team behind him. People don't know it, but he's one of the greatest boxers out there right now."

Casey is recovering as well. She has been in remission for two years and recently returned from meeting the donor who gave her a bone marrow transplant.

According to Mario Serrano, Guerrero's publicist, raffle tickets will be sold at Saturday's event to try to raise money to send the donor to the title fight.

July's matchup also holds special significance for Guerrero. He is jumping up two weight classes to take on the No. 1 contender for the title, a feat none have rivaled in the history of the sport.

If he wins, Guerrero is in position to retain the title if Floyd Mayweather Jr., the current world welterweight title-holder who has moved up into the junior middleweight division, doesn't defend it.

"Both of these guys are really going to be fighting for a title," Serrano said. "Robert has been waiting his whole life for a situation like this where he'll be able to climb up the ladder and prove pound for pound he's one of the best boxers in the world."

Serrano said that between 400-500 tickets will be on sale Saturday. Prices range from $26 to $252 for ringside seats.

"This is a cheaper way to get the tickets too because there is no convenience charge," he added. "People will be getting them at face value."

Tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis. Shuster said he might hold another event at the Dutchman's location in Morgan Hill if more tickets need to be sold.

Anyone who purchases a ticket Saturday will automatically be entered into a raffle for an autographed glove, signed by Gilroy's prized fighter, Shuster said.

A win at HP would be Guerro's sixth title in four weight classes and already . Guerrero, like any good fighter, is just focused on the opponent in front of him.

"He's on his way," Serrano said of Guerrero's chances of getting an induction. "He's still in the middle of his career and he's making his mark to be a hall of fame fighter."

Tickets will be on sale this Saturday, May 5, at Dutchman's Pizza, located at 6940 Chestnut St., Gilroy. Guerrero will be here from 12 to 3 p.m.

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