February 18, 2010, - 6:08 pm
Now, THAT’s Love
A few (very few) people commented that I’m not romantic, given my post about the realities of DREAD (Doghouse Risk Extra-Avoidance Day) a/k/a Valentine’s Day. Not the case. I just know what real love is. And it ain’t an obligation day that forces men to buy cards, gifts, dinner, whatever to keep out of the doghouse with their wives and girlfriends, when they spend every single day struggling to make a living and support a family.
Robert Guerrero & Wife, Casey
And real love is this story. Boxer Robert Guerrero knows that real love isn’t flowers or candy or perfume. It’s sacrifice and doing the right thing for those to whom you are committed. And it’s refreshing to see a pro athlete like him versus the womanizing, sperm-donor babydaddy millionaires we usually see in professional sports.
Robert Guerrero announced Tuesday that he has vacated his junior lightweight world title in order to care for his ill wife, Casey, who is hospitalized and battling leukemia.
“It is with great regret that I am relinquishing the junior lightweight championship of the world that I, along with my team, worked so hard to capture,” Guerrero said in a statement. “I feel that it is in the best interest of the sport and the fans that I care so deeply for to give someone else a chance to fulfill their dream of becoming a world champion. I am now focused on the love of my life, my wife Casey, as undoubtedly we face the greatest opponent of our life, cancer.
“Whatever the outcome, our faith in Jesus Christ will get us through. Thank you for the prayers and support. God bless.”
Casey Guerrero, 26, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2007, recently had a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy. She has been at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif., for about three weeks. The family expects to know within the next two to three weeks if the treatment was a success.
Guerrero, who has two small children with Casey, had been scheduled to move up to lightweight to face interim titleholder Michael Katsidis on March 27 in an HBO main event. However, Guerrero withdrew from the fight on Feb. 8 because of Casey’s illness. . . .
Guerrero (25-1-1, 17 KOs), of Gilroy, Calif., vacated his featherweight belt in 2008 and moved up to junior lightweight last year. He easily outpointed South Africa’s Malcolm Klassen in August to claim a world title.
Now, Guerrero has vacated a title for a second time, although under far different circumstances.
Now, that is a real love story. Say a prayer for Casey Guerrero.
Many husbands don’t have the luxury of quitting their jobs or taking extensive time off of work to attend to their seriously ill wives. They wish they could, but they have a family to support. But that this boxer is willing to vacate his title to be with his wife is definitely a sign of commitment and true love that you can’t put in a Hallmark card.
Tags: boxer, cancer, Casey Guerrero, gave up title, gave up boxing title, junior lightweigh world title, leukemia, Love, Robert Guerrero, true love, vacated, vacated title
Now there’s a real man. Good for him!
Michelle on February 18, 2010 at 6:18 pm