With his stock on the rise and the fight of his career looming next month, Robert Guerrero’s career in the ring could be in danger if sentenced to jail time for the felony gun possession charges (per www.NYPost.com) handed to him last month.
Guerrero was arrested at JFK Airport in New York after a gun and three unloaded magazine clips were found in his luggage at baggage claim after being showed to a bagging agent by Guerrero. Although the gun wasn’t loaded, Guerrero having the clips with the gun could lead to jail time, according to the New York Post.
Although his fight with Floyd Mayweather (43-0, 26 KOs) will still go on as planned, the big payday may be one of Guerrero’s last for sometime. A prison sentence of up to seven years accompanies the three gun charges, according to the New York Post report.
The 30-year-old Guerrero's boxing career could be in jeopardy if any lengthy prison sentence is levied on the 31-1-1 fighter. Trying to come back after a few years behind bars entering his mid-thirties would be very difficult but not impossible.
With Guerrero being one of the sport's brightest stars on the rise, it would be a shame to himself and the sport as they will both be robbed of seeing what Guerrero’s full potential in boxing could be.
There have been very few fighters that have been locked up when they were in their prime or about to enter it, but most of them did not do any real damage in their return.
The highest profile of any boxer that was sent to prison in the prime of his career was Mike Tyson. Tyson served three years in an Indiana prison after being convicted of rape in 1992.
After Tyson was released from prison, he went on to fight 16 more times between 1995 and 2005, going 9-5 with two no contests. Although Tyson did win the WBA and WBC titles in separate fights in 1996, Tyson was a shade of his former self and failed to regain his pre-prison form in the ring.
Guerrero is no Tyson, as Tyson had questionable behavior in many of his bouts after being released from prison. The fact that Guerrero has a strong character and deep religious beliefs, those factors could give him an upper hand in a possible return.
With the likelihood of Guerrero getting some kind of prison sentence with New York’s strict gun laws, chances are we will see the best Guerrero of his career on May 4. In a bout that will be bittersweet for Guerrero whether he wins, loses or draws, the fans will be the real losers if Guerrero’s career potential is damaged due to a preventable incident outside of the ring.
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