Jessie James Guerrero is making every effort to continue his family legacy.
Guerrero stopped Jose Rodriguez Montemayor in the second round of a junior bantamweight fight last Saturday – one of three fighters on a Stockton, California, card who are part of separate boxing families.
The event headliner, Gabriel Flores Jr., is trained by his father, who also put on the show while Fernando Vargas Jr., son of two-time junior middleweight titleholder Fernando Vargas Sr.also fought, and both won.
Meanwhile, Guerrero (4-0-2, 4 KOs) represents the next generation in his own objectively impressive fighting lineage. His uncle, Robert Guerrero, is a decorated former world champion who was in his corner Saturday. Additionally, Jessie James’ father was an Olympian in the 1990s, and the fighter says his grandfather and great-grandfather were fighters as well.
“It means a lot,” Jessie James told BoxingScene, of his bloodline. “A lot of people might say it is a lot of pressure, but growing up around it so long, seeing my uncle under the big lights, there is nothing to be pressured about.”
Guerrero said his uncle, who fought Andre Berto in December, stepped in and helped out for two months in his Las Vegas camp preceding Saturday’s fight. His team was quick to note that Jessie James is a junior flyweight by trade, and that he fought Montemayor at junior bantamweight only because he has had trouble getting fights at his natural weight class.
Despite Guerrero’s family ties, his career path hasn’t been an easy one. In January, he had two fights in San Jose and one in Fresno canceled. That’s three training camps and no check to show for any of his work.
And those misfires came on the heels of back-to-back draws, the last of which saw Guerrero’s face bloodied. But in his most recent performance, some of his previous technical flaws – brawling and falling into his opponent, for example – had shown improvement.
“The Outlaw” (a natural choice for a nickname if there ever was one) reflected on his style changes, crediting veteran cut man Mike Bazzel, with whom Guerrero has built a bond.
“I am a way different fighter from my last fight,” Guerrero said. “There has been a big change in my fighting. I am glad to show everyone what a true professional looks like in and outside of the ring.”
Now comes the hard part: living up to his name.
“We really worked hard to get here,” Guerrero said. “I am making my own legacy now.”