Featherweight prospect Guy Robb makes his hometown debut as professional boxing returns to the historic Sacramento Memorial Auditorium on Saturday night. Robb takes on veteran Mexican journeyman Adolfo Landeros in a six-rounder on the undercard of the Fox Deportes-televised event.
Boxing played a huge role in making the Memorial, which originally opened in 1927 and reopened in 1996 after a ten-year closure, such an iconic venue. However the sweet science has returned only once since promoter Don Chargin hosted cards on back-to-back nights in May of 2002. With the help of Golden Boy Promotions and local promoter Paco Damian, Chargin brings the sport back this Saturday.
Guy Robb (9-1, 4 KOs), one of the several promising young faces of Sacramento boxing, is thrilled to be a part of the proceedings on Saturday night. “It will be my first time fighting in Sacramento, and what makes it even more special is that it will be at the Memorial Auditorium, a place the older generation of Sacramento legends all fought,” said Robb, who frequented events at the venue years back. “I’m excited. That place has a lot of history and the older guys have a lot of memories of that place. One of my career goals was to fight at the Memorial Auditorium, and next thing you know they are having a fight there. It is going to be great.”
Though Robb has never fought in Sacramento as a pro before, he has fought in front of hometown crowds in nearby Woodland and Fairfield on several occasions. In his last appearance just two weeks ago, Robb ended a three-month layoff before a supportive crowd at the Woodland Community & Senior Center. Robb decked ultra-tough Jonathan Alcantara en route to a unanimous decision.
“It wasn’t so much about being back in the ring, but being back in the ring near home again,” said Robb about his last fight. “It had been a while since I had a fight around town and my fights were away where not too many of my people could make it out there. When I have all my people out there hollering and yelling ‘Team Robb, Team Robb’ – that support gives me extra strength.”
Having some extra strength could come in handy against the always game Landeros (22-27-2, 10 KOs) of Hidalgo, Hidalgo, Mexico. Landeros, somehow still just 32-years-old, steps in where originally southpaw Cesar Garcia had been pegged. “I was prepared for a southpaw and it got switched on me, but it doesn’t really effect me in any way,” explains Robb, who found out about the opponent change on Sunday. “I am used to fighting an orthodox opponent and I’d rather have it switch this way than the other way.”
The usually durable Landeros will provide Robb with a litmus test, given the fact he has been in with three eventual world champions and countless prospects and contenders. “Landeros is a veteran and has been around a long time. He’s fought all those prospects and Olympians. Everybody that’s anybody, he’s fought them. He has a lot of experience and he’s a warrior. I’m young and I’m looking to give a great show out there. He’s not coming to lay down, he’s coming to fight and he knows how to fight. I’m just excited to have the opportunity to fight somebody with that type of knowledge and experience.”
Lined up after Saturday’s fight, Robb, a notorious gym rat, has some well earned time off scheduled, as he and his blossoming family have booked a cruise to Caribbean. “I pretty much stay in the gym,” explains Robb. “I enjoy what I do. But I need some family time and am taking a little break. I have a girlfriend and a son, and sometimes with the fights back-to-back, I don’t get to spend much time with them. Even if I am with them, I am not really getting to spend that time with them. I know it means a lot and family is very important to me. Boxing is my life and family is my life, so I have to get them to work together.”
Before Robb can pack his bags, apply his sunscreen and set sail, he has some unfinished business at home on Saturday night. “It’s an old warrior versus a young warrior and I expect us to provide some fireworks,” says Robb.
Photos by Erik Killin
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at [email protected].
