There is often a strong emphasis on a boxer remaining undefeated. That famous “0” has always been a powerful selling point in boxing. But a loss is not synonymous with the end of a career. On the contrary, it can help shape an athlete into a better version of themselves.
Christopher Guerrero suffered the first defeat of his professional career against Delante Johnson.
Johnson is a former Olympian who enjoyed an outstanding amateur career.
And “Machine Gun” faced the difficult challenge of taking him on in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.
Guerrero had some strong moments throughout the fight, but ultimately dropped a unanimous decision to “Tiger” Johnson.
Photo: Mikey Williams – Tiger Johnson vs Christopher Guerrero
But at just 25 years old, Guerrero still has plenty of time to come back even stronger.
A first fight in the United States
In the moment, it’s understandable that the Montreal boxer’s team was disappointed.
Suffering your first professional loss always hurts.
But with some perspective, it’s important to recognize that not every 25-year-old boxer gets the opportunity to gain this kind of experience.
Fighting abroad is one thing, but doing it against an opponent of Delante Johnson’s caliber is another.
It’s a cliché to say that you learn through defeat, but it’s true.
When Guerrero steps into the ring again, he won’t be the same fighter he was before this bout.
It’s also an opportunity to go back to the drawing board and reassess his strategy.
The game plan was to outbox his opponent, and at times, it looked like that approach could work.
Photo: Mikey Williams – Christopher Guerrero vs Tiger Johnson
Even though it didn’t lead to a victory, it allowed him to go the full 10 rounds against high-level competition, and his corner will know how to make adjustments the next time they find themselves in a similar situation.
Bright moments
Despite what the judges’ scorecards suggest, the Quebec native had several good moments, particularly in the fourth round.
In fact, Guerrero may have landed the most significant punch of the entire fight during that round.
Johnson was visibly shaken after a powerful right hand from Chris.
And let’s not forget that the fight took place in Cleveland.
While there shouldn’t technically be an advantage to fighting at home, the reality is that there often is.
The crowd was behind Johnson, and judges are only human. They can be influenced without any ill intent.
Photo: Mikey Williams – Tiger Johnson vs Christopher Guerrero
I’m not saying the outcome would have been different had the fight taken place in Montreal, but it’s certainly possible the official scorecards would have been a little closer.
After all, one of the judges scored every single round for Johnson…
In the end, the result is what it is, and I’m confident Guerrero doesn’t regret accepting the fight.
Even though he wasn’t able to come away with the victory, he proved to many that he is a true warrior, doing so in front of thousands of spectators.
Things can only get better from here for the young boxer.
Photo: Mikey Williams – Christopher Guerrero vs Tiger Johnson
