UPDATE FROM STAPLES: Guerrero

STAPLES CENTER, LOS ANGELES, California -- Just moments ago, Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero, (22-1-1, with 15 KO's) of Gilroy, California scored a stunning knockout over Edel Ruiz (29-21-5, with 18 knockouts) of Los Mochis of Mexico in the first round, punctuating a liver shot by his left hook at 43 seconds.

Guerrero improved to 23-1-1, 16 knockouts. He was the former two-time IBF Featherweight Champion.

His first defense of his second title was to be against Rocky Juarez (27-3, 19 KOs); however, Juarez chose to meet WBC Super Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel M?rquez in a money fight instead.

Guerrero's first defense was scheduled to be against Martin Honorio (24-3-1) on November 3, 2007, and was televised on Showtime, on the undercard of the Marquez-Juarez match.

But, he was unable to attend the final press conference before the match after his wife was diagnosed with leukemia.

Despite the circumstance, he knocked out Honorio in the first round.

Note: Granville Ampong is an L.A.-based journalist regularly writing for Philiboxing.com, Manila-US Times and Maharlikan Times. You may visit his website at www.maharlikantimes.com.