His first world title defense has been delayed, due to the postponement of the originally scheduled Showtime Championship Boxing event on February 9, but undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) middleweight champion Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin (28-0, 20 KOs) is rollin' with the punches and preparing for his April 27th fight against challenger Fernando Guerrero (25-1, 19 KOs) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The Feb. 9 card was postponed because of an injury to Danny Garcia, who is fighting Zab Judah in the main event. Quillin vs. Guerrero remains the 12-round co-feature.
"I'm praying for Danny to get better, as well as for Zab and Guerrero to stay focused," a disappointed yet understanding Quillin said from Los Angeles where he was training at Wild Card Gym. "I'm praying for Guerrero to stay focused, too, because I'm coming for him on April 27."
The popular Cuban-American fighter will soon be returning to Manhattan. He knows what's happened is out of anybody's control. "This is what I do and things like this happen sometimes in boxing," he remarked. "You never expect it to but it does happen. I'm just rollin' with the punches. I'm setting up my schedule for the next 1 ½ months before I go back to camp. I'll be teaching four classes a week at the Trinity Boxing Club (in Manhattan) for regular people (non-boxers). They want to train with the champ; I want to keep my mind focused and stay sharp by being in the gym."
Injuries - like it or not - are part of boxing. "It's very disappointing," Quillin's co-manager John Seip commented, "considering the hard work and dedication that goes into preparing for a championship fight like this, not only for my fighter, but for all parties involved. Peter was ready and he had only one week left in camp. Peter lost 18 months due to unforeseen injuries, so he accepts and understands that injuries are part of the game. Danny was a true professional who tried to get through his injury, but Garcia's team made the right decision. Injuries play a big part in professional athletics and some, like this, are unavoidable. A professional athlete needs to take news like this on the chin, no pun intended, remain focused and move on. It's the nature of the beast and must be accepted. Peter will be ready April 27th, no doubt."
Quillin will be the guest of honor as the 2012 Fighter of the Year at another rescheduled event, the 26th annual Ring 8 Awards Dinner, on February 10 at Russo's On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York.
For more information about Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin go online to www.TheKidChocolate.com or follow him on Twitter @Kid Chocolate and Instagram@KidChocolate.