Unbeaten Mayweather should prove a step too far for Guerrero
Published:Robert Guerrero (31-1-1-2nc, 18 KO) steps up to boxing’s top table in a bid to dethrone Floyd Mayweather (43-0, 26 KO) of the WBC Welterweight and The Ring welterweight titles.
Guerrero, 31, has never mixed it with anyone of Mayweather’s quality at this weight, and starts as a deserved 5/1 underdog. Mayweather is 1/8 to progress to 44-0.
Guererro’s last fight against former WBC champion Andre Berto gave him experience against a quick welterweight, and he showed both the power and accuracy to win a unanimous decision. He had Berto down twice inside the first two rounds, but the American was nowhere near as difficult to hit as the ever-elusive Mayweather.
Mayweather’s resume is distinctly more impressive. The Ring’s number one pound-for-pound king and current WBC Welterweight champion has rarely had his record placed in jeopardy, finding answers to any number of problems over an unblemished 43-fight career.
Mayweather took more punishment than one has come to expect in his last bout against the big-punching light-middleweight Miguel Cotto (37-4, 30 KO), which some corners have said indicates a natural decline in the undefeated champion (he was 36 in February).
However, decline is a relative process, and “Pretty Boy” has still never been down on the canvas; the smart money suggests that record remains intact at the end of this May Day battle.
Cotto landed just 21 per cent of his punches, suggesting that “Money” is as hard to hit as ever. He also outlanded Cotto 29-11 over the final two rounds.
Guerrero is similar to Cotto in that he has a come-forward pressuring style, but his power shouldn’t trouble Mayweather in the same way considering Floyd had stepped up to Cotto’s weight (154 lbs) for that fight. Despite having only one career loss to date, Guerrero’s last five fights have gone the distance.
Victor Ortiz and Ricky Hatton both came forward to Mayweather, and were duly outclassed before being stopped (the former somewhat controversially, admittedly); Guerrero will have to temper his aggression.
While the Californian has never been put down, and will expect to go the distance with the pound-for-pound king, a judge-decreed victory seems highly fanciful. The draw can be got at 33/1.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
