KO MONTHLY U.S. CORRESPONDENT
Magical Mayweather masters Guerrero over
12 rounds
By
John J. Raspanti
KO Monthly
US Correspondent
It‘s fitting that illusionist
David Copperfield is
appearing at the MGM
Grand Arena in Las Vegas,
Nevada. Floyd “Money” Mayweather (44-0,26 KOs)
did his best Copperfield impersonation by escaping
numerous traps and boxing his way to a masterful
12-round unanimous decision. Mayweather
retained his WBC welterweight title with the victory.
All three ringside judges scored the bout 117-111
for “Money” Mayweather.
The opening rounds were a combination of
aggression (Guerrero) and art (Mayweather).
Guerrero's plan was to rough up Mayweather on
the inside. He succeeded at times, but found
himself beaten to the punch on multiple occasions.
Mayweather’s lead right hand was deadly.
Guerrero, a southpaw, attempted to use his right
jab in round three. The strategy is a sound one.
Historically, Mayweather has had some problems
with effective jabbers. Guerrero’s jab was short and
wide. He was like a pitcher who couldn't find
homeplate.
Mayweather, 36, continued to box intelligently in
rounds four and five. His subtle movement kept
Guerrero (31-2, 18 KOs ) off balance. His feints, a
lost art in today’s boxing confused “The Ghost“
Guerrero finally connected with a left late in round
five, but ate two rights in return. On the inside,
Mayweather neutralized Guerrero. In round six,
Mayweather stood his ground and traded punches.
His bag of tricks included refining his most effective
punch, the right hand, by sweeping it around the
left glove of Guerrero.
His brilliant defense had Guerrero frustrated.
Another pinpoint right connected. For the first time
in the fight, Guerrero backed up. Mayweather
strafed him with more right hands as the bell
sounded.
Mayweather caught Guerrero with two big
uppercuts in round nine. Guerrero, his face swollen
and bleeding from a cut near his left eye, tried to
fight back. Rounds ten and eleven were more of the
same. Guerrero tossed out his jab and felt the sting
of Mayweather’s punches. He’d reset and try again.
Mayweather, like a cobra, struck back with biting
punches.
In round 12, Guerrero, behind on the scorecards
chased after the elusive Mayweather who slipped
his punches and countered occasionally.
“I want to thank all the fans,” said Mayweather in
the ring after the bout was over. “I feel bad I didn’t
give the fans a knockout.”
"He's (Guerrero) a true warrior and I take my hat off
to him," added Mayweather. "I needed my father
tonight – he provided the defense.
It's hit-and-not-get-hit again.”
“He did a great job," admitted the gracious
Guerrero. "But I'm still winning no matter what.
He was on his game tonight."
In rounds seven and eight, Guerrero, 30, continued
to be peppered with sharp punches. He tried to
corner Mayweather, but the champion bounced off
the ropes and out of danger.
13
MONTHLY