Mayweather decisions Guerrero
LAS VEGAS—Floyd Mayweather Jr. fought as if he had never left the ring, coming back from a year’s absence to win a unanimous 12-round decision over Robert Guerrero in their welterweight title fight on Saturday.
Mayweather was masterful at times, landing thudding right hands and bloodying Guerrero’s face in a performance that mimicked some of his best fights. Mayweather hurt Guerrero on several occasions, including a series of right hands near the end of the eighth round that buckled Guerrero’s knees.
All three judges scored the bout 117-111 in Mayweather’s favor. The Associated Press had Mayweather winning, 119-109.
“We did it again,” Mayweather said after earning at least $32 million for his night’s work. “I take my hat off to Robert Guerrero. He’s a true warrior.”
Mayweather stayed unbeaten in 44 fights, while handing Guerrero only his second loss.
Mayweather was booed at times for not mixing it up more, but he didn’t need to. He was content to move and land jabs and right hand leads, while Guerrero grew increasingly frustrated trying to chase him.
“I landed some good shots on him,” Guerrero said. “He’s a great fighter. He’s slick and quick.”
The fight at MGMGrand arena settled into a familiar pattern from the third round on as Mayweather made adjustments and started landing some crisp right leads to Guerrero’s head. Guerrero was eager to trade punches, but often couldn’t find Mayweather.
Before the fight there had been some concern about Mayweather having ring rust after going a year without a fight—time that included a spell in jail for assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
But he didn’t miss a beat, using his defensive skills to baffle and keep Guerrero off balance.
“I needed my father tonight,” said Mayweather, whose dad was in his corner for the first time in 13 years. “My defense was on point and he told me to stick with my defense and that the less you get hit the longer you last.”
Guerrero was fighting for only the third time at 147 pounds.
“I feel bad I didn’t get the knockout tonight that the fans wanted,” said Mayweather, who hurt his right hand while going after the knockout in the eighth round. “I was still trying to go for the knockout but it didn’t happen.
Mayweather was a 5-1 favorite coming into the fight, but Guerrero was considered dangerous coming off a big win over Andre Berto. Guerrero hadn’t lost in eight years, and vowed to be the first to beat Mayweather, now 44-0.
“Honestly, Floyd could have danced the whole night,” Floyd Sr. said. “There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do in there tonight.”
Mayweather had crafted much of his career using his defense as his main weapon, and said he turned to his father to regain his old style.
Mayweather said he planned to fight again in September, a short turnaround for him, as part of a six-fight deal he has with the Showtime network.