- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
It’s a pleasure to watch Floyd Mayweather box. In a brutal sport often known purely for its violence, Mayweather is an artist.
Undefeated in 43 bouts, Mayweather, who hadn’t stepped into the ring almost a year, had spent time prison since his last fight and there were rumours that his renowned speed had faded.
It hadn’t.
There was talk that ‘Money’s’ father returning to his camp could be a distraction.
It wasn’t.
People speculated that the Southpaw, Robert Guerrero would prove too tricky an opponent.
He wasn’t.
These disturbances would affect most fighters, but Mayweather proved, in a unanimous decision demonstration of speed, timing, movement and defence, that he’s much, much better than most fighters.
He borders on genius.
At the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Mayweather kept his unbeaten record intact as he outclassed and outfought the challenger Robert Guerrero for the WBC Welterweight title.
No slouch himself, Guerrero, 30, had only lost one of his 31 previous bouts and was full of attack and courage, but was no match for the sublime Mayweather.
‘The Ghost’ came out firing in the opening rounds, catching ‘Money’ with a couple of rights as the 36-year old found his pace and range. Guerrero did enough to win the second as well, keeping Mayweather off balance and being busy enough to earn the round.
But it was Floyd’s bout from there on in.
Through the next three rounds, Mayweather – free of rust after his long lay-off – had figured out the Southpaw and was starting to land a sharp right-hand lead.
The punch haunted ‘The Ghost’ all night and Mayweather would open a cut above Guerrero’s left eye in the later rounds. ‘Money’ later revealed that he injured his right hand at the midway point and was unable to score the knockout the crowd so desperately wanted to see.
Unable to hit Mayweather, whose defence might be the best the boxing world has ever seen, Guerrero seemed confused by the angles the fleet footed champion was creating to throw his punches.
Combining a wide left hook with the quick right, the punches came from everywhere and Mayweather began connecting with his gallant opponent at will from various positions and stances.
Mayweather’s mastery was never more pronounced than towards the end of the sixth, when he pounced backwards in the air to avoid another attack but threw a hard left jab as he landed on his feet which connected squarely on Guerrero’s jaw.
Evade and attack. That was the order of the day.
Battling through punishment in the middle rounds, Guerrero may have won the seventh as Mayweather had a rest, but order was restored in the eighth as blood trickled down the Mexican-American’s face from those vicious right hands.
‘Money’ picked off the younger man in the closing rounds but couldn’t find the elusive knockout as the crowd grew restless for action.
Not generally known for his power, Mayeather was faster to the punch, had impeccable timing and was incredibly accurate in landing 60% of his power punches to leave welts all around Guerrero’s eyes.
To his credit, Guerrero never let up. He was the busier fighter right to the final bell but Mayweather was usually able to avoid big contact punches and ‘The Ghost’ conceded afterwards that Floyd was better than he expected.
All judges scored the bout 117-111, although many others had Mayweather winning by a larger margin.
There are calls for Mayweather to take on Mexican wonder-kid Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in his next fight – the second of a multimillion dollar six bout contract with Showtime – in September.
Others – myself included – believe it’s too early for the 22-year old red headed Mexican to fight a maestro like Floyd “Money” Mayweather.
Let’s get ready to rumble! Pick a fighter and place your bets with PlayUp for great odds. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.