Articles

Mayweather vs. Robert Guerrero-Who Do Ya Like?

Published

13 years ago

November 18, 2011

Friday, November 18, 2011 – With Floyd Mayweather's May 5th, 2012 date looming, many boxing experts believe Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero has a chance to knock off boxing's Pound for Pound king. Here's what they had to say.

Floyd Mayweather – 14

Robert Guerrero – 6

Pick-em 2

Emanuel Steward – Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee & HBO Commentator

“It's a tough fight. To me it's a pick-em fight in my opinion.”

Roberto Duran – Boxing Hall of Fame Legend
“I think its a great fight. It reminds me a lot of my fight with Sugar Ray Leonard when I moved up from lightweight to welterweight and beat him. You have a fast American fighter against a bruising Latin fighter. Styles make fights and this is a very interesting match-up. I feel that Robert will pull off the upset in Las Vegas and I must be there to see it. Guerrero by unanimous decision.”

Dan Rafael – Boxing Writer ESPN

“I got Mayweather in a unanimous decision.”

Kevin Iole – Boxing Writer – Yahoo Sports

“I think Mayweather would win that fight because he's the best fighter in the world.”

Nonito Donaire – Three-Division World Champion

“Floyd is a great fighter as is Robert. Both show great resilience in the ring. Robert has the heart of a warrior and it's a great fight for boxing. I have to go with Robert Guerrero who's younger/freasher to win this fight.”

Lem Satterfield – Ring Magazine Online

“It's going to be a boxing match and more technical than people think. You're going to have to really appreciate boxing like a chess match in this fight. I think if Robert wants to beat Floyd he's going to have to gamble at times, but not like Zab Judah , Chop Chop Corley or Ortiz did because Guerrero's got great defense. He has incredible energy and I think he's got a real good foundation of skills that's underrated. It will be competitive because Guerrero hasn't really lost too many rounds in his last few fights against very competent competition in Katsids, Casamayor and Escobdeo. This will be Floyd's toughest opponent because where he's at in his career. That being said I have to go with the Floyd by a majority decision.”

Luis Decubas Sr. – Boxing Promoter

“Whenever you fight a fighter that doesn't know how to lose is very difficult to go against him. But with a great fighter, who's getting older, styles make fights and Robert Guerrero is a big, strong, young southpaw with the aggression and foot ability to beat Mayweather. Believe it or not I'm picking Guerrero by UD decision.”

Cameron Dunkin – World Class Boxing Manager

“Guerrero is quick southpaw but I'm going with Floyd in a REAL competitive fight. Floyd wins 7 rounds to 5.”

Eric Gomez – Matchmaker Golden Boy Promotions

“I think it will be a dead heat going into the tenth round with Robert coming out on top because he's the younger fresher fighter.”

David Avila – Boxing Writer – Riverside Press-Enterprise

“That's a very close one. If The Ghost were to fight Mayweather, I'm just wondering if he could fight that style. It's a confusing style when fighting Mayweather because he makes you think and pause while he hits you. I say Mayweather in a close split decision.”

Robert Diaz – Matchmaker Golden Boy Promotions

“Guerrero's always been a big lightweight in my eyes. I don't see welterweight being a problem if Robert puts on the weight properly. Look at Marquez…he put on the weight nicely and in my opinion beat Manny. Robert is a bigger lightweight then Marquez so I don't see any problems with him moving up. Mayweather has had issues with southpaws…Zab Judah, Chop Chop Corley and even Victor gave him problems. Roberts very strong but he's a technician as well. He's young, he's strong and he's faced all kinds of adversity which means he can handle anything. He's starving. Mayweather would be fighting a young hungry southpaw. I heard Guerrero's ordered three turkeys for thanksgiving, one from Las Vegas, one from Mexico and one from the Philippines…Mayweather, Marquez and Pacquiao. My pick is Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero in a unanimous decision.”

Buddy McGirt – Respected Boxing Trainer and Former World Champion
“Floyd easy fight in a unanimous decision.”

Ryan Maquiñana – Boxing Writer – BoxingScene.com

“With Pacquiao-Marquez IV likely on the horizon, there aren't too many options left for Mayweather, but Robert Guerrero should be somewhere at the top of the list. He's a tall, accurate southpaw who presents some issues for Floyd, and I don't think size would be a problem as I've seen “The Ghost” walk around at 152, 153 pounds. If they were to meet, Floyd's track record would make him the favorite by decision, but Robert's a live underdog, and it wouldn't surprise me if he put the first blemish on Floyd's career.”

Robert Hough – FightNews.com

“If it's not clear how to beat Mayweather, it's clear that fighting his fight is hopeless. I'd love to see an active fighter with good footwork; long arms and a serious jab throw about 70 jabs per round at him. Guerrero could do that, but Money Mayweather is schtick and Floyd Mayweather is exceptional so I suspect he'd find ways to win in a fight that has real potential to be a lot closer, more interesting and more exciting than people might suspect. Mayweather by unanimous decision.”

Leon Margueles – President Warriors Boxing & Promotions

“I believe Mayweather wins because he is bigger, stronger and faster. He is also more technically sound and durable and has way more experience. That being said, outside of Manny and Sergio, I cannot think of a fighter who can give him a serious challenge right now. Robert Guerrero is as good as anyone
else as far as deserving an opportunity.”

Joel Casamayor – Four-time World Champion

“As of this moment Floyd Mayweather is the best P4P fighter in the world. No doubt. I wanted to fight him years ago at 130lbs because I know his style benefits a southpaw. I've known Robert for years. I've mentored him than fought him. He's learned a lot and I feel he has the abilities to become the best fighter pound for pound. He's a young, strong, fast, tall, lanky and tricky southpaw. One night one shot I think Robert can shock the world. He beats Mayweather by decision”

Igor Frank – Boxing Writer – Examinar.com

“I don't think Robert is read for Mayweather yet. The last fight I seen him he fought as a lightweight. He's going to have to fight Floyd at welterweight. I just don't think the Robert is on the level Floyd yet. Mayweather is the stronger guy and I pick him to win a unanimous decision.”

Miguel Diaz – World Boxing Hall of Fame Trainer

“Floyd is a great fighter. If there's someone who's going to beat him it's gonna be a strong young fighter like Robert Guerrero. He is a southpaw with lots of skill. But in the end I feel Floyd will be too intelligent and win a decision in a VERY competitive fight.”

Orlando Cueller – Respected Boxing Trainer

“Mayweather all the way, a total mismatch! Mayweather is in the unreal league and, though I have a lot of respect for what The Ghost has accomplished, this is just a little bit too much for Guerrero!”

Franco Gonzalez – Respected Boxing Trainer
“Robert Guerrero is a special fighter who has gotten better as he goes up in weight. He's a good puncher he's a southpaw and a dangerous fight for Mayweather. But, Floyd is Floyd he is the best P4P fighter in the world hands down. He's too smart and poised he beats Guerrero by a comfortable decision.”

Rick Pienda – Ringside Photographer
” We all want to see Mayweather vs. Pac-man. But it looks like it won't happen. I can't think of a better challenge out there than The Ghost. He's a young strong lion. That being said, Floyd is a great fighter, he's one of a kind and he beats Guerrero by unanimous decision in a chess match. It is a very interesting fight. Floyd's 43-0 Experience prevails.”

Karim Mayfield – Undefeated NABO Jr. Lightweight Champion

“Guerrero vs. Mayweather would be huge for the Bay Area. I've been in there with The Ghost and he hits like a middleweight. Mayweather has problems with southpaws and Guerrero is one of the best but I'm leaning toward Floyd Mayweather to squeak out a majority decision.”

Comment on this article

Post Views: 0

Share The Sweet Science experience!

The Sweet Science

Articles

2015 Fight of the Year – Francisco Vargas vs Takashi Miura

Published

9 years ago

January 4, 2016

The Sweet Science

The WBC World Super Featherweight title bout between Francisco Vargas and Takashi Miura came on one of the biggest boxing stages of 2015, as the bout served as the HBO pay-per-view’s co-main event on November 21st, in support of Miguel Cotto vs Saul Alvarez.

Miura entered the fight with a (29-2-2) record and he was making the fifth defense of his world title, while Vargas entered the fight with an undefeated mark of (22-0-1) in what was his first world title fight. Both men had a reputation for all-out fighting, with Miura especially earning high praise for his title defense in Mexico where he defeated Sergio Thompson in a fiercely contested battle.

The fight started out hotly contested, and the intensity never let up. Vargas seemed to win the first two rounds, but by the fourth round, Miura seemed to pull ahead, scoring a knock-down and fighting with a lot of confidence. After brawling the first four rounds, Miura appeared to settle into a more technical approach. Rounds 5 and 6 saw the pendulum swing back towards Vargas, as he withstood Miura’s rush to open the fifth round and the sixth round saw both men exchanging hard punches.

The big swinging continued, and though Vargas likely edged Miura in rounds 5 and 6, Vargas’ face was cut in at least two spots and Miura started to assert himself again in rounds 7 and 8. Miura was beginning to grow in confidence while it appeared that Vargas was beginning to slow down, and Miura appeared to hurt Vargas at the end of the 8th round.

Vargas turned the tide again at the start of the ninth round, scoring a knock down with an uppercut and a straight right hand that took Miura’s legs and sent him to the canvas. Purely on instinct, Miura got back up and continued to fight, but Vargas was landing frequently and with force. Referee Tony Weeks stepped in to stop the fight at the halfway point of round 9 as Miura was sustaining a barrage of punches.

Miura still had a minute and a half to survive if he was going to get out of the round, and it was clear that he was not going to stop fighting.

A back and forth battle of wills between two world championship level fighters, Takashi Miura versus “El Bandido” Vargas wins the 2015 Fight of the Year.

Post Views: 0

Share The Sweet Science experience!

Articles

Jan 9 in Germany – Feigenbutz and De Carolis To Settle Score

Published

9 years ago

January 4, 2016

The Sweet Science

This coming Saturday, January 9th, the stage is set at the Baden Arena in Offenburg, Germany for a re-match between Vincent Feigenbutz and Giovanni De Carolis. The highly anticipated re-match is set to air on SAT.1 in Germany, and Feigenbutz will once again be defending his GBU and interim WBA World titles at Super Middleweight.

The first meeting between the two was less than three months ago, on October 17th and that meeting saw Feigenbutz controversially edge De Carolis on the judge’s cards by scores of (115-113, 114-113 and 115-113). De Carolis scored a flash knock down in the opening round, and he appeared to outbox Feigenbutz in the early going, but the 20 year old German champion came on in the later rounds.

The first bout is described as one of the most crowd-pleasing bouts of the year in Germany, and De Carolis and many observers felt that the Italian had done enough to win.

De Carolis told German language website RAN.DE that he was more prepared for the re-match, and that due to the arrogance Feigenbutz displayed in the aftermath of the first fight, he was confident that he had won over some of the audience. Though De Carolis fell short of predicting victory, he promised a re-vamped strategy tailored to what he has learned about Feigenbutz, whom he termed immature and inexperienced.

The stage is set for Feigenbutz vs De Carolis 2, this Saturday January 9th in Offenburg, Germany. If you can get to the live event do it, if not you have SAT.1 in Germany airing the fights, and The Boxing Channel right back here for full results.

Post Views: 0

Share The Sweet Science experience!

Articles

2015 Knock Out of the Year – Saul Alvarez KO’s James Kirkland

Published

9 years ago

December 29, 2015

The Sweet Science

On May 9th of 2015, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez delivered a resonant knock-out of James Kirkland on HBO that wins the 2015 KO of the Year.

The knock-out itself came in the third round, after slightly more than two minutes of action. The end came when Alvarez delivered a single, big right hand that caught Kirkland on the jaw and left him flat on his back after spinning to the canvas.Alvarez was clearly the big star heading into the fight. The fight was telecast by HBO for free just one week after the controversial and disappointing Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao fight, and Alvarez was under pressure to deliver the type of finish that people were going to talk about. Kirkland was happy to oblige Alvarez, taking it right to Alvarez from the start. Kirkland’s aggression saw him appear to land blows that troubled the young Mexican in the early going. Alvarez played good defense, and he floored Kirkland in the first round, displaying his power and his technique in knocking down an aggressive opponent.

However, Kirkland kept coming at Alvarez and the fight entered the third round with both men working hard and the feeling that the fight would not go the distance. Kirkland continued to move forward, keeping “Canelo” against the ropes and scoring points with a barrage of punches while looking for an opening.

At around the two minute mark, Alvarez landed an uppercut that sent Kirkland to the canvas again. Kirkland got up, but it was clear that he did not have his legs under him. Kirkland was going to try to survive the round, but Alvarez had an opportunity to close out the fight. The question was would he take it?

Alvarez closed in on Kirkland, putting his opponent’s back to the ropes. Kirkland was hurt, but he was still dangerous, pawing with punches and loading up for one big shot.

But it was the big shot “Canelo” threw that ended the night. Kirkland never saw it coming, as he was loading up with a huge right hand of his own. The right Alvarez threw cracked Kirkland in the jaw, and his eyes went blank. His big right hand whizzed harmlessly over the head of a ducking Alvarez, providing the momentum for the spin that left Kirkland prone on the canvas.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez went on to defeat Miguel Cotto in his second fight of 2015 and he is clearly one of boxing’s biggest stars heading into 2016. On May 9th Alvarez added another reel to his highlight film when he knocked out James Kirkland with the 2015 “Knock Out of the Year”.

Photo by naoki fukuda

Post Views: 0

Share The Sweet Science experience!