Guerrero, Showing Some Rust, Beats Aydin Via UD12

Readers, Guerrero wasn't in top form but he still handled a solid test in Aydin, albeit one with a limited arsenal (read: nothing much but a right hand.) Who should Guerrero target next, besides Mayweather?

Robert Guerrero received a rough introduction to the welterweight division, as chippy hitter Selcuk Aydin used multiple rabbit punches in the main event at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA on Saturday night, on Showtime. But after 12 rounds of chippy action, Guerrero, who probably fought more than he should have, had his hand raised, and will now look to land an immense bout in the money weight class. “I'm back, welterweight champion now,” he said after, calling out Floyd Mayweather.

The judges scored it 117-111, 116-112, 116-112, for Guerrero, who didn't get the distance he usually creates when he's on his game. He admitted that being off for over a year left him somewhat rusty, but didn't let that dampen his joy. He said he wanted Floyd Mayweather, and was thrilled that he was able to celebrate with his wife Casey, now free from leukemia.

Stat-wise, Guerrero went 254-972, to 189-528 for Aydin, and that ordinarily would indicate a fight with less drama going to the cards. Not so here, because Guerrero's power didn't overwhelm at this weight class.

It is no small feat, for Guerrero, winning a crown in a fourth weight division, especially after skipping 140 entirely. Though I am guessing there will be no groundswell of support for a Mayweather-Guerrero fight, as people probably want a more conclusive victory over a relative no name.

Aydin after said he had no problem with the scores. “It's my mistake, I blame it on me,” he said. After the fourth round, the boxer said he was seeing double, for the record. He said it was a blood pressure problem and that he asked for sugar water. He said he had to wait for three years for this opportunity and blamed that waiting game for the loss, then.

Guerrero (age 29; from Gilroy, CA; 29-1-1 entering; No. 4 WBC, in his welter debut; titlist in three divisions) was 145 3/4, while Aydin (age 28; born in Turkey; 23-0 with 17 KOs; No. 1 WBC) was 146 1/2. He threatened and promised to break Guerrero's jaw on this night. The two men pushed and shoved at the weigh in, as well. To their credit, they did acknowledge each other after the scrap, like gentlemen.

Dan Stell was the ref. The WBC interim welter crown was up for grabs.

In the first, the lefty G got off first and countered smartly. He ate a right, and weathered it fine. G moved to his right, away from the big punch.

In the second, we saw chippiness. There was clinching and a headbutt, maybe deliberate, by Guerrero. They started each other down after the first and second rounds. Guerrero had been off for 15 months, after hurting his right shoulder, and one wondered if there was no rust, if Aydin would be catching him with lead rights. In the fourth, Guerrero's volume kept Aydin busy catching. Aydin's right looked to be his sole weapon; could he catch Guerrero unaware with one of those?

The action stayed tight in the fifth and sixth. His corner asked Guerrero to keep up the jab after the sixth. In the seventh, uppercuts worked for Aydin, maybe his best round. Guerrero's legs looked a bit dead. In the eighth, Guerrero stepped it up early. His volume took the round. In the ninth, Aydin kept hammering with that right, his lone weapon, really. In round ten, Aydin looked to maybe have more energy. In close, he tagged Guerrero, who held on. In round 11, a right buzzed the favorite, with 20 seconds to go. Then at 12 seconds, he landed a sharp combo. In the 12th, the chippy Aydin tried every trick in the book. We went to the cards.

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