A Floyd Mayweather, Jr. bout is one of the few events people willingly defer from their usual Saturday night activities to watch. Last evening the masses did just that to witness the undefeated boxer successfully defend his welterweight championship against the accomplished Robert Guerrero (31-2-1).
It was Mayweather‘s first match in a long year, during which he served 72-days in a Las Vegas jail for domestic abuse, and naysayers were weary of his abilities at 36 years-old.
Twelve rounds and a unanimous decision later, Mayweather dissolved whispers the he would fall victim to ring rust and proved that he still lives up to his infamous moniker, “Money.”
He credits his success to his father, Floyd Mayweather, Sr., who directed his corner after a 13-year absence. “I needed my father tonight,” said Mayweather Jr. “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.”
Defense was the name of Mayweather’s game, more than usual in a way, and proved to be more than Guerrero could handle. Led by his patented shoulder roll technique, he dipped, dodge, and ducked the Latin fighter’s onslaught of punches, leaving his counter blows to do the talking. That game plan led him to a fight defining eighth round, when he buckled Guerrero and cut him over his left eye.
“I was looking for the knockout but I hurt my hand,” admitted Mayweather after the fight. “I feel bad I didn’t give the fans the knockout.”
Guerrero’s trainer and father, Ruben, that Mayweather “ran like a chicken,” but the truth is that his son was simply out-boxed, out matched and out classed. All three judges scored the bout 117-111. Men lie, women lie, but numbers clearly didn’t in this case.
Boxing fans could possibly see “Money” Mayweather in the ring again this September, as part of his unprecedented deal with Showtime.
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Photo: Isaac Brekken/AP
