By David "Los Gatos" Rosenberg

Former champion Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero continues to push for a shot at the WBC welterweight champion, Floyd Mayweather Jr., who is scheduled to return on May 5th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Manny Pacquiao are actively circling the Mayweather chase. Guerrero has joined the race for May 5th.

BoxingScene.com: Robert I was surprised to see the expert’s picks on a potential fight with you and Floyd Mayweather.  What was your take on that?

RG:  First off, on May 5th there will be a new pound for pound champion. While I respect the opinions of others, it’s my opinion that really matters.  I believe in my God given abilities that I’m going to beat Floyd Mayweather, and that’s all that matters.   You better believe it when I say I’m going to dethrone Mayweather.

BoxingScene.com: People are saying that you’re just looking for a payday.  What do you have to say about that?

RG:   It’s just unbelievable when people make comments like that.  In my career as well as in my life the driving force has been my principles and my legacy.  It makes me sick to my stomach when I read some of these comments.  Facts are stubborn things.  For instance, in my only career loss, I made sure I did the rematch and I knocked him out.  I got paid a very small amount of money for that fight but I did it for my legacy.  Some of these so called pound for pound champions never avenge their losses and listen to managers and trainers to avoid dangerous fights.  When I fought overseas against the #1 contender, I only had three weeks to get ready, and Freddie Roach at the time was my trainer.  He told me that I didn’t have enough time to get ready for a fight of that nature, but I told him I was taking the fight no matter what, because I wanted to become a two-time world champion.  I didn’t need Freddie to believe in me, because I believe in myself.  

Although I respect Freddie as a trainer, I have the utmost believe in myself.  I know for a fact some of the pound for pound best would not have been able to go overseas on three weeks’ notice and capture a world title.   I had a main-event on HBO scheduled with Katsidis, which would have been my biggest payday, but again principles and priorities drive my decision making.  I always zero in on the biggest challenges in life, and at that time, my wife’s battle with cancer was the biggest challenge.  

When I had the option of fighting Maidana or Morales it was much more lucrative to fight Morales, but I chose to fight Maidana because he is considered the tougher challenge.  My whole life has been about taking on the toughest challenges.   My career has always been about principle and legacy, so when people say I’m looking for a big payday, they need to take a look at my career choices.  

BoxingScene.com: So you really think you can dethrone Floyd Mayweather?

RG:  There is no doubt in my mind I’m going to beat Floyd Mayweather.  Fighting Floyd doesn't even come close when you compare it to fighting cancer.  Everyone knows I have a strong faith in Jesus Christ and they know I’m a person that possesses great resilience.  I’ve fought at the highest level knowing my wife was battling for her life.  The fact is, when I became a world champion and could a have made much more money defending my title, I put principle and belief above finance rather than work with a promoter that I didn’t believe in.  If that meant working constructing the rest of my life then so be it, because that’s the type of person I am.  

The fact is I’ve always faced the biggest challenges in and out of the ring head on.  I’ve always said to be the best you have to fight the best and right now Floyd Mayweather is considered the best fighter in the world.  I’m here to say I’m the best fighter in the world.  There’s only one way to find out….May 5th let’s do it.

BoxingScene.com: Any last words you want to say to the fans?

It’s unfortunate that in boxing it seems like the ones that talk the most get the biggest fights.  I’m put in a position to lay out the facts about why I’m an elite fighter.  I’m ready to take on the biggest challenges out there.   Unfortunately some of the so called 'pound for pound best' avoid me like the plague and claim I’ve never fought anybody.   It’s the same old song and dance that happened to Marquez and Winky Wright when they couldn’t get a big fight. I’ve never turned down a fight in my career. My time is now!