By Lem Satterfield
BoxingScene.com has learned that southpaw WBO and WBA interim lightweight king Robert Guerrero "has signed the contract, agreed to terms, and faxed the contract over to Golden Boy Promotions" for an opportunity to pursue his sixth belt in a fourth different weight class if the 28-year-old meets 27-year-old interim WBA junior welterweight titlist Marcos Rene Maidana on Aug. 27, in San Jose, Calif.
"Robert is ready to go," the source said of Guerrero (29-1-1, 18 knockouts), who could face Maidana (30-2, 27 KOs) of Argentina not far from Guerrero's hometown of Gilroy, Calif. "The ball is on Marco Maidana's court."
Prior to learning about Guerrero's move, BoxingScene.com had spoken to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who said that he expected the deal to be completed shortly.
"I'm just waiting for the signatures, but both fighters have agreed to the fight. I think that it's going to be a huge, huge fight," Schaefer told BoxingScene.com. "Assuming that I get these contracts back signed, then from a match up point of view, this is a very exciting fight."
In accordance with WBA policy, the winner of a July 23, unification bout in Las Vegas featuring WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan (25-1, 17KOs) and IBF belt-holder Zab Judah (41-6, 28KOs) could be elevated to the title of Super Champion in accordance with organization rules involving titlists who hold two belts.
That would mean that the Guerrero-Maidana clash could be for the WBA's regular championship.
Guerrero is coming off of an April 9, victory over Australia's hard-punching Michael Katsidis (27-4, 22 KOs) that earned Guerrero his fourth, and, fifth career title belts over his third weight class.
Already a two-time IBF featherweight and one-time IBF super featherweight champion, Guerrero earned the interim WBA and interm WBO crowns during his 13th straight victory against Katsidis and a run that includes nine stoppages.
Guerrero last suffered defeat by a December, 2005 split-decision to Gamaliel Diaz, whom Guerrero stopped in the sixth round of their June, 2006 rematch.
Maidana won the WBA's interim belt on April 9 with a majority decision over 34-year-old, three-time world champion, Erik Morales (51-7, 35 KOs), of Tijuana, Mex.
Morales has been considered for a potential fourth bout against Mexico City's 37-year-old, five-time, three-division champion, Marco Antonio Barrera (67-7, 44 KOs), who has won two of their three historic clashes.
