Floyd Mayweather Jr. has 'interest' in Robert Guerrero as next foe

November 26, 2012, 6:38 p.m. Robert Guerrero’s promoter initiated conversations with Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s representatives Monday with hopes of staging a fight between the pair in the spring. “Interest is there,” said Golden Boy Promotions Chief Executive Richard Schaefer. Guerrero (31-1) produced a stirring unanimous-decision victory over former world welterweight champion Andre Berto Saturday night at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario. Guerrero knocked down Berto in each of the first two rounds, then pressed the action against the bigger man, withstanding heavy right-handed uppercuts, out-punching Berto and winning the final two rounds. Schaefer declined to comment regarding when and where a Mayweather-Guerrero fight might occur. “It’s a process, one that has begun … I have a site and date in mind, but those conversations are best served now to take place behind closed doors,” Schaefer said. Schaefer was in contact Saturday night with Mayweather Jr.’s advisor, Leonard Ellerbe, and the fighter’s manager, Al Haymon, who also manages Berto. Mayweather (43-0, 26 knockouts) hasn’t fought since May 5, when he defeated Miguel Cotto by unanimous decision. Shortly after, Mayweather served more than 60 days in Clark County (Nev.) jail after pleading guilty to domestic violence charges. While Manny Pacquiao has pushed Mayweather to fight him, telling reporters he will accept a 45 percent split of the purse to Mayweather’s 55 percent and also submit to all Mayweather requests such as being introduced in the ring last and having his name listed first on banners, the animosity between those parties has resulted in three failed negotiations in the past. Pacquiao will fight Juan Manuel Marquez for a fourth time Dec. 8, and Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum has said a possible alternate foe to Mayweather in the spring is Oxnard’s action fighter Brandon Rios. Schaefer, who has helped promote all of Mayweather’s fights since his record-breaking date against Oscar De La Hoya in 2007, said Guerrero “put an exclamation point on the fact he deserves to fight Mayweather,” by defeating Berto. Guerrero also brings a compelling story to the fight. The Gilroy fighter gave up a world title belt in 2010 to help his wife, Casey, successfully battle through cancer. With Mayweather moving toward Guerrero as an opponent, that leaves Mexico star Saul “Canelo” Alvarez to root heavily Saturday night for Cotto to win the Wolrld Boxing Assn. belt against champion Austin Trout in New York. Alvarez has May 4 reserved at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and had previously told Schaefer he wanted a super-fight that night against either Mayweather, Cotto or Sergio Martinez, who is likely to have a rematch against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in his next major bout. http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-boxing-mayweather-guerrero-20121126,0,930210.story

Comments (20)

Guerrero deserves it more than anyone else besides Pacquiao. I don't see how he deserves it more than Canelo. Beating Berto isn't any better than Canelo beating Mosley. And Canelo is bigger, has a stronger fan base. Canelo would tax Guerrero's as$

13y ago

Kilrain

Would rather see Guerrero-Maidana (funny how Robert never mentions him) or Ortiz or Josesito Lopez or Bradley, but yeah, OK, I suppose it'll be fun to see Floyd give Guerrero a reality check. Floyd by easy decision.

13y ago

RomeByKo

That is why he didn't have staying power and didn't really meet expectations although his career still went alright all things considered plus both his loses were exciting fights a guy just good enough to lose in exciting fashion is always a useful guy in the sport. You can never really expect a guy to change until he loses, and then some guys get better and others guys don't you can never really tell. Now it is all clear after his second loss, although he did appear to try the shoulder roll so he kind of worked on something it just kind of went out the window early and didn't pan out at all. Speed and power are great things to have but they aren't everything, Berto is a prime example of that Great post..Green coming..

13y ago

RisAri0

Manny needs to fight and beat Berto then in order to fight Floyd

13y ago

ElMeroChingon

Guerrero deserves it more than anyone else besides Pacquiao.

13y ago

Bossy

I think Floyd loves avenging black fighters loses.Let cheating a$$ Guerrero try that dirty **** with Floyd and see what happens to him,We already seen what happened to Ortiz when he tried that dirty **** with Floyd. ^^^^^^^^ :lol1: LMAOOOOOOO at someone thinking Floyd does something for someone who ISN'T Floyd Mayweather. That **** is ridiculous. Period. :lame::lame: I needed this. Thank you.

13y ago

The_Gambler1981

But was Berto really a surprise??He was never that good and never work on any fundamentals of his game..I mean the guy is super talented,but not one thing fundamentally did he ever work on...I knew Ortiz would beat him and I knew Guerrero would beat him..Guerrero is a smart fighter,and Ortiz has power(Berto's chin is another one of his biggest weaknesses)...I have to say Alexander and Maidana have work on parts of their game more so then Berto(which speaks in volumes)...But I'll give Berto credit,he makes for good fights...Very similar to Khan(although Khan is way better overall skill wise)in that regard... That is why he didn't have staying power and didn't really meet expectations although his career still went alright all things considered plus both his loses were exciting fights a guy just good enough to lose in exciting fashion is always a useful guy in the sport. You can never really expect a guy to change until he loses, and then some guys get better and others guys don't you can never really tell. Now it is all clear after his second loss, although he did appear to try the shoulder roll so he kind of worked on something it just kind of went out the window early and didn't pan out at all. Speed and power are great things to have but they aren't everything, Berto is a prime example of that

13y ago

RomeByKo

Things happen quick in boxing~ things always changing is one of the aspects I really like about the sport. But was Berto really a surprise??He was never that good and never work on any fundamentals of his game..I mean the guy is super talented,but not one thing fundamentally did he ever work on...I knew Ortiz would beat him and I knew Guerrero would beat him..Guerrero is a smart fighter,and Ortiz has power(Berto's chin is another one of his biggest weaknesses)...I have to say Alexander and Maidana have work on parts of their game more so then Berto(which speaks in volumes)...But I'll give Berto credit,he makes for good fights...Very similar to Khan(although Khan is way better overall skill wise)in that regard...

13y ago

The_Gambler1981

Yeah, who would have predicted that .... :lol1: Berto went from rising star to stepping stone almost overnight. Things happen quick in boxing~ things always changing is one of the aspects I really like about the sport.

13y ago

arraamis

Andre Berto, the stepping stone to Floyd Mayweather Yeah, who would have predicted that .... :lol1: Berto went from rising star to stepping stone almost overnight.

13y ago

HeroBando

Well, he also talks a lot about Cotto and Alvarez. So the three fighters he wants to fight are one division below him, a weight class he claims he can make and be effective still, yet he never moves down and proves it? If he wants to fight these guys, staying at middleweight and doing nothing doesn't exactly prove he's serious about anything other than getting a check against these guys. Again, he talks a lot about wanting to move down yet he never actually does it. I'd love to see Mayweather-Martinez. But with every fight where Martinez does nothing to pressure Mayweather into it, I question him more. With Cotto, he's probably more likely to get the fight if he keeps his lineal belt. Cotto wants that 4th divisional belt, maybe at a 156 catchweight. With Canelo, it's hard to see him getting the fight either way unless he loses 20lbs. And he'll probably need to move up when the training wheels come off anyway. Fighting the likes of Lara or Rosado wouldnt get him any closer to those 3 guys, he would just be giving up his negotiating leverage in his belt.

13y ago

RomeByKo

I said that was a risk for Dawson also, and he said exactly the same stuff it is nbd I can do it easy. The difference is Dawson is a decade younger and that means a lot so thinking maybe he can pull it off is a bit more reasonable. 38 year old fighters that have a good amount of mileage that rely on reflexes and athleticism have a very poor track record going down in weight, so favoring that he will decline is to me just being honest with his chances not to mention he is coming off a fairly serious injury. If he proves me wrong and he can fight at 154 I will change my mind on that but as time passes it becomes less and less likely. I don't expect anything out of boxers or boxing, boxing is the theater of the unexpected for a reason. I don't think he beat Manny first of all but that is neither here nor there with my point. I think Guerrero would provide the same sort of test to Floyd (a bit different but the level of difficulty would be similar) and if Guerrero and Bradley fought it would be 50/50. If you want to call it 60/40 fine but either way that puts them in essentially the same class. When just talking about the fight in the ring, there isn't much in it if you want to say Bradley is a bit tougher challenge alright but it is not like there is a steep decline from Bradley to Guerrero. I don't agree with everything(esp your thoughts on Bradley vs Robert)but hey to each it's own... Even at 38 I would take Martinez word,and expect far more from Martinez overall then Dawson....

13y ago

JRB123

To be honest, like I said in this thread, at this point in time I'd prefer Guerrero over Alvarez. I just feel he's earned it more. After that, only fight's I want are Martinez or Pacquaio. And Mayweather-Guerrero would definitely be on PPV. All Mayweather's fights will be. If not, I'd also like to see Guererro-Bradley. Well from what you offered, Floyd could only face Guerrero, Alvarez, and Martinez (at 154). Pac and Bradley are out unless they're free agents. I see that point of Floyd only fighting PPV fights, but who would buy that match-up? Unless there is a good undercard with that, the buyrate wouldn't be that good...I wouldn't be shocked if it did lower than Pac-Bradley...

13y ago

RomeByKo

Rome, Lara called him out, Martinez should have fought him. Martinez doesn't help his situation, on top of that he could very easily have fought better opponents at 154, better than Murray I'm sure. Hold on,Martinez has a better resume at 154lb then any fighter fighting there right now..Not to mention the best overall resume of any fighter fighting there period(unless Floyd stays at 154lb)...Would I have loved to see Martinez and Lara mix it up??Sure...But let's real,Lara did nothing to get a shot at Martinez..He also brings nothing to the table..So I have to disagree that Martinez should have fought Lara..Unless it was before he was beating guys like Cintron Pwill...But right after that moment Martinez step his game way up,and let's be real,Lara is yet to show himself as an elite fighter..

13y ago

IronDanHamza

If Floyd does fight twice next year, then Canelo or Martinez should be on that list...Guerrero should not be on PPV if that does happen...Could get more interest from fans if it was on WCB... SN: Bradley-Guerrero sounds like a good matchup, but that whole Top Rank-GBP thing...yeah that ain't happenin To be honest, like I said in this thread, at this point in time I'd prefer Guerrero over Alvarez. I just feel he's earned it more. After that, only fight's I want are Martinez or Pacquaio. And Mayweather-Guerrero would definitely be on PPV. All Mayweather's fights will be. If not, I'd also like to see Guererro-Bradley.

13y ago

The_Gambler1981

Hey,to each it's own bro..I can get with BO when he say's let Martinez prove it..But imo Martinez earned the right to say I'm good let's get it on at 154lb,if he says he can make it..I'd take his word for it..Same with Dawson..Dawson said he could make weight said he felt comfortable,he looked great..But soon as he got his azz beat everyone jumps to the weight..I think Ward just is the better fighter who got in Dawson azz...These guy's are professionals,if they put their name on the dotted line I expect them to come threw... As for Bradley and R.G. being on the same level..I would have to disagree...Bradley has a victory over Pac and is a multi time unified Champ bro...When has R.G. ever done this(I really don't remember if R.G. ever unified),I think a fight with Robert and Bradley is a good fight...I would give it a 60/40 kinda fight in Bradley's favor...But as far as accomplishments,Bradley is further along at this point...Which is why he is on the P4P list and R.G. is not even close at this point... I said that was a risk for Dawson also, and he said exactly the same stuff it is nbd I can do it easy. The difference is Dawson is a decade younger and that means a lot so thinking maybe he can pull it off is a bit more reasonable. 38 year old fighters that have a good amount of mileage that rely on reflexes and athleticism have a very poor track record going down in weight, so favoring that he will decline is to me just being honest with his chances not to mention he is coming off a fairly serious injury. If he proves me wrong and he can fight at 154 I will change my mind on that but as time passes it becomes less and less likely. I don't expect anything out of boxers or boxing, boxing is the theater of the unexpected for a reason. I don't think he beat Manny first of all but that is neither here nor there with my point. I think Guerrero would provide the same sort of test to Floyd (a bit different but the level of difficulty would be similar) and if Guerrero and Bradley fought it would be 50/50. If you want to call it 60/40 fine but either way that puts them in essentially the same class. When just talking about the fight in the ring, there isn't much in it if you want to say Bradley is a bit tougher challenge alright but it is not like there is a steep decline from Bradley to Guerrero.

13y ago

Doctor_Tenma4618

Move down and fight who??Not some reg fighter...I believe if Alvarez or Cotto said I want Martinez he would move down...But for Martinez to move down to fight Lara or Vanes or somebody like that is flat out ridicules...Oh and none of the two have express any interest in fighting Martinez... Rome, Lara called him out, Martinez should have fought him. Martinez doesn't help his situation, on top of that he could very easily have fought better opponents at 154, better than Murray I'm sure.

13y ago

JRB123

I think before he moved to 147 then it's a fight that he wouldn't have taken. Now he's made noise at 147 and is most likely going to be ranked at #3 after the rankings are updated and the back story Guererro has, I think it's a fight that can and most likely will be made. I just hope he fights twice next year. If Floyd does fight twice next year, then Canelo or Martinez should be on that list...Guerrero should not be on PPV if that does happen...Could get more interest from fans if it was on WCB... SN: Bradley-Guerrero sounds like a good matchup, but that whole Top Rank-GBP thing...yeah that ain't happenin

13y ago

RomeByKo

I think before he moved to 147 then it's a fight that he wouldn't have taken. Now he's made noise at 147 and is most likely going to be ranked at #3 after the rankings are updated and the back story Guererro has, I think it's a fight that can and most likely will be made. I just hope he fights twice next year. If Floyd moves back down to 147lb I don't expect to see a fight between him and Martinez ever made into reality...I would love for Cotto to fight Martinez and Floyd can fight Alvarez winners fight each other...

13y ago

RomeByKo

Well, he also talks a lot about Cotto and Alvarez. So the three fighters he wants to fight are one division below him, a weight class he claims he can make and be effective still, yet he never moves down and proves it? If he wants to fight these guys, staying at middleweight and doing nothing doesn't exactly prove he's serious about anything other than getting a check against these guys. Again, he talks a lot about wanting to move down yet he never actually does it. I'd love to see Mayweather-Martinez. But with every fight where Martinez does nothing to pressure Mayweather into it, I question him more. Move down and fight who??Not some reg fighter...I believe if Alvarez or Cotto said I want Martinez he would move down...But for Martinez to move down to fight Lara or Vanes or somebody like that is flat out ridicules...Oh and none of the two have express any interest in fighting Martinez...

13y ago