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Looking back at pre-fight thoughts, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (31-1-1 18 KO’s) really surprised many with his approach against the hard-hitting Andre Berto (28-2-0 22 KO’s) in their HBO televised collision on Saturday night.
He managed to defeat Berto at his own game of brawling head to head on the inside. The win was a unanimous decision on all three judge’s scorecards by margins of 116-110 on each.
The start of the fight saw Guerrero pressuring the rusty Berto, who hadn’t fought in the squared circle in over fourteen months.
Berto was not expecting this as he was quickly staggered and holding on for dear life just moments after the first round commenced.
Due to, in my opinion, insufficient refereeing this was allowed to go on for far too long and after a while, Berto literally clamped down on the right hand of the Interim WBC Champion Guerrero leading to Guerrero bashing him with his free left hand until Berto hit the canvas from unrelenting punishment.
As Berto got up, his right eye was seen nearly swollen shut. Afterword, going into the following round, he was put down yet again from the relentless swinging of the adapted Welterweight sensation Guerrero.
The fight was nearly stopped at this point, stunning the many fans watching this worldwide, seeing the good chin Berto has and the newly established power Guerrero has revealed in his move to Welterweight.
The following rounds were mostly edged over by Guerrero due to rough inside work. Berto didn’t go down again in the fight, but in fact, did steal some rounds throwing that chopping right hook on the southpaw.
However, despite some minor mishaps, Guerrero chugged forward and managed to also close the left eye of Berto. That was when it was officially declared a “war”.
In the final four rounds, we saw many potential rounds of the year candidates as Berto bashed a large mouse into the right eye of Guerrero but the Californian kept pushing forward in large exchanges where both combatants were staggered.
But their spirits never broke as the clash somehow went twelve rounds in a career stamping performance for both boxers and a clear fight of the year candidate.
This writer scored the bout the same as the ringside judges, 116-110 for the clear winner Robert Guerrero. Few rounds were clearly won by Berto, but he gave outstanding efforts in five or six, giving him the possibility of victory.
The jam packed Welterweight division leaves many possibilities for both Guerrero and Berto. While there are three top stars in Floyd Mayweather Jr, Manny Pacquiao and, arguably, Timothy Bradley there are many other opportunities available.
Top ranked world-title holders Paulie Malignaggi and Devon Alexander are slick and highly skilled but flawed in certain areas that make fights with both Guerrero and Berto intriguing.
But, more stylistically channeled fights with fellow brawlers Josesito Lopez, Victor Ortiz, Marcos Maidana and even newly emerging knockout artists Luis Carlos Abregu and Kell Brook are available.
Another potential opponent for the Guerrero or Berto is Keith Thurman, a top American prospect who busted up Puerto Rican veteran Carlos Quintana with a fourth round stoppage in the co-headliner.
This was after Thurman’s dominant start and body shot enforced knockdown of Quintana in round one. This beating by Thurman was so brutal that the popular Quintana retired post-fight.
Long story made short, Thurman should be a major force in these Welterweight and Super Welterweight classes for the future and a big fight for him should be coming soon.
It was truly a good night of pugilism on HBO. Thanks for reading Saddoboxing.com’s post fight report here!
Corey Quincy is a freelance boxing journalist for Saddoboxing.com, his personal blog Blboxing.com and others. Like his Facebook page at “Boxing Legends” and follow him on Twitter at Quincyboxingfan. Email all comments to Coreyg100@yahoo.com.
