AN UNLIKELY STRATEGY IN MY OPINION IS NEEDED FOR GUERRERO TO WIN
While I agree with the majority that believe Floyd Mayweather will decisively defeat Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero Saturday in defense of his WBC welterweight crown, I feel that the perceived path of victory for the Gilroy, CA native is flawed. Most conclude that Guerreo is just a face first brawler who needs to come forward to have the slightest chance of victory. In my view this is a recipe for disaster.
OUTBOX THE BOXER? REALLY?
I know this sounds illogical but I feel for “The Ghost” to pull off a victory Saturday he needs to box, at least early in the fight. He needs to use his southpaw stance, move to his right and try to establish himself with the jab and avoid Mayweather’s straight right hand. Every now and then he must time Mayweather while at an angle with the left hand. This idea that Guerrero should just give up his height advantage and just throw caution to the wind against the sports best counter puncher is pugilistic suicide, at least in the early rounds anyways when Floyd’s reflexes will be sharpest. In my view too many of his opponents waste too much energy in early rounds trying to crowd him, and putting Floyd in a defensive shell just allows him to rest and break you down in latter rounds.
GUERRERO NEEDS TO PRESS IN THE LAST THIRD OF THE FIGHT
Keeping the fight relatively close early might help Robert goad Floyd into exchanges where he can time his power shots. As the rounds go on thats when the Gilroy native should go balls to the wall and attempt to beat up the older man. If you noticed in Floyd’s last fight, this was somewhat the strategy of Miguel Cotto, however with the wear and tear and his history of lacking stamina, he was unable to sustain the assault.
SO DOES GUERRERO HAVE A SHOT?
I believe Guerrero slightly has a shot at victory. I don’t feel he is the one-dimentional fighter he’s being made out to be. He is quite dynamic in my view. Most experts expected him to try to outbox the naturally larger Andre Berto. Yet he out-slugged and mauled the bigger man. Most feel that he is going to fight Floyd the exact same way. Many put too much stock in that fight. Floyd is a completely different animal. While outboxing Floyd seems like being out of the realm of possibility, it doesn’t hurt to employ a different strategy. The balls to the wall approach for the full 12 rounds has yet to be effective. Just ask Ricky Hatton.
-Kevin Perry