Las Vegas Sun

Currently: 70° | Complete forecast |

Mayweather vs. Guerrero blog: ‘Money’ takes easy unanimous-decision victory

Mayweather said injured hand kept him from knocking out Guerrero

Mayweather Guerrero

Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

Floyd Mayweather looks up into the stands after winning a unanimous decision over challenger Robert Guerrero during their fight Saturday, May 4, 2013 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Updated Saturday, May 4, 2013 | 11:01 p.m.

Mayweather Defeats Guerrero

WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, connects a punch on Robert Guerrero during their title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, May 4, 2013. Launch slideshow »

Note: Results from the pay-per-view undercard available at the bottom of the page.

The fans started heading to the exits before the last round had even begun.

That says plenty in boxing, a sport where controversial decisions are as commonplace as hand wraps and ring girls. There was just no possible way the judges were going to mess this one up.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. was too quick, too evasive and too dominant for Robert Guerrero. "Money" improved to 44-0 as he beat "The Ghost" by unanimous decision (117-111, 117-111, 117-111) in front of a packed crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, rarely getting touched by the challenger.

"The less you get hit," Mayweather described his philosophy, "the longer you last."

Mayweather pelted Guerrero plenty, opening a cut above the previously once-beaten fighter's eyebrow in the later rounds. Mayweather rocked Guerrero with right hands in the eighth round, his most dominant frame of the fight, but couldn't finish him by the time the bell rang.

Mayweather played it safe for the final three rounds.

"I felt bad I didn’t get the knockout tonight," Mayweather said. "I was looking for it, but I hurt my right hand. Midway through the fight, I told my father ‘my hand is swollen.’"

Guerrero described Mayweather "a little better" than he expected. The former interim WBC welterweight champion said he would get back into the gym with the goal of facing Mayweather again before the end of his career.

As for Mayweather, he expressed no preference in what would be next for him.

"Let me go home and rest," Mayweather said.

Check below for round-by-round coverage of the main event and come back later for full coverage of Mayweather vs. Guerrero.

Twelfth Round Guerrero comes out swinging, but to no avail. Fans are filtering out of the arena as Mayweather dodges punch after punch. Mayweather gives them something to cheer about with a combination while his back is to the ropes. Mayweather counters a body shot with a right hand. With a minute to go, he opens up and blasts Guerrero with another combination. Guerrero gets an overhand left to find Mayweather's chin. Not much action in the final round, but it belongs to Mayweather. Mayweather wins 119-109 on the Sun's scorecard. Floyd Mayweather Jr. defeats Robert Guerrero by unanimous decision (117-111, 117-111, 117-111.)

Eleventh Round Mayweather places two right hands perfectly early. Guerrero can't get anything to go in the first 30 seconds. Finally, a body shot does the trick. Guerrero is pressing, knowing he needs a finish to win this fight. He scores with two big right hands to Mayweather's forehead. Mayweather continues to block most of his punches, though. When Guerrero backs up, Mayweather fires a right hand at him. Back in the center now, Mayweather is getting loose and loading up combinations. Most of them are working. A left hand from Mayweather sends Guerrero back. It looks like he's wobbly for a second, but Guerrero comes forward again. He must be wondering why as Mayweather punishes with a right hand. Guerrero gets a counter to go late after several jabs from Mayweather find their mark. Mayweather wins his ninth round in a row to go up 109-100 on the Sun's card.

Tenth Round Guerrero's cut doesn't seem to be bothering him, but Mayweather isn't breathing nearly as heavy. He lands a combination to get things under way. Guerrero looks for a straight right, and after a few miss, he gets one to go. Referee warns Guerrero about shots to the back of the head after they lock up midway through the round. Mayweather feeds Guerrero a left. And then a right. The quickness of Mayweather's straight punches have gotten to Guerrero all night. Mayweather gets four straight rights to go before Guerrero can answer with anything. Mayweather is just toying with the once-beaten challenger now, mixing body shots with right hands flawlessly. Mayweather wins another and is ahead 99-91 according to the Sun.

Ninth Round Doctor checks on Guerrero's cut and allows him to continue. It's more of the same early, with Mayweather getting jabs and a straight left to go. Guerrero finally has a moment, his first in a while, with a right hook. Mayweather lets Guerrero come to him and rocks him with a combination prominently featuring a right hook. Guerrero is tough, though. He comes forward and gets some back with a right hand. Guerrero lands a left, but Mayweather counters his next punch. Mayweather hurts Guerrero with two straight left hands. Guerrero locks up until the referee separates them. It's getting repetitive, but mark it down 10-9 for Mayweather, who leads 89-82 on the Sun's scorecard.

Eighth Round Mayweather works his jab in the opening seconds. He then sits back and waits to counter, which he does successfully. Guerrero comes forward, but Mayweather ducks under and heads back to the center of the ring. Guerrero gets a straight right to go, but Mayweather responds with unanswered jabs. One of them cuts Guerrero open. The challenger is bleeding above his eye. Mayweather uppercuts Guerrero when he leaves himself open. Guerrero circles, but can't stop the punishment. Mayweather goes to the body. Mayweather lands perhaps his biggest shot of the evening, a left hand right to Guerrero's cut. Mayweather repeatedly looks to the body and then stuns Guerrero with a right hand to the temple. Guerrero is in trouble. But the bell rings. Mayweather wins 10-9 to go up 79-73.

Seventh Round Mayweather lets Guerrero come to him and hits him with a left. Then Mayweather switches it up and goes inside with a left hook. Guerrero can't track down Mayweather, who has a noticeable speed advantage. Guerrero gets Mayweather against the ropes, but the champion weaves out. On the other side of the ring now, Guerrero scores with a soft left hand. Seems like Guerrero is getting frustrated as he throws a cheap body shot while the referee tries to pull him away. Guerrero closes the distance, but takes a combination to the body because of it. Guerrero goes to the body but only after a couple punches landed consecutively by the champion. Mayweather gets the last punch in once again, a right hand near the bell. Mayweather wins another and leads 69-64 on the Sun's scorecard.

Sixth Round Mayweather counters an attack to the body. Guerrero stalks him and lands a right hand. The challenger continues to throw a lot, but Mayweather's defense is shining through in its usual fashion. Mayweather gets a straight left to go, but gets a shot to the stomach in return. There's the return of Mayweather's right, and he follows it with a combination. Mayweather uppercuts Guerrero and grazes the challenger's chin. Mayweather looks to go to the body, but Guerrero targets him with a body-body-head combination. Guerrero's not letting a low percentage of punches landed stop him. He comes forward and swings. Mayweather's straight punches are open, though, and the undefeated fighter is taking advantage. Mayweather blasts Guerrero with a right near the end of the round. Mayweather wins around frame to go up 59-55.

Fifth Round Guerrero gets Mayweather against the ropes and tags him with a combination. When Mayweather gets out, Guerrero gets a left hand to go. The crowd gasps as Guerrero catches the champion again a few seconds later. Guerrero is the aggressor in this round, as Mayweather takes more shots against the ropes. Mayweather creates space by coming forward with his jab. He goes to the body with precision. Guerrero rockets back with a combination that sends Mayweather retreating. Mayweather gets two straight lefts to go, but the second one is countered with a body shot by Guerrero. Mayweather returns the favor with a body shot that's loud. The crowd gasps at the second straight right to Guerrero's stomach. Mayweather is getting his rhythm down now. It was Guerrero early, but Mayweather came on to win late. Mayweather goes up 49-46 on the Sun's scorecard.

Fourth Round Guerrero stalks Mayweather but can't quite close the distance. Mayweather starts to jab, which is working. One right hand snaps Guerrero's head back. The Mayweather supporters in the arena let their happiness be heard. Mayweather gets another straight right to go to the body. Now he's countering Guerrero consistently. Another straight right rocks Guerrero. Mayweather's feints are driving "The Ghost" crazy. But Guerrero gets the champion against the ropes and fires a combination to score. Mayweather bursts out, but he took some shots before finding space. Two left hands in a row from Mayweather affect Guerrero. Mayweather wins another round to go up 39-37 on the Sun's scorecard.

Third Round Mayweather backs out of trouble shortly after the bell as Guerrero comes forward. Guerrero gets a right hand to go and ducks under Mayweather's next hook. Guerrero getting his range down and scoring with repeated combinations to the body and head. They aren't powerful, but they're working. Mayweather crouches and tags Guerrero with two straight left hands. But Guerrero gets a power shot to go with a right hook. Mayweather checks a right hand and gets a counter to go. Mayweather rushes in with a left hand that scores. And then a right. They exchange before Mayweather blasts Guerrero with a right. There's a straight left from Mayweather. Mayweather grazes Guerrero with an uppercut and they lock up. Guerrero scores late, but it's not enough. The third round goes to Mayweather, who leads 29-28 on the Sun's scorecard.

Second Round Guerrero blasts Mayweather against the ropes. Crowd reacts but Mayweather gets back to the center of the ring. They lock up for a prolonged period with Guerrero throwing to the body until the referee separates them. Guerrero scores big with his right hand. Mayweather counters the next shot to the body and weaves out of trouble. Mayweather tags Guerrero with a right. Guerrero jabs to score. Mayweather using his quickness to land his right hand a couple more times in succession. He's getting away from Guerrero regularly now. Guerrero tracks him down against the ropes and lands a left. Guerrero goes to the body with 10 seconds to go. This one goes to the challenger, 10-9 on the Sun's scorecard.

First Round Guerrero throws a lot in the opening seconds, but whiffs. Mayweather hits with a straight left. Guerrero locks up for a second time early and the referee separates. They trade right hands, with Mayweather's landing more cleanly. Guerrero has a moment with a left hook. Mayweather begins to work his jab a minute in. Guerrero loads up for a haymaker but Mayweather gets out of the way. And again. Guerrero grazes him with one big punch and the crowd goes wild. Mayweather tries to establish his distance and lands a left. Guerrero stalks and Mayweather counters to the body. They trade in the middle with each fighter landing. Mayweather scores with a left at the end of the round. Close first, but the Sun leans to Mayweather 10-9.

Mares Defeats Champ De Leon

Abner Mares holds up three fingers signifying championships in three different weight classes after defeating featherweight champion Daniel Launch slideshow »

Pre-fight

A stroll through the MGM Grand reveals why, decades after the city was coined with the moniker, Las Vegas remains the Fight Capital of the World.

Boxing fans have overtaken the third largest hotel in the world. It’s been a while since a match of this magnitude took place.

It’s been even longer since tonight’s headliner, Floyd Mayweather Jr., has been involved. Mayweather (43-0) looks to stay undefeated with a victory against Robert Guerrero at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Guerrero’s chances have been widely debated, and even called into question by Mayweather, but there’s an undeniable truth about “The Ghost”: He deserves this opportunity.

Winner of 15 straight and holder of the WBC interim welterweight title, Guerrero doesn’t lack for confidence. And neither do his supporters.

Mexican flags are widespread throughout the MGM Grand, and those holding them aren’t shy about sharing why Guerrero could pull off the shocker tonight.

But they pale in comparison to those with “The Money Team” and “Mayweather Boxing Club” shirts.

Pictures of Mayweather and Guerrero are plastered everywhere throughout the casino. They’re on under-construction walls, blackjack tables and slot machines — pretty much everything except the floor.

And that might be just because Mayweather doesn’t let anyone walk over him. Likely the best defensive boxer in the history of the sport, Mayweather rarely gets touched.

Mayweather took more shots than usual in his last fight, a unanimous-decision victory over Miguel Cotto, and has never forgiven himself. He’s refined some of his training and reunited with his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., in an effort for a better performance this time out.

Guerrero’s father is also an important figure in his fight career. The only lost Robert Guerrero ever lost came during a brief stint when he trained with someone other than Ruben Guerrero.

Guerrero says any adjustments Mayweather made are meaningless. He could beat him either way.

It’s a bold statement going up against a fighter who’s never lost in a 17-year career. The packed arena is about to find out if Guerrero can live up to the vows, as the fighters’ entrances are a couple hours away.

Stay tuned to lasvegassun.com for a live round-by-round blog of the Mayweather vs. Guerrero action and updated results from the pay-per-view undercard below.

Abner Mares added another title to his arsenal — the WBC featherweight belt — in the evening's co-feature. Mares beat friend and former training partner Daniel Ponce de Leon by TKO at 2:20 of the ninth round. Mares had dropped Ponce de Leon twice before the finish when he pelted him with a combination against the ropes.

Leo Santa Cruz defeated Alexander Munoz by TKO at 1:05 of the fifth round of a featherweight fight. Cruz got his first knockdown in the third round. Munoz's corner had seen enough when Cruz dropped their fighter with another combination in the fifth.

The controversial decisions have already begun as Las Vegas' J'Leon Love defeated Philadelphia's Gabriel Rosado by split decision (97-92, 95-94, 94-95) in a middleweight bout. The crowd loudly booed when the scores were read. Las Vegas Sun scored the pay-per-view opener 96-93 in favor of Rosado.

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy