What a fight last night at Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario, California between Andre Berto and Robert Guerrero for Guerrero’s Interim WBC Welterweight title. In what was a candidate for Fight of the Year for 2012, Guerrero defeated Berto by Unanimous Decision with all three judges scoring the bout 116-110.
Although the scoring was lopsided, the fight was very interesting and entertaining. Guerrero imposed his will on Berto from the very beginning, forcing Berto into the ropes throughout the fight with dirty boxing and good inside boxing strategy. Guerrero dropped Berto in the first and second rounds while also catching Berto with a thumb to the eye in the second and forcing Berto to fight with a blind right eye the rest of the fight.
However, if you were looking closely, Guerrero was holding the back of Berto’s head and landing lefts on what appeared to be a helpless Berto, at times.
This was a very physically demanding fight with a lot of dirty boxing to include both fighters holding and punching behind the head throughout the fight. Referee Lou Moret continuously warned Berto of holding and punching behind the head, when it appeared through the majority of the fight that he should likewise have been warning or taking points from Guerrero for his tactics (to include punching Berto three times after the final bell when the referee and corners were clearly in the ring signaling the end of the fight). Subsequently, I don’t fault Guerrero who was the better chess player and only took advantage of how the fight was being called; although, I do not disagree with Max Kellerman (ringside) who indicated it appeared Berto was fighting two people in the ring during the fight.
Guerrero was clearly the stronger man during the fight, but Berto’s heart proved to get him through the fight, which, by the end, he was fighting, with two swollen and closed eyes. He managed to show flashes of turning the fight around with brutal uppercuts and various combinations inside with bad intentions. It was remarkable to me how well Guerrero’s chin stood up to Berto’s punches. Berto’s best barely waivered Guerrero at any time in the fight; 
but Berto, even in a loss, proved to be a fighter who creates excitement in fights and I don’t foresee fighters getting in line to fight him.
Guerrero definitely proved his beard is as good as his bark and being a long ways from the Featherweight class he started in, his bite appears to be a very strong at Welterweight with enough power and skill to be dangerous for any fighter. Both fighters indicted they would be game for a rematch, which I would love to see again purely for the drama this fight had the entire twelve rounds. I was literally on the edge of my seat the whole time. However, I think Guerrero will be looking on for bigger fights and a possible match-up with Floyd Mayweather, who he has been calling out for quite some time now.
The Ghost may just be brash enough and confident enough with his bravado and skill to make that an interesting fight; although I think Mayweather would ultimately overwhelm him. Anyways, long story short, although this fight was lopsided in it’s scoring it was ironically my vote for Fight of the Year 2012. Thanks fellas.
Great fight! and even better article
Berto, cry, cry, cry…bottom line you, look in the mirror and if you can see, you’re beat the @*#! Up! Hum, you seemed to be easily backed onto the roaps, and you’re punches seemed to lack some power…I wonder if its because you’re missing your steroids? As for the ghost, you’re nowhere near a fight with Floyd, as you were to easily hit with shots, and money mayweather will cut you, close both eyes, and ultimately knock you out.
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