Last night at the Citizen's Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif., Robert "the Ghost" Guerrero retained his WBC interim welterweight title by winning a bruising unanimous decision over Andre Berto, 116-110 on all three cards. Guerrero knocked Berto down in both of the first two rounds and outworked him most the rest of the way.
It was a fight that could have taken place in the proverbial phone booth, a brutal war waged at close range with both fighters employing rough, borderline legal tactics. Referee Lou Moret was largely content to stand back and watch the two go at it.
As HBO broadcaster Max Kellerman noted at one point, both men were looking to hurt each other and neither was afraid to get hurt.
It was a fight that will be on everybody's short list for 2012 Fight of the Year.
Going into last night there were legitimate questions about whether or not Guerrero truly had the physical ability to stand up to an explosive, world-class puncher at welterweight. Nobody can question him now. The former world champion at 126, 130 and 135 pounds demonstrated that he belongs among the elite of the elite at 147.
Guerrero should walk away from last night's victory finally getting the sort of recognition that he has deserved but largely gone without over the past few years.
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