Floyd Mayweather will fight Robert Guerrero on May 4, 2013. The event will be aired on Showtime, thus ending a long-standing relationship between Mayweather and HBO.
AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham reported the news on Tuesday (via Yahoo! Sports).
For those concerned with the level of competition, Guerrero is far from a cake walk for "Money" Mayweather.
Mayweather (43-0, 26 KOs) was the WBC welterweight champion before going to prison from June 1, 2012, to August 3, 2012. In his absence, Guerrero (31-1-1, 18 KOs) became the WBC's interim welterweight champion.
Their May 4 clash will decide who truly rules the welterweight division.
This will be Mayweather's first fight since May 15, 2012—nearly a calendar year prior to his upcoming fight. It was then that he took down Miguel Cotto in a 12-round thriller by unanimous decision.
It is important to note that the fight was at middleweight. This time around, Mayweather will be fighting at welterweight.
Mayweather hasn't fought in this weight class since Sept. 17, 2011. He knocked out Victor Ortiz in four rounds during that fight.
Prior to that, he took down Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Ricky Hatton in consecutive welterweight bouts.
As for Guerrero, he's been rolling through the competition.
Guerrero hasn't lost a fight since March 9, 2006. With a draw and two no contests, however, some have labeled him as a fighter unable to stand in Mayweather's domain.
Not so fast.
Guerrero has won every fight he's been in since June 12, 2009. That includes the brawl that led him to becoming WBC interim welterweight champion on Nov. 24, 2012.
Guerrero took down Andre Berto (28-2, 22 KOs) by unanimous decision to win the title.
With that being said, we'd be remiss to ignore the facts. As solid a career as he may be putting together, Berto is no Mayweather.
No one is.
When Guerrero steps into the ring with "Pretty Boy" Floyd, it will be unlike anything he's ever experienced. Boxing's most methodical boxer will spot Guerrero's weaknesses and exploit them at every opening.
The question is, can Guerrero create the perfect storm and be the one to end Mayweather's reign of terror?
Even after a year without in-ring competition, Mayweather is the favorite to win this fight. Until proven otherwise, he is the best fighter in the world and one of the most decorated in the art form's history.
He has won titles at five different weight classes, ranging from super featherweight (130 pounds) to light middleweight (154 pounds).
With that being said, Guerrero is one heck of a competitor. He may not be Manny Pacquiao, but he's bound to give the 35-year-old Mayweather a run for his money.
"Money" turns 36 on Feb. 24.
In a sport where anything can happen, we could even see an upset for the ages.
Mayweather will have his hands full from start to finish. How quickly he's able to re-adjust to the pace of a high-profile fight could be the determining factor in this one's outcome.
With that being said, the money is on "Money" to reclaim his throne atop the welterweight division—however, don't think for a second that it will be easy pickings.
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