Floyd Mayweather will put his undefeated record on the line as he faces Robert Guerrero for the WBC Welterweight title on Saturday night. Regardless of who you think will win, this should be an entertaining bout.
Both fighters have posted impressive marks in their career. Money Mayweather has won each of his 46 career bouts, while the Ghost is 31-1-1 with 18 knockouts. Neither has had a true battle in years.
However, things will be interesting if Mayweather's long layoff comes back to haunt him. Guerrero has enough pure talent to give the favorite a run for the title.
Fans are all ready for "May Day," and they should be treated to an exciting matchup. For those able to watch the match, here are things to watch for in the opening rounds as both fighters try to get the win.
Is Mayweather Rusty?
The last time Money was in a ring, he defeated Miguel Cotto on May 5, 2012. This time off could affect his conditioning, his ability to stay technically sound as well as his ability to take a punch.
You can train all you want, but there is nothing quite like being in the ring with someone else throwing big hooks directly at your face and body.
If Guerrero is able to land some good punches early, it will be interesting to see how the top pound-for-pound fighter will respond. It will be a problem if he starts losing energy and putting less muscle into his strikes.
Fans should be able to tell early on whether the time off has affected him or not. Mayweather needs to land a high percentage of his punches, or else there will be some doubts throughout the match.
Can Guerrero Land Power Punches?
Throughout his career, Guerrero has succeeded in his ability to throw strong punches and land them at big times. He might not always end fights early, but he takes his opponent out of contention with strong strikes.
While Mayweather has shown a bit of a weakness against power punching, his defense is among the best the sport has seen in years. It does not matter how strong someone is if they cannot land punches when necessary.
Guerrero has good technique and the experience necessary to move around well in the ring. However, he has never faced anyone nearly as good as Mayweather. If he cannot get through in the earlier rounds, this bout will be over quickly.
Will Either Fighter Go for a Knockout?
At 36 years old, Mayweather does not often go for the knockout. Six of his last eight matches have gone to decision, with five of them being unanimous.
Between his efficiency and reputation, it is unlikely that the judges will score against him if it went all 12 rounds.
On the other hand, Guerrero should know this as well. He might start being more aggressive in later rounds in order to go for a knockout. If this leaves him more open for a counter-punch from his opponent, it still might be worth the risk.
Guerrero has nothing to lose and should stay aggressive, while Mayweather has a better reason to stay conservative and hope that the judges declare him the winner for the 47th time in his career.
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