Late-June victories by Shawn Porter and Timothy Bradley have solidified the welterweight picture enough to provide perspective on Robert Guerrero?s disappointingly close early June victory over a journeyman, Aron Martinez.
Bradley, who has pretty much outshone everyone he?s fought except Manny Pacquiao, was the aggressor throughout in a unanimous decision victory June 27 over previously unbeaten Jessie Vargas, although he had to survive a near-knockdown in the 12th round and got a break when that final round was inadvertently ended seven seconds prematurely. Bradley is primarily a technician, so he is not popular with the public, but he was fun to watch while he was swatting Vargas, a good technician himself whose 26 victories include one over Martinez in 2012.
Porter?s June 20 victory over Adrien Broner atoned for the 2014 loss of his IBF welterweight title to Kell Brook, who in turn looks better now that Porter has beaten Broner and beaten him soundly. Porter went after Broner the whole way and was quick enough to catch him, although he didn?t inflict a lot of damage.
Broner, once a good bet to be the best lightweight champion since Pernell Whitaker, has not made a good showing yet as a welterweight , and it?s a shame money is keeping him in the division. He has carried neither his speed nor his power to 147 and is at an impossible height and reach disadvantage.
Guerrero, ?The Ghost? from Gilroy, certainly has not carried his speed to 147, and it?s safe to say now that he?s been a welterweight for three years that his situation has deteriorated markedly, and not just because of losses to Floyd Mayweather and Keith Thurman (who has a tuneup bout July 11). Guerrero was knocked down and outpointed in the first half of the Martinez fight, although he did show his former boxing skills in finding a way to win the decision.
He still seems capable of beating elite welterweights, including Bradley and Porter, over whom he would tower, although Porter may be too quick for him and a Bradley-Guerrero fight would require rival promoters to cooperate.
Guerrero and Broner have been snarling at each other since their lightweight days and have been an intriguing matchup all along.
Whether a victory over a seemingly faded Broner would restore enough of Guerrero?s luster is another question.
Guerrero is going to have to step in as the other guy against an opponent more highly regarded than he is to get it back, and that now includes Porter and Brook, the only reigning welterweight champion who hasn?t already beaten him. Beating a name opponent, more than a maximum payday, has to be Guerrero?s priority now.
