CARSON, CA -- Robert Guerrero needed this fight if only to show the boxing world that he is still on top of the heap, well at least very near it. This is particularly true after he signed with Al Haymon in a classic "if you can't lick 'em, join them" act after losing a sore fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Guerrero has not fought since then and Yoshihiro Kamegai is meant to serve as a measure if he really still has it. But the Japanese may not really be so. In his last fight at this same venue, the StubHub he lost to Johan Perez.
As early as the last minutes of round 4, the crowd seemingly started to lose interest in the fight and started a "wave". Only the bell stopped their antics short..
Up to this moment, the fight appears to have few interesting aspect leaving the crowd restless and uninterested. Only a few "wow" are elicited from them making the last trips to the beer line appear more interesting..
In round 5 Kamegai all of a sudden woke up and started to land heavy artillery. A cut appeared in Guerrero's left side eyebrow making the cornermen work just a wee bit harder to give him a few more rounds.
"The Japanese guy is not going anywhere," stated a media guy next to us. "Guerrero may have some trouble," he added.
True enough Kamegai stayed to fight giving Guerrero every reason to keep on his toes and throw more punches. But it was not easy.
The Japanese pug seem to be on top until a big right tilted his head back and went on retreat. Round 8 was a big round for Guerrero.
Round 9 went fast with both fighters landing nice telling blows. Then the championship rounds came to bear.
Round 10 started with a free standing exchange in the middle of the ring but Guerrero appears to have won the round with a couple of big right hands that pushed back the Japanese.
Then a big fight broke out at the stands just before round 11 started throwing the crowds' attention to the site as the security rushed to try to control it. In the meantime, in the ring nothing much of interest was happening. It was a lazy round perhaps preparatory to the final push in the 12th.
Guerrero stepped up the stakes as the last round started leaving the crowd on their feet cheering his name.. But he was not able to sustain it. and the round ended uneventful.
Was his efforts enough to win his comeback fight?
Well the judges thought so and gave him a unanimous decision win. The scores were 116-112, 117-111, 117-111.
Guerrero thus up his record to 32-2-1, 18KO while Kamegai dropped to 24-2-1, 21KO.
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