By scores of 116-110 all the way around, “The Ghost” after twelve completed rounds of mugging would register the unanimous decision victory, maintaining his WBC interim welterweight title, as well as remaining very much alive in the Mayweather sweepstakes. Stated Guerrero post-fight, “I’m here, let’s do this Floyd. I got a unanimous decision against a great champion in Berto. I feel I’m the best and can’t be beat. I’m unstoppable.”
Building an early lead on the scorecards with knockdowns both in the first and second rounds as well as causing Berto’s left eye to swell at this juncture, it was clear that Guerrero’s strategy from this point forward would be to smother the Haitian fighter and outwork him at close quarters. And with Robert apparently quite successful in his approach, Berto made many a round close as well as questionable in that Andre in tight would land more than a few head snapping uppercuts and hooks.
But relentless in his game plan, Guerrero would plod on for the duration, wading through what his hard punching adversary had to offer up to in the final round finish with a flurry that would continue well after the bell. In the end, the faces of both men resembled the type of fight they had just been involved in, an all-out street fight.
“I told Andre I was going to beat him down and I had to keep my word,” elaborated “The Ghost.” “I had to fight him on the inside and work the body. He didn’t hurt me at all. He caught me with a few shots. He’s a strong guy and punched hard but I have a great chin.”
As for the challenger, although feeling the referee’s handling of the bout wasn’t in his best interest he was mostly humble. “The ref was calling me and warning me for a lot of things so I was timid,” said Berto. “He [Guerrero] was coming in and grabbing me and holding me every time I got close. But it is what it is. I came back after 14 months and fought Robert Guerrero. At the end of the day he fought a great fight.”
Thurman batters Quintana into retirement
In the co-main event, still undefeated and new NABO junior middleweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman of Clearwater, Florida would improve to 19-0 with 18 KO’s after battering and bruising former WBO welterweight champion Carlos “El Indio” Quintana over the course of nearly four complete rounds. The stoppage came at 2:19 of the fourth as Quintana, fighting out of Moca, Puerto Rico, would fall to 29-4, 23 KO’s.
From the opening bell it was clearly evident that Thurman was the harder puncher. Simply on a mission to seek and destroy, Keith would drop the Puerto Rican towards the close of round 1 with a pulverizing liver shot from which Quintana would barely beat the count. For the next three rounds Carlos would take flight, doing his best to elude and/or counter in the face of the ever pressing Thurman who continued to land a thudding assortment of shots, mainly those to the body.
Then came the fourth and what would be final round where Thurman in administering a double right uppercut, would initiate the beginning of the end for Quintana who by this time was out on his feet and ready to go. With referee Jack Reiss subsequently allowing the action to continue, Carlos would receive further punishment, as the undefeated Floridian pounded his foe across the ring and on the ropes where finally and mercifully Reiss would intervene on Quintana’s behalf. The time was 2:19 of round four.
“I was breaking him down and I got him early with a body shot,” said Thurman. He was slippery like a snake. He got me with one good shot and he was good at tying me up but it’s nothing that I haven’t seen before. I kept my composure and got the victory. Now I’m calling out the world of boxing. Anyone that want’s it can get it. At 147 or 154. Call Al Haymon you know the number.”
As regards veteran prizefighter Carlos Quintana, he simply feels like this is the end of the road. “He’s a very strong fighter, I never recuperated since the first knockdown. He’s got a great future ahead of him. But this is it for me, I don’t want to come back and start at zero.”
