Guerrero-Maidana bout nears 'finishing touches'
By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
Robert Guerrero has held world titles at featherweight and junior lightweight. In April, he claimed a pair of interim lightweight belts.
Now, the Gilroy, Calif., fighter is ready to go up another weight class for a big challenge at junior welterweight.
Golden Boy promoter Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com Thursday that he is "putting the finishing touches" on a fight between Guerrero (29-1-1, 18 KOs) and junior welterweight slugger Marcos Maidana (30-2, 27 KOs).
Rafael's Boxing Blog
Get the latest scoop and analysis on the world of boxing from ESPN.com's Dan Rafael in his blog.
The bout would take place Aug. 27 at the HP Pavilion -- better known as the Shark Tank -- in San Jose, Calif., Guerrero's home region, and headline an HBO card. The original date for Guerrero's next bout was Aug. 6, but Schaefer said HBO had no problem moving it back because Golden Boy preferred the later date.
"I have a very good feeling, but it's not done yet," Schaefer said. "I don't have it signed yet, but if I can get it done it is absolutely as good of a fight as you can make. It's good to be a boxing fan.
"It's a big opportunity for Robert and another big fight for Maidana. A win here can really establish Robert in the 140-pound division. He's a big guy and can definitely move up to 147 as well. A win over Maidana makes him a factor in that 140-pound division, which we all know is one of the best in boxing. The winner could potentially fight the winner of Amir Khan and Zab Judah."
Khan and Judah square off July 23 (HBO) at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas in a junior welterweight unification bout.
Guerrero and Maidana had their most recent bouts on the same April 9 HBO pay-per-view card in Las Vegas. Guerrero outpointed Michael Katsidis to win a pair of vacant interim lightweight belts while Maidana won a vacant interim junior welterweight belt by close decision in a pitched battle against Erik Morales in the main event.
In December, Maidana was on the losing end of another rousing battle, dropping a close decision to Amir Khan in a fight the Boxing Writers Association of America voted as the 2010 fight of the year.
Schaefer also outlined some other things he was working on:
• He is busy planning the return of light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins for October or early November. Hopkins outpointed Jean Pascal in Montreal on May 21 to become, at 46, the oldest fighter to win a championship in boxing history. He is due to face mandatory challenger and former titleholder Chad Dawson next. Schaefer said he has been talking to HBO about nailing down the specific date.
"We're looking at dates and venue availability," Schaefer said. "I think we're looking at two possible venues, Montreal and Atlantic City." If the fight goes to Montreal, it is possible that former champ Pascal, who is from Montreal, could be on the undercard.
• Schaefer said he will meet with Morales, the former three division champ from Mexico, next week to talk about his next fight. Morales turned down a July fight with Khan. A fourth fight with rival Marco Antonio Barrera has also been discussed and is still possible, Schaefer said, but rather than July, Morales hopes to have his next fight in Mexico in August or September.
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=6646257
This could be a very interesting fight. Guerrero handled Katisidis real well but sort of faded late, if that happens against Maidana....this could be a FOTY candidate.
By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
Robert Guerrero has held world titles at featherweight and junior lightweight. In April, he claimed a pair of interim lightweight belts.
Now, the Gilroy, Calif., fighter is ready to go up another weight class for a big challenge at junior welterweight.
Golden Boy promoter Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com Thursday that he is "putting the finishing touches" on a fight between Guerrero (29-1-1, 18 KOs) and junior welterweight slugger Marcos Maidana (30-2, 27 KOs).
Rafael's Boxing Blog
Get the latest scoop and analysis on the world of boxing from ESPN.com's Dan Rafael in his blog.
The bout would take place Aug. 27 at the HP Pavilion -- better known as the Shark Tank -- in San Jose, Calif., Guerrero's home region, and headline an HBO card. The original date for Guerrero's next bout was Aug. 6, but Schaefer said HBO had no problem moving it back because Golden Boy preferred the later date.
"I have a very good feeling, but it's not done yet," Schaefer said. "I don't have it signed yet, but if I can get it done it is absolutely as good of a fight as you can make. It's good to be a boxing fan.
"It's a big opportunity for Robert and another big fight for Maidana. A win here can really establish Robert in the 140-pound division. He's a big guy and can definitely move up to 147 as well. A win over Maidana makes him a factor in that 140-pound division, which we all know is one of the best in boxing. The winner could potentially fight the winner of Amir Khan and Zab Judah."
Khan and Judah square off July 23 (HBO) at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas in a junior welterweight unification bout.
Guerrero and Maidana had their most recent bouts on the same April 9 HBO pay-per-view card in Las Vegas. Guerrero outpointed Michael Katsidis to win a pair of vacant interim lightweight belts while Maidana won a vacant interim junior welterweight belt by close decision in a pitched battle against Erik Morales in the main event.
In December, Maidana was on the losing end of another rousing battle, dropping a close decision to Amir Khan in a fight the Boxing Writers Association of America voted as the 2010 fight of the year.
Schaefer also outlined some other things he was working on:
• He is busy planning the return of light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins for October or early November. Hopkins outpointed Jean Pascal in Montreal on May 21 to become, at 46, the oldest fighter to win a championship in boxing history. He is due to face mandatory challenger and former titleholder Chad Dawson next. Schaefer said he has been talking to HBO about nailing down the specific date.
"We're looking at dates and venue availability," Schaefer said. "I think we're looking at two possible venues, Montreal and Atlantic City." If the fight goes to Montreal, it is possible that former champ Pascal, who is from Montreal, could be on the undercard.
• Schaefer said he will meet with Morales, the former three division champ from Mexico, next week to talk about his next fight. Morales turned down a July fight with Khan. A fourth fight with rival Marco Antonio Barrera has also been discussed and is still possible, Schaefer said, but rather than July, Morales hopes to have his next fight in Mexico in August or September.
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=6646257
This could be a very interesting fight. Guerrero handled Katisidis real well but sort of faded late, if that happens against Maidana....this could be a FOTY candidate.
Good post.
