photo: Lukie

It was viewed as a tune-up fight for Robert Guerrero at The StubHub Center in Carson, CA, but was far from that as Aron Martinez gave Guerrero all he could handle as Martinez pressure seemed to frustrate Guerrero. Martinez who only had four knockouts seemed to be regarded as feather fisted, but Guerrero’s choice to stand square to Martinez while keep his back on the ropes proved costly as he was dropped in a wild exchange early in the fight.

Guerrero lived up to his last name in Spanish which is warrior as he battled back from an early deficit to come on strong late and just barely earn a split decision win over Aron Martinez.  The crowd who had become a heavily pro-Martinez crowd, loudly booed as the decision was read as a scorecard of 97-92 in favor of Guerrero was tallied forcing some observers to ‘WTF’?

For Guerrero, this raises legit concerns of whether he is able to compete at welterweight or if he is at such a size disadvantage that the monetary gain is short sided as he has had to engage in brutal wars in each fight at welterweight? The next question is does Guerrero contemplate moving down to say junior welterweight or does he begin to become the test for young prospect who are looking to fight the elite in the division?

Cuellar stops Darchinyan

Jesus Cuellar earned a win over former flyweight star Vic Darchinyan as he dropped the game veteran in the eighth round with a check hook. Darchinyan’s corner tried to get on the apron to stop the fight, but to no avail as Darchinyan seemingly ate a bunch of punches he probably shouldn’t have before the ref called a stop to the fight.

For Darchinyan, this has to be the end of the road as he has now been knocked out in somewhat brutal fashion in his last three fights despite moments of his former self. Cuellar, a Robert Garcia continued to look good as he withstood tough shots from Darchinyan only to come back and stop the game vet notching the best win of career so far.

In the television opening bout, heavyweight Dominic Breazeale knocked out Yasmany Consuegra by way of third round knockout. This was the biggest win of Breazeale’s career who was a 2012 U.S. Olympian.