Guerrero wanted $4 mil, but Mayweather only paying $2.5 mil, says Roach

By Boxing News - 02/07/2013 - Comments

guerrero123By Chris Williams: Trainer Freddie Roach has his opinions why WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. has decided to go with IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander instead of Robert Guerrero, the fighter that most boxing fans thought Mayweather was set to fight until recently.

Roach said to ibftimes.co.uk when asked why Mayweather was leaning in the direction of Alexander now, “He [Guerrero] wanted $4million and Floyd said he would get $2.5m but he didn’t want to take it. He didn’t want it so Floyd moved on to the next person and he still might move onto someone else.”

If all Mayweather is offering is $2.5 million for his next fight on May 4th then he could have problems getting even Alexander to take the fight because he might be better off keeping his IBF title rather than taking money that’s probably only twice as much as he’ll make for his title defense against Kell Brook.

Mayweather doesn’t have to give a cut to his promoter like Manny Pacquiao does because Mayweather promotes himself. This is one of the reasons, besides his huge popularity, that he makes so much money for his fights.

If you look at it from Mayweather’s perspective, he likely doesn’t see Guerrero as being worth $4 million because he’s not a really popular fighter. It isn’t like Mayweather is facing Miguel Cotto or Manny Pacquiao. Guerrero is mainly known by hardcore boxing fans and his fans in the San Jose/Gilroy, California area where Guerrero lives.

Since Guerrero doesn’t bring a lot to the table in terms of being a fan draw then it makes sense for Mayweather to walk away from this fight so that he can get a better deal with another opponent willing to accept less.

If Mayweather can get Alexander for $2.5 million then that’s good business sense to take him than Guerrero. Besides, I have a feeling that Guerrero won’t do a good job of attracting the Mexican fans to purchase the Mayweather-Guerrero fight on Cinco de Mayo because Guerrero is from the United States, not Mexico.



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