By Jim Dower: In a foul plagued war WBC interim welterweight champion Robert Guerrero (31-1-1, 18 KO’s) successfully defending his title by beating former IBF/WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto (28-2, 22 KO’s) by a 12 round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the Citizens Business Bank Arena, in Ontario, California, USA.

The final judges’ scores were 116-110, 116-110, and 116-110, all for Guerrero. Berto was knocked down twice in the fight. He was knocked down in the 1st round after Guerrero grabbed him around the back of the head with his right hand and held and hit him with four big shots that knocked him down. It’s unclear why the referee didn’t waive off the knockdown because it was a clear case of holding and hitting by Guerrero.

Berto was also down early in the 2nd round from a left hand to the head. In that round Berto was thumbed in the right eye by Guerrero. While Berto was in pain and trying to keep from getting hit in the eye again, Guerrero unloaded on him with shots. Somehow Berto made it out of the round without going down again. Berto spent the 3rd round with his back against the ropes taking punishment from Guerrero.

Guerrero continued to mostly control the rounds with his nonstop pressure through the 8th. Berto came back in rounds 9 through 11 with his powerful inside work. Guerrero’s power was completely gone by then and he mostly slapped at Berto with nonstop punches. In the 9th, Berto’s other eye began closing as well. Guerrero’s right eye closed in the 11th round after getting hit with a series of really hard shots.

In the 12th, Guerrero poured it on and seemed to hurt Berto in the last 15 seconds of the round with a flurry of shots. After the round ended, Guerrero continued to tag Berto with shots while the referee stepped in a little too slowly to stop the action.

After the fight Guerrero said “I’m looking for Floyd Mayweather next.”

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In the co main event, undefeated Keith Thurman (19-0, 18 KO’s) totally overpowered former WBO welterweight champion Carlos Quintana (29-4, 23 KO’s) in a 4th round TKO to win the vacant NABO junior middleweight title. Thurman, 24, was simply too strong for Quintana, as he knocked down with a hard left to the body.

In the 4th, Thurman bludgeoned Quintana up against the ropes with huge power shots after hurting him with a big left hand. Finally the referee Jack Reiss stepped in and stopped the fight at 2:19 of the round as Quintana stood helpless agaisnt the ropes unable to defend himself.

Quintana was running from Thurman most of the fight and looked afraid to stand and trade with him. Quintana might as well have stood and fired off some shots because the way he fought he made it too easy for Thurman by throwing anything back at him.

Overall, Thurman looked good and I could see him overpowering most of the junior middleweights and welterweights. However, I think WBC junior middleweight champion Saul Alvarez would be too good for him, and I also think WBA 154 pound champion Austin Trout would give him a lot of trouble. But at welterweight, Thurman would have a big advantage over a lot of the fighters due to his huge size. He’s really big at 5’11”, and he weighs a lot. He’s probably be too heavy for guys like Paulie Malignaggi, Tim Bradley and Devon Alexander. Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. of course would beat him, but those would be tough fights.

Quintana, 36, reportedly retired after the fight.

Thurman said after the fight “I want anybody in the world at 147 or 154.”

Other boxing results on the card:

Randy Caballero RTD 3 Rigoberto Casillas
Dominic Breazeale TKO 2 Mike Bissett
Manuel Robles Jr. TKO 1 Misael Martinez