By Rick Reeno

MGM Grand, Las Vegas - WBA 'regular' welterweight champion Keith Thurman (25-0, 21KOs) retained his title with a tough twelve round unanimous decision over Robert 'The Ghost' Guerrero (32-3-1, 18KOs). The scores were 120-107, 118-108 and 118-108.

Thurman came out guns blazing in the opening seconds of the first round, looking for a big shot to take Guerrero out. Guerrero was covering up well and countering back to get respect. There was more gun slinging in the second. Thurman landing the bigger shot with Guerrero hanging in there with some counters. At the start of the third, it was apparent that Guerrero's lefty eye was swelling up. There seemed to be a clash of heads and huge lump began to develop on the left side of Thurman's forehead.

Thurman, despite the growing hematoma on his forehead, was still pressing forward with the goal of landing a big shot. They were trading big punches in the fifth as Guerrero was trying to push back Thurman's incoming charge. Thurman was starting to use his legs more by the sixth, using circular movements and jumping in with big shots when the openings were there. Thurman controlled the seventh with movement and accurate punches while Guerrero was unable to find an opening.

During the ninth, Thurman caught Guerrero with a hook/uppercut that sent him down and nearly out. Guerrero was cut bad above the left eye and barely survived to the bell as Thurman was pounding him with shots. Guerrero actually came out swinging in the tenth round, taking the fight to Thurman and it was an inside dog fight that hand the entire crowd on their feet as they were trading punches with both hands.

Thurman started coasting in the eleventh round. Guerrero was trying to chase him down and Thurman was not obliging, using the ring to box in circles. Thurman continued to coast during the twelfth, as Guerrero gave chase and landing a few good shots. Thurman was countering back and trying to sick and move as best as he could. The closed out the fight with a brawl on the inside.