Guerrero chases big-money fight in 2012

Robert Guerrero came to Las Vegas last week looking for a fight.

The junior welterweight wasn't trying to cause trouble. He is hoping for a big-money fight in 2012 with Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Jr.

"I would love that opportunity," said Guerrero, who is recovering from surgery on his left shoulder after being forced to pull out of his Aug. 27 fight with Marcos Maidana. "I know Pacquiao is only going to fight a few more times, and I'd like to get a chance to face him."

If Guerrero (29-1-1, 18 knockouts) doesn't get a fight with Pacquiao, he would love to get into the ring with Mayweather on May 5 at the MGM Grand Garden. That could have a better chance of happening, because Guerrero is promoted by Golden Boy, which has helped promote Mayweather's past five fights. Guerrero could be a better draw than Erik Morales, mentioned as a possible opponent for Mayweather.

"All the credentials are there for us to have a great fight," Guerrero said. "It's Cinco de Mayo weekend and I'm a Mexican-American. It would be easy to promote, and I'd have no trouble fighting Mayweather at 147 pounds. I walk around at 152."

Guerrero, 28, said he has full range of motion in his shoulder and expects to be cleared for contact in the next two weeks.

"I've had problems with my shoulder since I was 14, and getting hurt before Maidana was probably a blessing in disguise," he said. "Now, I'm focusing on being 100 percent, and I know I can make May 5 easily."

If Guerrero doesn't get Mayweather, he could fight Maidana, Tim Bradley or Amir Khan, a fellow Golden Boy fighter.

"I'm looking forward to next year," Guerrero said. "I know I'm going to be in some great fights, whether it's with Pacquiao, Mayweather, Maidana, Bradley, whoever."

■ PAVLIK'S FUTURE -- Former world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik is still grappling with the idea of leaving his home in Youngstown, Ohio, for Oxnard, Calif., to train with Robert Garcia. Cameron Dunkin, Pavlik's manager, said there's a bigger issue for Pavlik.

"Here's the problem," Dunkin said. "I don't know if he still wants to fight. You really have to want to do it, and I don't know if he wants to pay the price."

Pavlik (37-2, 32 KOs) last fought May 7, when he won a 10-round majority decision over Alfonso Gomez at the MGM Grand Garden. He wasn't sharp but hadn't fought in 13 months. Also, Pavlik had spent three months before the fight in a California rehab clinic dealing with alcoholism.

Dunkin insists Pavlik has not gone back to drinking. But he's 29, and Dunkin said the longer Pavlik stays out of the ring, the harder it will be to regain his world championship form.

"He needs to decide soon what he wants to do," Dunkin said. "He needs to work. He doesn't have the money that he never has to work again. He's got a family to support. What's he going to do when he's 43? Work at Taco Bell?

"This isn't just about today. It's about his future."

■ TEXAS CARD -- Two women's bouts headline the Nov. 20 card at Texas Station in what is scheduled to be the final local card of 2011.

Melinda Cooper will face Ada Velez in a 10-round super bantamweight bout, and featherweights Stacey Reile and Dahiana Santana will meet in a 10-rounder.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.