Robert Guerrero Angling for a Spot in the Floyd Mayweather Sweepstakes

July 28 on Showtime, Robert "the Ghost" Guerrero, (29-1, 1 D, 18 KOs) will meet Selcuk Aydin (23-0, 17 KOs) for the WBC Interim Welterweight title at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

I make it a regular habit to deride the various promotional organizations for their shameless appointment of interim champions upon interim champions, but this is a case where it is actually called for.

Floyd Mayweather followed winning the WBC strap with a move up to 154 to challenge Miguel Cotto for the crown there. While he serves out his jail time, Mayweather's next career move remains uncertain, so it is perfectly appropriate for the WBC to set up an interim champion in the meantime.

How the WBC even arrived at Guerrero as a challenger for the interim title is a bit perplexing, I will admit. He has a very respectable resume, but it is mostly all from 126-135. He has a single fight at junior welterweight, a one-sided unanimous decision against Joel Casamayor in 2010.

Either way, Guerrero is a great fighter, and fans will be happy to see him back in action. This will be his first fight in more than a year since he beat Michael Katsidis at 135 pounds by an impressive unanimous decision in April 2011.

A 15-month layoff and a jump up two weight classes are not normal career moves for a boxer, but in a recent interview with The Boxing Lab, the 31-year-old made it clear that he is anxious to elevate his career to a higher level, noting that he was "tired of chasing champions at 135 and a 140." 

In the interview, Guerrero makes a strong case that he does not get the recognition he deserves, noting that 147 would be his sixth weight class. Guerrero compared this to Manny Pacquiao's climb through eight weight classes, which is stretching it; for Guerrero to give himself six weight classes, he's got to be including a single four-rounder at 122 in his fifth fight.

Still, he is completely justified in feeling unfairly neglected. Guerrero would have to be included on any short list of the most overlooked talents in the sport. 

The end-game for him is a fast track into the Mayweather sweepstakes. Guerrero notes in the interview that beating Aydin would make him the mandatory challenger for Mayweather, should he wish to come back down and defend the belt. 

Of course, even if he wins, Guerrero will still be something of a long shot to get the PPV slot opposite Mayweather. Guerrero did some relatively low-key smack talk, insisting that "if he's a man," Mayweather will take on the mandatory No. 1 contender. 

But looking at boxing realistically, for a major star like Money at this point in time, an alphabet soup title belt is probably far less cherished than his 15th-favorite car.

Still, I've never even seen, read or heard Guerrero's name mentioned as a potential Mayweather opponent. If he can go up to 147 and look like his typically impressive self against a relatively unknown but thought to be solid Aydin, it is going to get his name in the conversation.