Floyd Mayweather Needs Dominating Performance to Revitalize Career

It's awfully difficult for a boxer's career to take a step back when he's yet to lose a match in his career, but Floyd Mayweather could certainly use a boost in fan interest, and that's why he must dominate Robert Guerrero come Saturday. 

When Money May steps into the ring, it'll be the first time since May 2012 that the world-famous boxer has put his welterweight title on the line, an absence stemming from a two-month jail sentence (per Yahoo! Sports). 

It wasn't just the time served in jail that harmed Mayweather's image and overall popularity; it was also what happened while he was in there. Well-documented rival Manny Pacquiao, whose tiff with Mayweather may end up being donned "The Fight That Wasn't," was defeated by Timothy Bradley, thus hurting the chances of the two ever facing off in the ring.

A Mayweather-Pacquiao fight storyline has been beaten to death so much that each boxer's legacy seems tarnished without knowing what could've been. 

Now with Pacquiao proving to be less and less worthy of fighting the 43-0 boxer, Money May must move quickly to secure as many high-profile fight cards as possible before retirement.

At 36 years old and two fights being the absolute maximum for a calendar year, he doesn't have all the time in the world, either. 

We don't know at this point whether Mayweather is an all-time great or simply the product of a weak generation of boxing. The second tier of boxers is crowded with studs, but no elite greats have challenged the field in recent memory. 

That's why Mayweather cannot afford to struggle against Guerrero Saturday, or even come close to looking weak. With time running out in his career to make statements, each appearance must be a simply dominating performance. 

He wasn't able to do so in his last performance against Miguel Cotto, despite picking up the win. Although Cotto showed he is a great boxer by sticking in it for 12 rounds, the lack of a knockout loomed large on Mayweather as he spent some of the following months in jail. There's no doubting he's hungry to end things in Round 1 against "The Ghost."

Saturday will mark Mayweather's first appearance on an agreement of up to six fights aired on Showtime, which means thousands, if not millions, of people will be tuning in to see Money May for the first time. 

Mayweather has a chance to earn an entire new audience of fans, which could be pivotal at this stage of his career. 

Right now, Mayweather could go down as a great boxer with 43 wins and no blemishes, but he needs to finish his career at the forefront of everybody's minds if he wants to be remembered the right way. 

Time is running out, and every opportunity is a dear one for the 36-year-old. 

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