Robert Guerrero suffers fresh setback after shock points loss

Robert Guerrero's flagging career received a fresh setback after the former world champion suffered a shock points defeat to David Emanuel Peralta in Anaheim.

The 33-year-old Californian previously held world titles at featherweight and super-featherweight, but has been left with limited options after a split decision loss to Peralta, which was his fourth defeat in sixth fights.

Guerrero has been on the wrong end of points defeats to Floyd Mayweather Jr, Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia after stepping up to welterweight, although he was expected to put his career back on track with a win over the little-known Peralta. 

In the early rounds, Guerrero had tried to make short work of his Argentinian opponent as he quickly unloaded powerful punches on Peralta.

Peralta responded with a crisp straight right in the third and Guerrero was finding it hard to shift the fellow southpaw, who stood firm after 'The Ghost' landed a decent left hand in the fourth.

As the fight unfolded, Peralta was keeping Guerrero at bay with his accurate jab and appeared to floor the two-weight IBF champion with a right hand in the ninth, although referee Ray Corona failed to score a knockdown.

Peralta pressed the action in the closing rounds, again enjoying success with his jab, and two of the judges scored the fight 115-113, 116-112 in his favour, while the third made it 115-113 to Guerrero.