You just get the feeling that this is going to be medieval.
Tactical for sure, that's a given with one of the combatants being Floyd Mayweather, the WBC welterweight champion and consensus #1 rated boxer on earth.
In accepting a declaration of war from WBA welterweight champion Marcos Maidana, the mighty Argentinean who just might have "Hercules" somewhere in the family tree, Floyd will put this mythical distinction to test.
It is an exam he will never forget.
I look at this fight as part of a saga that is today's welterweight universe. A vital piece in a real-life pugilistic "Game of Thrones".
If you follow that show, then you know that it weaves complexities in scintillating fashion. Taking us through a labyrinth of lies, betrayal, countermoves and innuendo, the stars - or would be Kings - of boxing's most glamorous division, will vie for that most coveted crown of undisputed supremacy, in a way not unlike the show.
This fight, which will take place after Manny Pacquiao faces Timothy Bradley in an attempt to reclaim his WBO welterweight crown, will go a long way in determining who wears "the ultimate crown".
I believe Pacquiao will defeat Bradley, thus setting the stage for what some would consider an anticlimactic battle between Mayweather and Pacquiao.
Thus, Mayweather vs. Maidana, is almost a penultimate dual for a riveting season finale.
But since our fight drama is replete with plot twists and dimensions of intrigue, something is going to happen along the way to remind us why we watch, for nothing is ever promised.
Especially Kings or their crowns.
Read More: http://www.examiner.com/article/floyd-mayweather-vs-marcos-maidana-game-of-foes
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Floyd Mayweather opens as prohibitive favorite vs. Marcos Maidana
William Hill U.S. has installed Floyd Mayweather as the prohibitive favorite for his May 3 bout against Marcos Maidana, according to senior trader Adam Pullen. Maidana, the WBA welterweight champion, is being offered at odds of +750 at the chain of sports books.
The 12-round welterweight unification bout fight is expected to be held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, site of Mayweather’s previous eight bouts, although Barclays Center in Brooklyn is a making a push to host the event.
The LVH SuperBook is waiting until the venue is announced before posting odds on the fight, but is “looking around Mayweather -1200 Maidana +750,” the same price being offered at William Hill, LVH assistant manager Jeff Sherman noted on Twitter.
Mayweather (45-0, 26 KOs) won the WBC welterweight belt against Robert Guerrero on May 4, 2013, and the WBC and WBA junior middleweight titles from Canelo Alvarez on Sept. 14, both in convincing fashion, even though the victory over Canelo came by a controversial majority decision.
"Money", via his Twitter and Instagram accounts on Super Bowl Sunday, asked fans to choose either Maidana and Amir Khan as his next opponent. Per USA Today, the “vote was overwhelmingly in Maidana's favor.”
In his last fight, on Dec. 14, “El Chino” (35-3, 31 KOs) was dominant in handing Adrien Broner his first-ever defeat, knocking Broner down twice and earning an easy unanimous decision.
Read More: http://linemakers.sportingnews.com/sport/2014-02-25/floyd-mayweather-marcos-maidana
The 12-round welterweight unification bout fight is expected to be held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, site of Mayweather’s previous eight bouts, although Barclays Center in Brooklyn is a making a push to host the event.
The LVH SuperBook is waiting until the venue is announced before posting odds on the fight, but is “looking around Mayweather -1200 Maidana +750,” the same price being offered at William Hill, LVH assistant manager Jeff Sherman noted on Twitter.
Mayweather (45-0, 26 KOs) won the WBC welterweight belt against Robert Guerrero on May 4, 2013, and the WBC and WBA junior middleweight titles from Canelo Alvarez on Sept. 14, both in convincing fashion, even though the victory over Canelo came by a controversial majority decision.
"Money", via his Twitter and Instagram accounts on Super Bowl Sunday, asked fans to choose either Maidana and Amir Khan as his next opponent. Per USA Today, the “vote was overwhelmingly in Maidana's favor.”
In his last fight, on Dec. 14, “El Chino” (35-3, 31 KOs) was dominant in handing Adrien Broner his first-ever defeat, knocking Broner down twice and earning an easy unanimous decision.
Read More: http://linemakers.sportingnews.com/sport/2014-02-25/floyd-mayweather-marcos-maidana
Manager's fingerprints all over Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Marcos Maidana
Last month, Adrien Broner exercised a rematch clause to pursue the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Assn. welterweight belts that he lost Dec. 14 to Marcos Maidana.
The move was jarring to many who watched Maidana twice knock down Broner — once through the ropes — en route to a unanimous-decision victory in San Antonio.
How intently Broner (27-1, 22 knockouts) or his manager Al Haymon actually wanted that fight is a lingering question now that Haymon helped coordinate the May 3 bout between his fighters Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Maidana.
“Two things are very important to Al. One is that he wants to make sure his fighters get in the fights they want,” said Broner promoter Richard Schaefer, chief executive of Golden Boy Promotions. “And he wants to make sure they get properly paid. In both of those aspects, he’s a master with no competition.”
Schaefer said that as both Broner and Mayweather eyed Maidana, it took someone “with the skill of Al Haymon to make sure everybody was going to be happy.”
The communication among Mayweather, Haymon and Broner over Maidana — who’s also managed by Haymon — will probably forever be locked away. Haymon doesn’t speak to reporters.
But the perception is that Broner exercised that rematch clause only as a face-saving publicity exercise.
Schaefer said Broner was in the mix to fight a slew of welterweights that could be on cards in late April or on the Mayweather card, including Luis Colazzo, Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter, Amir Khan and Robert Guerrero.
“The way you make fighters happy is … make sure they get paid a lot,” Schaefer said. “Why do you think Al Haymon gets all these fighters? Al knows how to move those different pieces, and he’s very good at what he does.”
Schaefer said Broner would fight “in the same time frame” as Mayweather-Maidana, but denied that any opponent had been finalized.
“Broner wasn’t happy, but you move on,” Schaefer said. “It’s a matter of getting everyone together now that we have the centerpiece. Now, we’ll put the rest of the puzzle together. That’s my task … to set those dates by the end of next week.”
It’s a good bet Haymon already knows how that puzzle looks.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-boxing-mayweather
The move was jarring to many who watched Maidana twice knock down Broner — once through the ropes — en route to a unanimous-decision victory in San Antonio.
How intently Broner (27-1, 22 knockouts) or his manager Al Haymon actually wanted that fight is a lingering question now that Haymon helped coordinate the May 3 bout between his fighters Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Maidana.
“Two things are very important to Al. One is that he wants to make sure his fighters get in the fights they want,” said Broner promoter Richard Schaefer, chief executive of Golden Boy Promotions. “And he wants to make sure they get properly paid. In both of those aspects, he’s a master with no competition.”
Schaefer said that as both Broner and Mayweather eyed Maidana, it took someone “with the skill of Al Haymon to make sure everybody was going to be happy.”
The communication among Mayweather, Haymon and Broner over Maidana — who’s also managed by Haymon — will probably forever be locked away. Haymon doesn’t speak to reporters.
But the perception is that Broner exercised that rematch clause only as a face-saving publicity exercise.
Schaefer said Broner was in the mix to fight a slew of welterweights that could be on cards in late April or on the Mayweather card, including Luis Colazzo, Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter, Amir Khan and Robert Guerrero.
“The way you make fighters happy is … make sure they get paid a lot,” Schaefer said. “Why do you think Al Haymon gets all these fighters? Al knows how to move those different pieces, and he’s very good at what he does.”
Schaefer said Broner would fight “in the same time frame” as Mayweather-Maidana, but denied that any opponent had been finalized.
“Broner wasn’t happy, but you move on,” Schaefer said. “It’s a matter of getting everyone together now that we have the centerpiece. Now, we’ll put the rest of the puzzle together. That’s my task … to set those dates by the end of next week.”
It’s a good bet Haymon already knows how that puzzle looks.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-boxing-mayweather
Amir Khan was treated harshly but Marcos Maidana deserves to fight Floyd Mayweather
SO Amir Khan won but really he lost and Marcos Maidana lost but he really won.
Maidana deserved his shot at Floyd Mayweather more than Khan did, but Khan might have posed the more searching questions in the ring.
Ultimately, however, after Floyd Mayweather asked the fans to vote in a poll on his website saying he would let the fans decide who he would fight next, he went with the minority vote and picked Maidana regardless of the figures in favour of the British star.
Why he went against the grain we will probably never know.
We will likely get soundbites about how Maidana, having beaten Floyd's Lil Bro Adrien Broner and owning the WBA welterweight title, deserved his shot.
We might also be told that Maidana won a number of independent polls.
You can't dispute that. Danny Garcia aside, it is hard to see a more deserving fighter among the Golden Boy ranks that Mayweather so enjoys feasting upon.
Yes, Khan defeated Maidana in a thriller in 2010 but that was four long years ago – although, of course, that victory made the straight shootout between the two more complex.
Going in Maidana’s favour was not just the win over Broner, but that the fight will happen on the Hispanic holiday, Cinco de Mayo weekend, also known as Cinco de Mayweather in boxing parlance.
And Floyd’s ire was probably raised when an English newspaper reported the fight was on last October and again when Khan said he’d signed a contract for it earlier in the year.
No one breaks Mayweather’s news, even if it is someone else’s news. He dances to his own tune.
Khan’s enormous reach on social media would have helped keep him in the race, because Twitter, Shots and Instagram are languages Mayweather talks and he’s fluent in most of them.
More: http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/latest/feature/amir-khan
Maidana deserved his shot at Floyd Mayweather more than Khan did, but Khan might have posed the more searching questions in the ring.
Ultimately, however, after Floyd Mayweather asked the fans to vote in a poll on his website saying he would let the fans decide who he would fight next, he went with the minority vote and picked Maidana regardless of the figures in favour of the British star.
Why he went against the grain we will probably never know.
We will likely get soundbites about how Maidana, having beaten Floyd's Lil Bro Adrien Broner and owning the WBA welterweight title, deserved his shot.
We might also be told that Maidana won a number of independent polls.
You can't dispute that. Danny Garcia aside, it is hard to see a more deserving fighter among the Golden Boy ranks that Mayweather so enjoys feasting upon.
Yes, Khan defeated Maidana in a thriller in 2010 but that was four long years ago – although, of course, that victory made the straight shootout between the two more complex.
Going in Maidana’s favour was not just the win over Broner, but that the fight will happen on the Hispanic holiday, Cinco de Mayo weekend, also known as Cinco de Mayweather in boxing parlance.
And Floyd’s ire was probably raised when an English newspaper reported the fight was on last October and again when Khan said he’d signed a contract for it earlier in the year.
No one breaks Mayweather’s news, even if it is someone else’s news. He dances to his own tune.
Khan’s enormous reach on social media would have helped keep him in the race, because Twitter, Shots and Instagram are languages Mayweather talks and he’s fluent in most of them.
More: http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/latest/feature/amir-khan
Mayweather has shafted Khan by choosing to fight Maidana - Jeff Powell's verdict
Amir Khan has been royally shafted by the king of world boxing.
By anointing Argentina’s Marcos Maidana as his next opponent, Floyd Mayweather has left Khan with a broken promise and a career in need of being fast-tracked back out of limbo.
The Bolton boy was pre-selected as long ago as October to meet Mayweather on May 3 in what would have been the richest fight ever to involve a British boxer.
The process had begun a month earlier, at the Las Vegas weigh-in for Mayweather’s clash with Canelo Alvaraez, with Khan being feted on stage.
Two mornings after Mayweather won that fight in impressive fashion, on an American Airlines flight from Vegas to New York, I sat next to the key executive for his US television broadcasters.
He told me Khan had been ear-marked because he would bring something excitingly different to Floyd Jnr’s unbeaten equation – speed – but that it would be unwise for him to jeopardise the Mayweather jackpot by going through with a world welterweight title challenge to Devon Alexander scheduled for December.
Talks began soon after. So keen was Khan to clinch the fight – and so convinced he could win it - that he told his team to ‘give Mayweather whatever he wants.’
Within weeks the terms had been approved by Mayweather’s leading advisers.
Khan did as he was encouraged and pulled out of the Alexander fight, then signed the contract.
So what went wrong?
After it was detailed on this website that the deal was done in principle, that same TV magnate was quoted as denying he had spoken to MailOnline. I prefer not to believe that.
He has always been truthful with me and those reports came from American journalists irked at being caught off-guard by the revelation, which they sought to discredit.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing/article-2567479/
By anointing Argentina’s Marcos Maidana as his next opponent, Floyd Mayweather has left Khan with a broken promise and a career in need of being fast-tracked back out of limbo.
The Bolton boy was pre-selected as long ago as October to meet Mayweather on May 3 in what would have been the richest fight ever to involve a British boxer.
The process had begun a month earlier, at the Las Vegas weigh-in for Mayweather’s clash with Canelo Alvaraez, with Khan being feted on stage.
Two mornings after Mayweather won that fight in impressive fashion, on an American Airlines flight from Vegas to New York, I sat next to the key executive for his US television broadcasters.
He told me Khan had been ear-marked because he would bring something excitingly different to Floyd Jnr’s unbeaten equation – speed – but that it would be unwise for him to jeopardise the Mayweather jackpot by going through with a world welterweight title challenge to Devon Alexander scheduled for December.
Talks began soon after. So keen was Khan to clinch the fight – and so convinced he could win it - that he told his team to ‘give Mayweather whatever he wants.’
Within weeks the terms had been approved by Mayweather’s leading advisers.
Khan did as he was encouraged and pulled out of the Alexander fight, then signed the contract.
So what went wrong?
After it was detailed on this website that the deal was done in principle, that same TV magnate was quoted as denying he had spoken to MailOnline. I prefer not to believe that.
He has always been truthful with me and those reports came from American journalists irked at being caught off-guard by the revelation, which they sought to discredit.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing/article-2567479/
Promoter: Floyd Mayweather Jr. said Amir Khan lacks 'signature' win
A “very disappointed” Amir Khan is now mulling his options after getting passed over by Floyd Mayweather Jr., who Monday chose Marcos Maidana as his May 3 opponent.
Khan promoter Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions, which has assisted Mayweather in the promotion of all of his fights since 2007, said Mayweather (45-0) told Schaefer at the Lakers game Sunday night that Khan lacked “a signature” victory that would convince Mayweather to fight him.
“I explained to Amir that this doesn’t mean he’ll never get the fight,” Schaefer said. “Sometimes you go fishing and catch the big one.
“And sometimes you don’t. It doesn’t mean you won’t fish again. That fight is going to happen, I have no doubt.”
England’s Khan, a former world junior-welterweight champion who beat Maidana by decision
in the 2010 fight of the year, has lost two of his past four fights and was dropped by journeyman Julio Diaz before winning a decision in April.
Schaefer said Khan (28-3, 19 knockouts) is in the running to fight in late April to early May, either in Los Angeles or possibly even on the Mayweather-Maidana card, expected to be fought at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Schaefer said he’s trying to match a slew of welterweights against each other, including Khan, International Boxing Federation welterweight champion Shawn Porter (23-0, 14 KOs), Lamont Peterson, Luis Colazzo, Robert Guerrero, Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman, the 22-0 fighter who has a staggering 87% knockout percentage.
More: http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-boxing-mayweather-khan-maidana
Khan promoter Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions, which has assisted Mayweather in the promotion of all of his fights since 2007, said Mayweather (45-0) told Schaefer at the Lakers game Sunday night that Khan lacked “a signature” victory that would convince Mayweather to fight him.
“I explained to Amir that this doesn’t mean he’ll never get the fight,” Schaefer said. “Sometimes you go fishing and catch the big one.
“And sometimes you don’t. It doesn’t mean you won’t fish again. That fight is going to happen, I have no doubt.”
England’s Khan, a former world junior-welterweight champion who beat Maidana by decision
in the 2010 fight of the year, has lost two of his past four fights and was dropped by journeyman Julio Diaz before winning a decision in April.
Schaefer said Khan (28-3, 19 knockouts) is in the running to fight in late April to early May, either in Los Angeles or possibly even on the Mayweather-Maidana card, expected to be fought at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Schaefer said he’s trying to match a slew of welterweights against each other, including Khan, International Boxing Federation welterweight champion Shawn Porter (23-0, 14 KOs), Lamont Peterson, Luis Colazzo, Robert Guerrero, Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman, the 22-0 fighter who has a staggering 87% knockout percentage.
More: http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-boxing-mayweather-khan-maidana
MARCOS MAIDANA ON FLOYD MAYWEATHER CLASH: "IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE I HIT THE LOTTERY...BEATING HIM, IT WILL"
"Thanks a lot to everybody who supported me around the world! I'll give it all to give you a victory on May 3rd," wrote WBA welterweight champion Marcos Maidana, who addressed his followers on Twitter shortly after undefeated pound-for-pound king Floyd "Money" Mayweather announced him as his opponent for his highly-anticipated return to the ring. Though Maidana is extremely happy that he landed the coveted assignment, he's not quite ready to cash in on his Mayweather Sweepstakes lottery ticket.
"I'm just happy to face Mayweather, but it doesn't feel like I hit the lottery like he said. Only beating him, it will," he added. On May 3, Maidana will get the opportunity to hit the jackpot if he can duplicate the success he had against Adrien Broner and score another upset victory over the biggest name in the sport.
Thanks a lot to everybody who supported me around the world! I'll give it all to give you a victory on May 3rd!
— Marcos René Maidana (@ChinoMaidana) February 25, 2014
I'm just happy to face Mayweather but it doesn't feel like I hit the lottery like he said. Only beating him it will
— Marcos René Maidana (@ChinoMaidana) February 25, 2014
More: http://www.fighthype.com/news/article16220.html
"I'm just happy to face Mayweather, but it doesn't feel like I hit the lottery like he said. Only beating him, it will," he added. On May 3, Maidana will get the opportunity to hit the jackpot if he can duplicate the success he had against Adrien Broner and score another upset victory over the biggest name in the sport.
Thanks a lot to everybody who supported me around the world! I'll give it all to give you a victory on May 3rd!
— Marcos René Maidana (@ChinoMaidana) February 25, 2014
I'm just happy to face Mayweather but it doesn't feel like I hit the lottery like he said. Only beating him it will
— Marcos René Maidana (@ChinoMaidana) February 25, 2014
More: http://www.fighthype.com/news/article16220.html
Shane Mosley explains why Marcos Maidana will give Floyd Mayweather a harder fight than Amir Khan would have
On Monday, Feb. 24, the same day he celebrated his 37th birthday, Floyd Mayweather officially announced that he will be facing off with Marcos Maidana on May 3 in Las Vegas.
The decision by Mayweather comes after months of speculation as to whether he would select Maidana or British star and former two-time champion Amir Khan as his next pay per view foe
Maidana is the fighter with much more momentum riding in based off of his December upset over Adrien Broner and his all-action style will likely help to create some kind of drama during the match.
Catching up with former Mayweather foe and three-division titlist Shane Mosley a few days prior to Mayweather’s announcement, he spoke on who would be a tougher matchup for Floyd.
“I think the style of Marcos Maidana might be a little harder for Floyd to fight,” Mosley explained. “Marcos Maidana, he’s kind of awkward.
“But I still think Floyd beats both guys fairly easy,” Mosley added. “That’s just my opinion. The only thing that is going to beat Floyd now is Floyd.”
Mosley feels that Maidana’s unconventional attack from various angles will at least allow him a better shot than someone like Khan, who Shane feels would be at more of a disadvantage.
“I think Marcos Maidana has an awkward style, where he throws punches, not traditionally,” Mosley explained. “And that might give Floyd more of a problem than maybe Amir Khan that throws punches straight forward. Floyd dips off the link a lot and it might be kind of hard for Amir Khan to get any type of shot in.
“Marcos Maidana throws punches differently,” Mosley said. “He throws them from different angles, where it might throw Floyd off a little bit. I think Marcos Maidana might have a better shot because of that.”
http://hustleboss.com/shane-mosley-explains-why-marcos-maidana
The decision by Mayweather comes after months of speculation as to whether he would select Maidana or British star and former two-time champion Amir Khan as his next pay per view foe
Maidana is the fighter with much more momentum riding in based off of his December upset over Adrien Broner and his all-action style will likely help to create some kind of drama during the match.
Catching up with former Mayweather foe and three-division titlist Shane Mosley a few days prior to Mayweather’s announcement, he spoke on who would be a tougher matchup for Floyd.
“I think the style of Marcos Maidana might be a little harder for Floyd to fight,” Mosley explained. “Marcos Maidana, he’s kind of awkward.
“But I still think Floyd beats both guys fairly easy,” Mosley added. “That’s just my opinion. The only thing that is going to beat Floyd now is Floyd.”
Mosley feels that Maidana’s unconventional attack from various angles will at least allow him a better shot than someone like Khan, who Shane feels would be at more of a disadvantage.
“I think Marcos Maidana has an awkward style, where he throws punches, not traditionally,” Mosley explained. “And that might give Floyd more of a problem than maybe Amir Khan that throws punches straight forward. Floyd dips off the link a lot and it might be kind of hard for Amir Khan to get any type of shot in.
“Marcos Maidana throws punches differently,” Mosley said. “He throws them from different angles, where it might throw Floyd off a little bit. I think Marcos Maidana might have a better shot because of that.”
http://hustleboss.com/shane-mosley-explains-why-marcos-maidana
Floyd Mayweather v Marcos Maidana: Amir Khan misses out as Mayweather confirms unification bout against Argentine
Floyd Mayweather will fight Marcos Maidana in a welterweight unification contest on May 3, ending Brit Amir Khan's hopes of being the WBC champion's next opponent.
Khan, 27, signed a contract in December that he had hoped would set him up for a possible super-fight with Mayweather this year but finally admitted on Twitter last week that he did not think the fight would take place.
And now promoters Golden Boy and Mayweather Promotions have confirmed that the 37-year-old will face Argentinian WBA champion Maidana instead.
"After weeks of speculation, including feedback from fans across an array of social media platforms, boxing's pound-for-pound superstar, pay-per-view king and WBC Welterweight World Champion Floyd "Money" Mayweather will face the dangerous, power-punching WBA Welterweight World Champion Marcos "El Chino" Maidana on Saturday, May 3," read the statement.
Undefeated Mayweather (45-0) launched a social media campaign earlier this month asking fans to decide which of the two men he should take on in his next bout.
"Marcos Maidana's last performance immediately brought him to my attention," said Mayweather.
"He is an extremely skilled fighter who brings knockout danger to the ring.
"I think this is a great fight for me and he deserves the opportunity to see if he can do what 45 others have tried to do before him - beat me."
More: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxing/floyd-mayweather-v-marcos-maidana
Khan, 27, signed a contract in December that he had hoped would set him up for a possible super-fight with Mayweather this year but finally admitted on Twitter last week that he did not think the fight would take place.
And now promoters Golden Boy and Mayweather Promotions have confirmed that the 37-year-old will face Argentinian WBA champion Maidana instead.
"After weeks of speculation, including feedback from fans across an array of social media platforms, boxing's pound-for-pound superstar, pay-per-view king and WBC Welterweight World Champion Floyd "Money" Mayweather will face the dangerous, power-punching WBA Welterweight World Champion Marcos "El Chino" Maidana on Saturday, May 3," read the statement.
Undefeated Mayweather (45-0) launched a social media campaign earlier this month asking fans to decide which of the two men he should take on in his next bout.
"Marcos Maidana's last performance immediately brought him to my attention," said Mayweather.
"He is an extremely skilled fighter who brings knockout danger to the ring.
"I think this is a great fight for me and he deserves the opportunity to see if he can do what 45 others have tried to do before him - beat me."
More: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxing/floyd-mayweather-v-marcos-maidana
Maidana up next for Mayweather
Floyd Mayweather Jr. gave himself a 37th birthday present on Monday: an opponent. The pound-for-pound king announced on Twitter that he will next fight fellow welterweight titleholder Marcos Maidana on May 3.
I will be fighting Marcos Maidana May 3rd on Pay-per-view Showtime/CBS http://t.co/mtj7H8WVxu pic.twitter.com/Rc2N87zcjP
- Floyd Mayweather (@FloydMayweather) February 25, 2014
The 147-pound unification fight will be carried by Showtime PPV and take place at a venue to be determined -- either in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand, the front-runner, where Mayweather has had his last eight fights, or the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., which came into the picture in recent weeks and is making a strong push for the fight.
Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer, who has worked with Mayweather since 2007 and also promotes Maidana, told ESPN.com that he hopes to have the venue locked in "in the next couple of days along with the ticket information."
The fight will be the third of a 30-month, six-fight deal worth $200 million-plus that Mayweather signed with Showtime and parent network CBS last February. Mayweather has said he plans to retire at the conclusion of the contract.
Mayweather (45-0, 26 KOs) holds world titles at junior middleweight and welterweight but will return to welterweight to make his second defense when he faces Maidana (35-3, 31 KOs), a 30-year-old crowd-pleasing slugger from Argentina who will be making the first defense of his belt. Maidana, who landed the fight over fellow former junior welterweight titlist Amir Khan, won his world title in dramatic upset fashion by scoring two knockdowns in a unanimous decision against Adrien Broner in their Dec. 14 brawl at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/10513894/floyd-mayweather-jr-lines-marcos-maidana
I will be fighting Marcos Maidana May 3rd on Pay-per-view Showtime/CBS http://t.co/mtj7H8WVxu pic.twitter.com/Rc2N87zcjP
- Floyd Mayweather (@FloydMayweather) February 25, 2014
The 147-pound unification fight will be carried by Showtime PPV and take place at a venue to be determined -- either in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand, the front-runner, where Mayweather has had his last eight fights, or the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., which came into the picture in recent weeks and is making a strong push for the fight.
Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer, who has worked with Mayweather since 2007 and also promotes Maidana, told ESPN.com that he hopes to have the venue locked in "in the next couple of days along with the ticket information."
The fight will be the third of a 30-month, six-fight deal worth $200 million-plus that Mayweather signed with Showtime and parent network CBS last February. Mayweather has said he plans to retire at the conclusion of the contract.
Mayweather (45-0, 26 KOs) holds world titles at junior middleweight and welterweight but will return to welterweight to make his second defense when he faces Maidana (35-3, 31 KOs), a 30-year-old crowd-pleasing slugger from Argentina who will be making the first defense of his belt. Maidana, who landed the fight over fellow former junior welterweight titlist Amir Khan, won his world title in dramatic upset fashion by scoring two knockdowns in a unanimous decision against Adrien Broner in their Dec. 14 brawl at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/10513894/floyd-mayweather-jr-lines-marcos-maidana
Friday, February 28, 2014
Floyd Mayweather Jr. to fight Marcos Maidana on May 3
Floyd Mayweather Jr. gave himself a 37th birthday present Monday, confirming he’ll collect another multimillion-dollar purse by selecting Marcos Maidana as his May 3 opponent.
Mayweather (45-0, 26 knockouts) will defend his World Boxing Council welterweight title on Showtime pay-per-view at a site to be determined, either MGM Grand or Brooklyn's Barclays Center.
"I am extremely happy to be facing Floyd Mayweather because it will give me the opportunity to show the world that I am the best welterweight in the division," said Maidana, who will represent throngs of Latino boxing fans on Cinco de Mayo when he faces the pound-for-pound king. "I just handed a great defensive fighter his first loss and I plan to do the same to Mayweather. I don't care whether he's the best and undefeated. I will bring some real Latino power to him on May 3rd."
Maidana boasts an 82% knockout rate.
"Marcos Maidana's last performance immediately brought him to my attention," said Mayweather. "He is an extremely skilled fighter who brings knockout danger to the ring. I think this is a great fight for me and he deserves the opportunity to see if he can do what 45 others have tried to do before him -- beat me."
"We're ready to go," Mayweather advisor Leonard Ellerbe said. "Maidana's a terrific fighter, a devastating knockout puncher. It's a very dangerous fight. He's a guy that people have overlooked in the past. Floyd has got to be at his best."
In September, Mayweather cruised to a majority decision victory over WBC junior-middleweight champion Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, as the fighters generated a record $150 million in pay-per-view sales.
Ellerbe said although Maidana, like "Canelo," relies on power punching to win, Mayweather is anticipating a different, more entertaining fight this time.
"Maidana's never in a bad fight," Ellerbe said. "We know that from the opening bell, he'll try to knock Floyd's head off. He's nonstop, relentless, can punch with either hand. He won't let Floyd breathe."
Maidana is expected to resume training in Oxnard under trainer Robert Garcia.
More: http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-boxing-mayweather-maidana
Mayweather (45-0, 26 knockouts) will defend his World Boxing Council welterweight title on Showtime pay-per-view at a site to be determined, either MGM Grand or Brooklyn's Barclays Center.
"I am extremely happy to be facing Floyd Mayweather because it will give me the opportunity to show the world that I am the best welterweight in the division," said Maidana, who will represent throngs of Latino boxing fans on Cinco de Mayo when he faces the pound-for-pound king. "I just handed a great defensive fighter his first loss and I plan to do the same to Mayweather. I don't care whether he's the best and undefeated. I will bring some real Latino power to him on May 3rd."
Maidana boasts an 82% knockout rate.
"Marcos Maidana's last performance immediately brought him to my attention," said Mayweather. "He is an extremely skilled fighter who brings knockout danger to the ring. I think this is a great fight for me and he deserves the opportunity to see if he can do what 45 others have tried to do before him -- beat me."
"We're ready to go," Mayweather advisor Leonard Ellerbe said. "Maidana's a terrific fighter, a devastating knockout puncher. It's a very dangerous fight. He's a guy that people have overlooked in the past. Floyd has got to be at his best."
In September, Mayweather cruised to a majority decision victory over WBC junior-middleweight champion Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, as the fighters generated a record $150 million in pay-per-view sales.
Ellerbe said although Maidana, like "Canelo," relies on power punching to win, Mayweather is anticipating a different, more entertaining fight this time.
"Maidana's never in a bad fight," Ellerbe said. "We know that from the opening bell, he'll try to knock Floyd's head off. He's nonstop, relentless, can punch with either hand. He won't let Floyd breathe."
Maidana is expected to resume training in Oxnard under trainer Robert Garcia.
More: http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-boxing-mayweather-maidana
ROBERT GARCIA REACTS TO MAYWEATHER CHOOSING MAIDANA: "MAIDANA'S GOING TO BE LIKE NEVER BEFORE"
"You know what? When Maidana beat Broner and the way he did, I think there was no question that the Mayweather fight was going to be ours," stated world-class trainer Robert Garcia, who shared his thoughts on the recent announcement that his fighter, WBA welterweight champion Marcos Maidana, has been chosen by undefeated pound-for-pound king Floyd "Money" Mayweather as his opponent when he makes his return to the ring on May 3. Long before the official announcement was made, several members of the media were erroneously reporting that former jr. welterweight champion Amir Khan was the likely candidate to land the assignment. To their surprise, however, Mayweather announced that he would let fans decide who he would face next: Khan or Maidana. After weeks of voting, the results were tabulated and Maidana was the clear winner in multiple online polls, though Mayweather took his time in making his official announcement.
"I was so confident and I was so sure that it should be us, but then, a few weeks later, we start hearing that Amir Khan is involved and it's going to be a decision between Amir Khan and Maidana. Then the poll, you know, the fans are going to vote, so all of that was kind of like a little upsetting for the team because we felt that nobody else deserves a shot against Mayweather than Maidana, especially winning his last 4 fights at welterweight, winning them all," Garcia explained as he recalled the tense weeks leading up to the announcement. "And the Broner fight itself I think was more than enough to deserve a shot at Mayweather, you know, the fighter that everybody was calling the next Mayweather, you know, Mayweather's little brother, all of that. I was surprised when it looked like it was leaning towards Amir Khan. I was surprised, but I'm glad that Mayweather took the fight."
"Mayweather's a great fighter, great champion, best of our time if you ask me, but there's always that chance that fighters have. Nobody thought Tyson would ever lose to Buster Douglas, and he did, so the chance is there. I know that the motivation that Maidana is going to have, the motivation that I'm gonna have in training camp, my whole team, we're going to do everything; train like never before and do everything possible to win the fight," he continued. "He could be the best fighter in history, so for us, to have the opportunity to fight against the best fighter in history is just a blessing to our team. And to know that the way Maidana fights and his style and the way he throws punches could give us the chance of being able to pull it off is something that we're really motivated for. We're going to be training like never before. The whole team is going to be focused. Maidana's going to be like never before."
http://www.fighthype.com/news/article16203.html
"I was so confident and I was so sure that it should be us, but then, a few weeks later, we start hearing that Amir Khan is involved and it's going to be a decision between Amir Khan and Maidana. Then the poll, you know, the fans are going to vote, so all of that was kind of like a little upsetting for the team because we felt that nobody else deserves a shot against Mayweather than Maidana, especially winning his last 4 fights at welterweight, winning them all," Garcia explained as he recalled the tense weeks leading up to the announcement. "And the Broner fight itself I think was more than enough to deserve a shot at Mayweather, you know, the fighter that everybody was calling the next Mayweather, you know, Mayweather's little brother, all of that. I was surprised when it looked like it was leaning towards Amir Khan. I was surprised, but I'm glad that Mayweather took the fight."
"Mayweather's a great fighter, great champion, best of our time if you ask me, but there's always that chance that fighters have. Nobody thought Tyson would ever lose to Buster Douglas, and he did, so the chance is there. I know that the motivation that Maidana is going to have, the motivation that I'm gonna have in training camp, my whole team, we're going to do everything; train like never before and do everything possible to win the fight," he continued. "He could be the best fighter in history, so for us, to have the opportunity to fight against the best fighter in history is just a blessing to our team. And to know that the way Maidana fights and his style and the way he throws punches could give us the chance of being able to pull it off is something that we're really motivated for. We're going to be training like never before. The whole team is going to be focused. Maidana's going to be like never before."
http://www.fighthype.com/news/article16203.html
ALEX ARIZA REACTS TO MAYWEATHER CHOOSING MAIDANA: "ZERO DOUBT...MAIDANA WON THAT SPOT TO FIGHT FLOYD"
"Zero doubt. I mean, we're being honest, you know, and I love Amir [Khan] as a person, but as a fighter, he hasn't really done what I thought he should be able to do and that he still can be able to do," stated world-class Strength & Conditioning Coach Alex Ariza, who shared his thoughts on the recent announcement that his fighter, WBA welterweight champion Marcos Maidana, has been chosen by undefeated pound-for-pound king Floyd "Money" Mayweather as his opponent when he makes his return to the ring on May 3. Long before the official announcement was made, several members of the media were erroneously reporting that former jr. welterweight champion Amir Khan was the likely candidate to land the assignment. To their surprise, however, Mayweather announced that he would let fans decide who he would face next: Khan or Maidana. After weeks of voting, the results were tabulated and Maidana was the clear winner in multiple online polls, though Mayweather took his time in making his official announcement.
"You know, he had a bad fight against smaller fighters that were moving up in weight. He didn't look great against Julio Diaz; I thought it was very close and he got hurt and dropped with some shots that I personally don't think would've ever dropped him in the past," Ariza continued as he explained why he didn't think Khan was more deserving of the opportunity than Maidana. "But then to see what Robert and Maidana have done over the past year, I mean, how can you argue the two. Maidana's blasting everybody out there. He's a 5 to 1 dog, you know. I mean, he doesn't just beat the dude; he gave the dude a beating and he never took it easy. He took chances every round. He never backed off. He put himself in harms way every minute of every round and Broner's not an easy dude to hit."
"You have to work, man, and he worked for that win and he worked for that victory. He worked and Maidana won that spot to fight Floyd. You gotta earn that spot, man. You really do. The fans aren't stupid. The fans want what the fans want and the fans want that. We know that Maidana's got power, so knowing that he's got power and he's got pop, anything can happen," Ariza continued. "It'll be good though to sit across from Floyd again since I did it when I first started out so long ago. It's kind of funny how things come full circle again. To be in the opposite corner against him again will be something. I think it brings out the best in everybody."
http://www.fighthype.com/news/article16216.html
"You know, he had a bad fight against smaller fighters that were moving up in weight. He didn't look great against Julio Diaz; I thought it was very close and he got hurt and dropped with some shots that I personally don't think would've ever dropped him in the past," Ariza continued as he explained why he didn't think Khan was more deserving of the opportunity than Maidana. "But then to see what Robert and Maidana have done over the past year, I mean, how can you argue the two. Maidana's blasting everybody out there. He's a 5 to 1 dog, you know. I mean, he doesn't just beat the dude; he gave the dude a beating and he never took it easy. He took chances every round. He never backed off. He put himself in harms way every minute of every round and Broner's not an easy dude to hit."
"You have to work, man, and he worked for that win and he worked for that victory. He worked and Maidana won that spot to fight Floyd. You gotta earn that spot, man. You really do. The fans aren't stupid. The fans want what the fans want and the fans want that. We know that Maidana's got power, so knowing that he's got power and he's got pop, anything can happen," Ariza continued. "It'll be good though to sit across from Floyd again since I did it when I first started out so long ago. It's kind of funny how things come full circle again. To be in the opposite corner against him again will be something. I think it brings out the best in everybody."
http://www.fighthype.com/news/article16216.html
Floyd Mayweather Will Face Marcos Maidana on May 3
The choice has finally been made! Undefeated pound-for-pound king Floyd "Money" Mayweather has decided to defend his WBC welterweight title against newly-crowned WBA welterweight champion Marcos Maidana. The bout will take place on May 3, the coveted weekend of Cinco de Mayo, and will be televised live on Showtime Pay-Per-View. A venue, however, has yet to be finalized. Though we expect the fight to take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, we're told the Barclays Center is also in play as well. Mayweather made the announcement official when he posted a picture of himself, using his Shots of Me app, along with the following caption: "I will be fighting Marcos Maidana May 3rd on Pay-per-view Showtime/CBS
Mayweather is coming off of a dominant majority decision victory over previously undefeated former jr. middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. Although that fight took place in the jr. middleweight division, where he holds both the WBA and WBC 154-pound titles, this time, Mayweather is returning to the welterweight division to defend his WBC 147-pound title.
Maidana is coming off of a career-defining upset victory over the previously unbeaten former champion Adrien Broner, who he dropped two times en route to winning a unanimous decision. Prior to losing, Broner was considered by some to be the heir apparent to Floyd Mayweather's throne. His use of the shoulder-roll defense drew comparisons to Mayweather, and the fact that Maidana was able to find a solution to "The Problem" will have many fans wondering if he can also crack the "MayVinci Code".
Source: http://fighthype.com/mayweathernews/article15955.html
Mayweather is coming off of a dominant majority decision victory over previously undefeated former jr. middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. Although that fight took place in the jr. middleweight division, where he holds both the WBA and WBC 154-pound titles, this time, Mayweather is returning to the welterweight division to defend his WBC 147-pound title.
Maidana is coming off of a career-defining upset victory over the previously unbeaten former champion Adrien Broner, who he dropped two times en route to winning a unanimous decision. Prior to losing, Broner was considered by some to be the heir apparent to Floyd Mayweather's throne. His use of the shoulder-roll defense drew comparisons to Mayweather, and the fact that Maidana was able to find a solution to "The Problem" will have many fans wondering if he can also crack the "MayVinci Code".
Source: http://fighthype.com/mayweathernews/article15955.html
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