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
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