Floyd Mayweather vs. Marcos Maidana: Recap and Analysis of Complete Fight

After a tough battle, Floyd "Money" Mayweather Jr. moved to 46-0 with a majority-decision win over "El Chino" Marcos Rene Maidana on Saturday night at the MGM Grand.

ESPN's Dan Rafael has the official scorecards:

Despite the reaction from the pro-Maidana crowd, the judges made the right decision. Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix agrees:

Mayweather landed the cleaner punches, Maidana was just busier. The punch stats via Showtime Sports easily back that up.

That said, this was the toughest fight Mayweather has had since he beat Jose Luis Castillo in 2002.

Per Golden Boy Promotions, Mayweather called the bout correctly:

Maidana made Mayweather uncomfortable, which is something almost no one has been able to do.

Isaac Brekken/Associated Press

Because of that, fans may be overreacting to the success Maidana had during the bout.

The fight was a bit frantic and very competitive from the very beginning. Maidana's pressure seemed to give Money issues. Inexplicably, Mayweather seemed resigned to lean against the ropes and allow Maidana to fire away.

Maidana wasn't landing much, but the pace was favoring him. 

He seemed to at the very least have won the first round. In the fourth round, an accidental headbutt caused a cut over Mayweather's right eye.

Isaac Brekken/Associated Press

Check out how the Showtime broadcast team had the fight through six rounds:

In the middle rounds, Mayweather gained steam. He did the cleaner work in the middle of the ring, but he still spent a bit too much time on the ropes. He did show the footwork he's known for by turning bodies more frequently.

In the ninth round, Mayweather had his best round of the fight. He tee'd off on Maidana as he kept the fight in the middle of the ring most of the round.

The Argentine had slowed considerably after his torrid pace early on. Mannix noticed the tide turning drastically in Money's favor.

Mayweather was dominant in the ninth and 10th round, but Maidana came back strong in the 11th round. The 12th round was uneventful, though some believed both fighters may have needed the final round.

As it turned out, Mayweather had the fight under control, according to two of the judges.

Immediately after the bout, talk of a rematch began. Mayweather and Maidana were receptive to the idea. Money told Showtime's Jim Gray after the fight, per Mannix:

A rematch would more than likely end with a more lopsided win for Mayweather. He won this fight with more effective punches and a much higher rate of accuracy.

After having seen Maidana once, there's no doubt the adjustments he made in the second half of the fight would kick in a bit earlier—provided age doesn't kick in first.

Isaac Brekken/Associated Press

At 37 years old, Money's performances are no longer automatic. Though this was a legit win, it did show some vulnerability.

Maidana's stock will rise, even in defeat. He gave Mayweather the toughest fight of his career, by some accounts. That goes a long way. We'll see if the rematch is indeed made.

It should garner even more attention than this bout did.

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