Mayweather vs. Maidana 2: Expert Picks for Main Event
In May, the unheralded Marcos Maidana (35-4, 31 KOs) nearly accomplished something many fans thought impossible—beating pound-for-pound great Floyd Mayweather (46-0, 26 KOs) in a boxing bout. The fearless Argentine refused to accept that Mayweather existed on another planet and was somehow intrinsically better than everyone else in the sport.
Instead, he made Mayweather work, cornering him against the ropes, roughing him up and throwing punch after punch in a surprisingly close fight (majority-decision victory for Mayweather). That alone should be more than enough to fuel the kind of hype you need to promote a pay-per-view extravaganza.
Alas, based on the build to this fight, it is not.
Casual boxing fans can be forgiven if they aren't exactly sure what's happening with Mayweather this weekend (Saturday at 8 p.m. ET). While the fight being advertised on their televisions is a return bout with Maidana, the media's gaze is locked squarely on the world's greatest boxer's ongoing feud with a past-his-prime rapper.
Can Maidana repeat the successful ploys that made him so potent in the first fight? It's a natural question but one no one seems to be asking. Instead, the prevailing questions revolve around 50 Cent, radio liners and whether Mayweather is completely literate.
While Mayweather was quick to proclaim the incident wasn't a distraction, the media can't say the same. The first four questions during a recent press call were about 50 Cent, literacy and non-boxing-related tomfoolery.
It's a circus, one unworthy of such an interesting contest. Though Mayweather doesn't give him credit, Maidana really did bring a different look, eschewing textbook boxing for a wilder style some compared to the more straightforward-striking approach often seen in mixed martial arts fights.
"He came out kind of wild, and I took my time and kept my composure. I can make adjustments, and I can adapt to any style, whether it’s in the first round, the second round," Mayweather told the press, complaining about Maidana's rough play. He continued:
"...I have to be healthy to go out there and perform the way that I do, and I truly believe in having a career after the sport of boxing is over. I said this before in some of my past interviews: This is not the Internet, this is boxing. If you guys notice, I got tackled, the guy tried to knee me, I got a head butt, and there were rabbit punches and there were low blows, and the list goes on and on.
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Did Maidana get away with murder in the first fight? The Mayweather camp believes it was a major factor in the challenger's success. Referee Tony Weeks, as a result, is out, replaced by Kenny Bayless. Will that make all the difference and help the 37-year-old Mayweather return to form?
And why stop the cavalcade of questions there?
Can Maidana do the unthinkable? Does he have the tools to repeat his performance, or has Floyd figured him out? And who, for the love of all that is holy, will walk to the ring with Mayweather during his highly anticipated entrance?
Bleacher Report's boxing crew will attempt to answer these questions and more. Disagree with our takes? Let us hear it by sounding off in the comments.
Lyle Fitzsimmons
1 of 5
Who Wins? When and How?
Second verse, same as the first. I liked Mayweather the first time, and while I'll concede he had some rough (literally) moments, he still won eight of the 12 rounds on my scorecard.
Coming into the second one, he's presumably the one who can make more pertinent adjustments, and it says here that he'll do that and gradually punish Maidana before the ref waves it off in Round 10.
The Moment We’ll Remember Most Is…
When Mayweather and Robert Garcia exchange words in the ring after the fight, prompting a minor melee between the hangers-on inside and a more difficult one outside. That's thanks to frustrated Maidana fans and combative Mayweather supporters.
Who Will Be With Floyd During His Entrance?
The guess here is that the Lil Wayne/Justin Bieber combo returns once again, perhaps flanked by a recently revalidated Adrien Broner.
Who Will Mayweather Fight Next? When and Where?
While it was nice of Bob Arum to suggest the Manny Pacquiao showdown was close to a done deal for 2015, the fantasy will give way to reality. Floyd will instead mix it up with Amir Khan in London next May.
Who Will Maidana Fight Next? When and Where?
He'll be 0-2 against the pound-for-pound king, but the consolation prize will be that Maidana has earned at least a short-term stint in the welterweight division's upper echelon. Let's say he faces off with Keith Thurman in "One Time's" own spotlight audition in California in December.
Kelsey McCarson
2 of 5
Who Wins? When and How?
Mayweather will win by decision. Maidana will make things interesting again, but Mayweather will win a close but clear decision. Maidana just doesn't have the speed to catch Mayweather on the chin, and he can't really do anything more than he did the first time around to get the decision.
The Moment We’ll Remember Most Is…
Mayweather will win again, but he'll look a little old against Maidana. You can tell when a fighter isn't what he used to be. There's nothing like it, and what we'll remember most is thinking that the end is growing ever nearer for one of boxing's best-ever fighters.
Who Will Be With Floyd During His Entrance?
Mayweather will come to the ring with all sorts of celebrities. He does it every time, but they're usually the types who won't come calling when Mayweather loses or isn't fighting anymore. The biggest change will be no Justin Bieber.
Who Will Mayweather Fight Next? When and Where?
Mayweather will face Amir Khan at Wembley Stadium in the U.K. Fans would prefer he face Manny Pacquiao of course, but since when does Mayweather care about fans? The fight will take place May 2, 2015.
Who Will Maidana Fight Next? When and Where?
Maidana will have a rematch with Adrien Broner after Broner realizes he wants to avenge his loss to Maidana rather than take on Lucas Matthysse. The bout will take place at StubHub Center in Carson, California, in February 2015. It's the right fight for both.
Kevin McRae
3 of 5
Who Wins? When and How?
Mayweather is a master of figuring out his foe. Having spent 12 rounds in the ring with Maidana and acclimated to his style, he’ll win a wide unanimous decision in the way we expected the first time around.
The Moment We’ll Remember Most Is…
Mayweather very rarely loses his cool during a fight. But he will against Maidana, and the reason will be a foul in the early rounds. Mayweather will respond, which means Kenny Bayless will need to admonish both men to restore order.
Who Will Be With Floyd During His Entrance?
Justin Bieber seems to be something of a hood ornament for Floyd these days, so he’s an obvious choice. Also going to say that Adrien Broner, Mayweather’s "little brother" and a fighter with an ax of his own to grind with Maidana, makes the trip ringside.
Who Will Mayweather Fight Next? When and Where?
Mayweather will be fighting against Amir Khan in Wembley Stadium next May. That’s the biggest potential money fight out there not named Manny Pacquiao, and he will take it.
Who Will Maidana Fight Next? When and Where?
Maidana will be in need of a win, and he’ll face Broner in a rematch in March at the StubHub Center.
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Briggs Seekins
4 of 5
Who Wins? When and How?
Mayweather made good adjustments and took control of the last fight once he realized he couldn't handle Maidana on the ropes. He'll fight in the center of the ring from the start this time.
Maidana won't make it easy, but he won't be able to land with significantly better accuracy or get away with as much roughhousing. Mayweather will win eight or nine rounds.
The Moment We’ll Remember Most Is…
Things will get wild when Maidana feels himself slipping behind and turns things into a brawl in Round 7, 8 or 9.
Who Will Be With Floyd During His Entrance?
He's really fallen into a regular lineup with Lil Wayne and Justin Bieber. He bragged about getting President Obama once. I keep waiting to see it.
Who Will Mayweather Fight Next? When and Where?
We've been hearing more Pacquiao rumors than ever, but until there's a press conference, I'll remain skeptical.
I can't help noting Miguel Cotto has yet to make another fight since winning the middleweight title from Sergio Martinez. He'd like a rematch at Mayweather, and Mayweather would like to win a belt at 160 without having to face Gennady Golovkin.
Who Will Maidana Fight Next? When and Where?
Even though he'll lose again, Maidana will walk away a hot fighter with a ton of potential bouts. I'd like to see him rematch Amir Khan in London. It's the fight Khan needs to win to make his case for facing Mayweather, and it gives Maidana a shot to avenge a loss.
Jonathan Snowden
5 of 5
Who Wins? When and How?
I completely dismissed Maidana before the first fight. I won't make that mistake again. He's mentally tough, mean as a rattlesnake and not afraid to fight a little dirty. Or a lot dirty. Maidana is going to try to beat Mayweather up.
But we learned more than a century ago, when "Gentleman" Jim Corbett dispatched John L. Sullivan, that science trumps brawn. That much hasn't changed.
Floyd Mayweather by decision.
The Moment We’ll Remember Most Is…
That look in Mayweather's eyes when he starts stronger than he has in ages. Normally content to let the fight come to him, I suspect he'll look to prove a point in the first round. Don't be late to the party.
Who Will Be With Floyd During His Entrance?
At this point, Justin Bieber is a given. But Floyd is smart enough to know that Bieber alone isn't going to get him onto the entertainment blogs. So how about Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus? In matching outfits? Twerking their way to the ring? That would do the job nicely.
Who Will Mayweather Fight Next? When and Where?
I've said it before. I'll probably say it again. Any fight that isn't with Manny Pacquiao is a travesty. These two stubborn fools should put their pride aside and get this thing done in early 2015 at the MGM Grand.
Who Will Maidana Fight Next? When and Where?
I'd like to see Maidana return to the scene of the crime, to the moment he stole Adrien Broner's mojo.
Although Broner is no longer necessarily Mayweather's heir apparent, he's still one heck of an interesting fighter, as he proved on Showtime Saturday. And he owes himself another shot at Maidana.
Let's run that one back in February, but this time at the StubHub Center in Los Angeles.
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