Mayweather vs. Maidana 2 Weigh-In: Results and Takeaways from Pre-Fight Event

Those hoping to see some fireworks at the weigh-in for Floyd Mayweather's rematch with Marcos Maidana likely left disappointed as the event went off without a hitch, and both fighters made weight.

According to Showtime Sports, the challenger tipped the scales at 146 pounds, with the champion coming in a half-pound heavier:

The last weigh-in featured an argument between the two sides about which gloves Maidana was going to use for the fight. Things got so heated that some noises were made about possibly cancelling the bout altogether, but the two camps eventually reached an agreement

This time around, neither side postured quite so much. Everything was rather straightforward, with the two fighters stepping up to the scales and then facing off for the important photo op.

One of the more impressive aspects of the weigh-in was the sheer amount of people packed inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

ESPN.com's Dan Rafael believed that for such a large crowd, the event still lacked energy. Rafael also noted that Mayweather's contract for the fight hadn't yet been filed with the Nevada Athletic Commission:

Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole reported that the fight's purse will be $32 million:

Everybody knows the score for this return bout. Maidana pushed Mayweather harder than he's been pushed in years. Still, most agree that Mayweather was the clear winner, leaving little room for doubt that he was the better fighter of the two.

With most stars, that would mean a rematch is completely unnecessary. Why pay to watch something when you almost certainly know the outcome?

Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix wrote that something different drives fan interest in Mayweather's bouts:

"

It’s a predictable cycle, yet here we are again, back begging for more. For most, the appeal of Mayweather isn't watching him fight. It’s wondering when -- or if -- he will lose. A Mayweather win won’t be a bullet point on Pardon the Interruption or a front page (or any page) story in The New York Times.

A Mayweather loss? That would lead SportsCenter.

"

Mayweather has done a great job of painting himself as the pantomime villain for a variety of reasons. Boxing fans want to be there when he's handed his first loss, or at the very least, they want to see it live on pay-per-view.

Given the amount of people who showed up to the weigh-in, fans haven't lost interest in watching Mayweather fight, even if it's against somebody whom he beat four months ago. Many continue to cling to that faint hope that age and a talent opponent will conspire to hand Money the first defeat of his career.

Perhaps this sounds delusional, but the possibility exists that Mayweather bit off more than he could chew with this rematch. Maybe this is when it happens.

Maidana's punching power is such that if he can connect with a major blow, then the fight could be over right then and there. According to BoxRec, 31 of his 35 wins have come via knockout.

Of course, knocking out Mayweather, or simply sending him to the canvas, is easier said than done. Throughout his illustrious career, Mayweather has officially been knocked down once—against Carlos Hernandez in 2001. Although he went down against Zab Judah, the referee ruled it to be a slip.

In order for Maidana to have a chance, he'll need to be in better physical shape than he's ever been. If the 31-year-old Argentine star fades around the eighth round, then he'll be doomed. He must maintain a high level of performance from start to finish.

Maidana certainly looked confident when he weighed in and faced off with Mayweather. You'd expect any fighter at this stage to exude some level of self-belief, but the focus that Maidana possessed was noticeable.

By coming in at 146 pounds, he believes that he is in a position to continue peppering Mayweather with shots for as long as necessary, per Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times:

Saturday's fight should be a lot of fun, even if Mayweather gains control early and coasts to the finish line. Maidana's style is such that he's never completely out of a fight. A one-sided Money victory would be a bit anticlimactic.

Of course, in that event, everybody will be asking himself or herself how he or she got suckered into believing he might lose in the first place.