Mayweather vs. Maidana 2: Biggest Takeaways After Saturday's Results

Floyd "Money" Mayweather made things look much easier the second time around against "El Chino" Marcos Rene Maidana. Mayweather kept the fight in the center of the ring and by doing that, he was able to work to his strengths.

Mayweather came away with a clear unanimous-decision victory to close the chapter on his rivalry with Maidana. Hopefully, we'll finally get to watch Money face Manny Pacquiao, but we'll have to wait and see.

There were several takeaways after the bout, here's the most prominent.

Mayweather Can Take a Punch

Chris Carlson/Associated Press

Rarely do we see Mayweather caught flush, but at the end of the third round, Maidana hit him with a hard right hand that seemed to daze the pound-for-pound king. It happened right as the bell rang, but Mayweather drifted a bit after the shot landed.

During the post-fight press conference, he acknowledged the shot that looked to have broken his nose.

Maidana has scored 31 knockouts in his 36 professional fights. There's no questioning his punching power. Mayweather took a shot flush that might have dropped other fighters.

He felt it, but it didn't rob him of his faculties. That's a scary thought for opponents. Not only is it difficult to catch Mayweather flush, but that's only part of the equation. He's also not that easy to finish even once he's been dinged.

When it Comes to Adjustments, Money is Second to None

John Locher/Associated Press

While Mayweather won the first meeting with Maidana, he didn't win in as impressive fashion as he had against other opponents.

In the rematch, Mayweather's game plan to use lateral movement, tie-ups and sweeping left hooks to stay off the ropes was gold.

Essentially, this tweak in his approach was the biggest reason he won so decisively.

Maidana is Still a Certified Tough Guy

John Locher/Associated Press

Despite losing twice in a row to Mayweather, Maidana's reputation is still better now than it was before the two bouts with Money.

After having defeated Adrien Broner and been competitive with Mayweather, Maidana will still be a major draw for other fighters and fans. He'll also forever be known as one of the few men to give Mayweather some trouble.

In an era dominated by Money, that's a significant distinction. It'll be interesting to see who El Chino takes on next.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.