Floyd Mayweather vs. Marcos Maidana Results: Round-by-Round Analysis and Recap
It's all over now in Las Vegas and Floyd Mayweather is still the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world. This time it was a unanimous decision for Mayweather, 115-112 once and 116-111 twice.
It was still relatively close for a Floyd Mayweather fight, though I don't see how anybody could give Marcos Maidana five rounds.
It was a wild fight, as well. In Round 8, Maidana appeared to bite Mayweather's hand, as Mayweather tried to cover his mouth and nose with his glove in a clinch. Maidana had a questionable point deduction in Round 10 when he knocked Mayweather to the canvas during a clinch.
Although Mayweather's performance seemed more dominant this time around, he was less enthusiastic about his performance. He told Showtime's Jim Gray after the fight that he would grade himself a "C-."
Mayweather also stated that he would definitely return to action in May but was extremely evasive about the possibility of fighting Manny Pacquiao. I won't be holding my breath on that one.
The always defiant Maidana stated he felt he should have won the fight. He was the fighter coming forward, but he was completely ineffective. There should be no controversy about this decision.
Round 1
1 of 12
Maidana started at a slightly more cautious pace in this rematach. The entire first minute passed with very little action as Mayweather looked to establish his rapid-fire jab.
At 1:40, Maidana managed to briefly trap Mayweather on the ropes, but Mayweather quickly circled out. Mayweather went down with a slip just under halfway through the round.
Mayweather spent the second half of the round demonstrating that he intended to fight on the outside. Maidana was in chase mode and Mayweather walked him into a nice shot just under a minute.
Not a ton of action in the round, but Mayweather is getting his style of fight in the first.
Round 2
2 of 12
Mayweather continued to try to fight on the outside and Maidana stayed patient in pursuit. Maidana looked to fight from a low, crouching stance.
Maidana managed to let go with a few flurries, but landed nothing solid in the first half of the round.
Mayweather was making full use of the very large ring, gliding on the ropes. Maidana tried to use the jab to close distance and managed to land a nice flurry on the ropes just before the final minute of the round ended.
At 45 seconds, Mayweather landed a sharp straight right, a punch he had trouble using early in the last fight. He landed another very good one with less than 20 seconds, then went down to the body.
Maidana tried to ramp up the action as the round ended.
Round 3
3 of 12
The third started much like the first two rounds, but Maidana trapped Mayweather in the corner at about 2:30. Mayweather shoulder rolled and blocked almost everything, but Maidana pounded on his shoulder.
Mayweather reasserted his distance and landed some extremely good right counters as the round approached the halfway point.
Mayweather looked to clinch quickly whenever Maidana crashed inside. This fight is looking a lot like the last half of the first fight so far, with Mayweather maintaining space and landing very effective counter rights and left hooks.
Maidana landed a nice shot at the bell.
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Round 4
4 of 12
Maidana had his best round of the fight in the fourth. He finally began to close distance and cut off the ring. For long parts of the round, Maidana trapped Mayweather on the ropes and landed some solid body punches.
Mayweather stayed calm and rolled to avoid most of Maidana's big punches, but this round looked much like the first fight, when Maidana was able to create the fight he wanted. Late in the round, Mayweather began to take control of the distance again and landed a couple of very good counters.
But this may very well have been Maidana's first round on the cards.
Round 5
5 of 12
Mayweather looked to re-establish the distance by using his quick jab and then coming in with the straight right. After Maidana's best round of the fight, the fifth turned back into a mirror of the first three, with Mayweather comfortably holding the center of the ring.
In the second half of the fight, Maidana landed some nice counters over the top of Mayweather's jab to the body. Maidana also looked to bang on Mayweather's shoulder, probably a smart investment for later in the fight.
A surprisingly inactive round for Maidana.
Round 6
6 of 12
The midway point in this fight started with a lull in the action as Mayweather continued to move and Maidana continued to stalk, looking to cut off the ring. A few catcalls sounded from the crowd.
In my opinion, this round was a defensive clinic by Mayweather. Fans might not be thrilled with it, but it had to be frustrating for a dangerous offensive fighter like Maidana to have so much trouble connecting.
Even if Maidana got this round for aggression, and I'd argue he didn't, tactically this was probably a good round for Mayweather.
Round 7
7 of 12
Mayweather did a little less moving in this round and a little more standing and countering. Maidana finally, briefly, pushed Mayweather to the ropes just over halfway through the round, but could not land anything or keep Mayweather there.
The longer this fight went, the more it looked like a traditional Mayweather fight, with the pound-for-pound king comfortably sniping from a distance with counters and lead rights. His use of body shots may have contributed to slowing Maidana down.
Round 8
8 of 12
As the fight entered its final third, Maidana tried hard to jab his way into range. But it was clear the fight was slipping away.
Mayweather landed perhaps his best punch of the fight at the two-minute mark, countering Maidana hard with his back to the corner. He quickly spun out and landed a combination, prompting Maidana to clinch.
A controversy erupted inside of 30 seconds, with referee Kenny Bayless calling time and an outraged Mayweather claiming that Maidana had bit him.
Maidana calmly retreated to his corner. If he did bite him, it was impossible to tell based on El Chino's poker face.
Round 9
9 of 12
In Round 9, Mayweather was back on his bike and Maidana was back in pursuit. The dogged, pursuing Maidana had to be warned to keep his shots to the body up. Mayweather pushed and grabbed.
Mayweather landed a great check left hook inside of the final minute and then another one inside of 10 seconds. Mayweather was not throwing a ton of punches, but as has usually been the case, he was landing a very high percentage.
Round 10
10 of 12
With championship rounds underway, the fight had begun to take on the characteristic lack of tension that often happens in Mayweather fights. Mayweather was avoiding nearly everything, while landing well over half of what he threw.
Maidana was deducted a point halfway through the round for driving Mayweather to the ground. It was a very questionable deduction, as Mayweather had initiated the clinch.
Now even further behind, Maidana redoubled his efforts to force a brawl. Mayweather now began to look comfortable on the ropes, though, landing numerous counters.
Round 11
11 of 12
With the situation getting desperate, Maidana looked to pressure his way inside. Mayweather landed a low blow about a minute in, prompting Bayless to call time.
Immediately after the action resumed, Mayweather scored with a blistering combination. As the round went on, Maidana appeared more and more frustrated. It was clear he was trying to set up the big overhand right, but Mayweather wouldn't let him anywhere close.
Mayweather landed another big right inside of the final 10 seconds.
Round 12
12 of 12
With the fight clearly won, Mayweather spent the final round coasting to victory. Maidana remained determined, but his frustration was obvious.
Mayweather might be 37, but he doesn't move like a fighter that close to 40. Even when Maidana trapped him in the corner briefly with 30 seconds left, Mayweather easily spun his way out of trouble.
Mayweather didn't end the fight with every fan in the joint standing and cheering. There were boos scattered throughout the MGM.
But it was once again clear that he is the most skilled boxer on the planet.
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