Mayweather vs. Maidana 2: How Results Will Shape Both Fighters' Futures
Floyd Mayweather (47-0-0) made it one step closer to ending his career with a perfect record by defeating Marcos Maidana (35-5-0) in their highly anticipated rematch at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
ESPN.com's Dan Rafael relayed the judges' scorecards at the end of a bout that was Mayweather's to lose from the opening bell:
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Money lived up to the hype, displaying an awesome combination of footwork, defensive boxing and smart counterpunching. Maidana opted to slow things down in this fight, but outboxing the undefeated champion proved to be an impossible task for this nominal brawler.
The results, including the way the fight took shape, will definitely inform these boxers' careers, at least for the next couple of years.
For Mayweather, the results allow him to carry on with his grand plan, to be recognized as one of the all-time greatest purveyors of the sweet science while also forging a strong business empire that he plans to maintain long after he's finished donning Everlast gloves.
"You look at fighters and say, 'Oh, yeah, he fought this guy, he fought that guy.' ... You just look at legendary fighters," Mayweather said, via MLive.com's David Mayo. "I want to be known as being one of the smartest businessmen that came through the sport of boxing, not just the best fighter."
It's unclear how many more fights Mayweather will put himself through, but this one is highly unlikely to be his last. Forty-nine wins would be symbolic, tying him with the undefeated legend Rocky Marciano. He would likely have to maintain peak physical condition into his 40s if he were to venture beyond that number.
It's also clear after the rematch that he still has the ability to out-think and out-maneuver his opponents, even at a relatively advanced age. Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix described the ease with which Mayweather fought off Maidana on Saturday:
"Mayweather was masterful, boxing beautifully, correcting a problem fighting off the ropes in the first fight by deftly moving off them quickly in this one. For every bull rush by Maidana, Mayweather had a quick counter. For every chopping overhand Maidana threw, Mayweather responded with a check hook. Maidana was never able to build momentum, was never able to develop a sustained attack.
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A single loss may not disrupt his economic plans, but the continued winning keeps the chase going, which is likely vitally important to his ability to convince those around him of his infallibility.
Mayweather has just a few professional fights left before he can walk away with an unassailable record. He shouldn't stretch himself too far, lest he risk his perfect history. Fans will clamor for him to face Manny Pacquiao, the long-awaited bout that becomes less and less likely with each passing month.
Mayweather spoke about the possibility of facing Pacquiao after his victory over Maidana. He appears willing to make it happen, per FightNights.com:
If Mayweather were to fight and beat Pacquiao, it would remove many fans' lingering doubts about the caliber of competition he's faced in his career, although some would argue that this bout came much too late for the Philippine.
Then again, after defeating Maidana, a boxer who quickly galvanized boxing fans with his all-out approach in his first loss, Mayweather may not have to answer any more questions about his boxing acumen. His fights aren't about the other man in the ring, they're about Mayweather's ability to adapt and evolve right before our eyes.
Maidana received a tidy financial windfall and media boost from his two fights with Mayweather. He is one of just two fighters to earn a rematch against Money—the other being Jose Luis Castillo—a distinction that should allow him to line up a few more high-profile bouts over the next couple of years.
However, this is two losses in a row for Maidana and if he were to lose his next fight it could quickly erode his staying power. In fact, a third straight loss might actually have a negative impact on Mayweather's legacy, as some will think that the boxer wasn't deserving of a rematch and that Mayweather isn't taking his time to choose opponents that truly test him.
Maidana opted for a slower pace in this match, which was clearly a mistake. He didn't get the crowd behind him early on like he did in the first fight and the lower volume of swings allowed Mayweather to pick his attack apart with his excellent upper body movement and quick right-handed counters.
Showtime Stats showed the paltry percentage of punches Maidana landed through seven rounds:
A return to the straight-ahead brawler style is his best course of action. His power and untamed style makes him a great bet to end fights early, as his 31 knockouts will attest to. He does have the ability to be picky about his next opponent, but he must make sure there is a clear path to victory. Fighting and losing to Mayweather can only take a pugilist so far in this turbulent age of boxing.
If Mayweather doesn't end up fighting Pacquiao, Amir Khan could be a fine substitute for most fans. The English boxer is one of the few challengers that can even come close to matching Money's speed and agility. At just 27 years of age, he would be a truly dangerous opponent and could draw greater interest from boxing fans beyond the United States' borders.
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