Mayweather versus Maidana II is Very Draw Like, Preview of the Rematch
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Las Vegas, NV (September 12, 2014)– Floyd Mayweather Jr. may have come out just barely ahead on the punch count in his first title match against Marcos Rene Maidana, but he certainly lost at least five of the first six rounds. The victory in the rematch will go to the better prepared fighter who is the faster starter. At age 37, the 47-0 Mayweather is far from the Mayweather of old, yet his conditioning and instincts are the best in the business.
Maidana, is addition to punching over the top, will have to be able to cut off the ring, get inside on Floyd and punish him on the ropes. Maidana will have two new judges, Guido Cavalleri and John McKale, who will not be easy to impress. The third judge, Dave Moretti, scored the first bout with Floyd 116-112 for Floyd. This element makes a Maidana win difficult on the cards, though it is possible.
Floyd has to start faster. Other than the nonsensical Victor Ortiz bout, in which Joe Cortez called time out and time in but failed to send the fighters to the neutral corner when Ortiz got hit (some experts would have called this ending a No-Contest), Floyd has not stopped a fighter in nine years. Entertainment for some, but no longer so for Floyd, whose opposition is getting hungrier and more brazen.
The outcome Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas comes down to who throws the jabs, and by volume who scores the most. Floyd is most consistent, even more so than Bernard Hopkins. The bout will boil down to a 12 round majority or split decision, or even a close draw. The odds favor Floyd by a razor close but unanimous decision is he flashes his old talents once more. If Maidana can sustain his momentum into the later rounds, though, Maidana will be the new WBC and WBA Super World Welterweight champion.
The winner of the Floyd versus Maidana rematch bout should face the winner of the Chris Algieri versus Manny Pacquiao bout coming up, and Floyd versus Pacquiao is no guarantee, as these are dangerous matchups where anything can happen. Victory goes to the most consistent fighter. The fight fans want Floyd versus Pacman, but the odds no longer favor both men winning as they did before. Floyd can no longer run from Manny. Win, lose or draw, the fight of the century awaits both Floyd and Pacquiao if they win. If not, an underdog world champion could emerge supreme. Styles makes fights. At 35-4 with 31 knockouts, Argentinian native Maidana remains dangerous. Old Floyd better really watch out-or who he might just get knocked down or even out. As for Amir Khan? He could try a fight with Kell Brook.
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