There doesn’t seem to be any hidden mysteries with the April 9th Marcos Maidana-Erik Morales encounter. Mixing two aggressive hunters inside of the MGM Grand will surely make for fireworks no matter how long the contest lasts or just how one-sided the bout ends up becoming.
And that seems to be how Maidana is all the way around. What you see is what you are going to get with the Argentinean fighter. Stoic with his actions and absolutely fierce inside of a prize ring, Marcos Maidana has been making a name for himself in America in recent years despite not having the most engaging of personalities.
Originally from Buenos Aires, Maidana fought his first eighteen bouts in his native country before venturing off to Germany, Panama, and eventually the United States with his shocking upset over highly regarded Victor Ortiz in June of 2009. The Morales fight marks his third fight in the Las Vegas area in his last four contests as he crushed Dominican Victory Cayo last March and put forth a heroic effort against Amir Khan this past December inside of the Mandalay Bay despite losing a narrow decision.
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As the Morales fight inches closer, Maidana is a man out of his element and thousands of miles away from home as he lives the fighter’s life. When pressed for what is hardest about his training regimens in Las Vegas, Maidana insists that being away to those he loves most eats away at him.
“Of course I miss my people,” Maidana told me through his advisor Sebastian Contursi earlier this week. “My son,Yoyo, my family, and my girlfriend; I miss them a lot. I wish I could be with them but this is my career and I have to keep focused. What I miss the most is my son.”
Las Vegas is a city lurking with temptations around every corner but perhaps the most important asset that a fighter must have is their discipline. Maidana doesn’t try to paint a picture when discussing his day to day rituals and bides his time as best he can.
“It’s kind of frustrating because I know there is a whole world of fun out there in Vegas,” he continued. “But when I am in camp I only go out on Sundays to eat something at an Argentinean restaurant. I run in the morning in several places and go to the boxing gym in the afternoon. That’s all. It kind of of boring but that’s the only way to do it. I play cards with my team, watch some movies.”
After the Khan loss, a match in which Maidana gained several fans after rising from a first round knockdown to stage a furious rally in one of the year’s best fights, Maidana was able to spend a few days soaking up some of the finer points of Las Vegas as he went sightseeing and shopping for himself and his friends and family. When asked his favorite part of the city, Maidana can’t point to anything in particular but does admit that Vegas is a great place.
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Of course, there is a purpose to all of this for Marcos Maidana. The anguish from being away from his beloved ones and the slow-paced environment he must adapt to is all part of the eventual goal of preparing himself for battle under the bright lights and in front of thousands in attendance and millions across the globe.
Forty-eight possible minutes where Marcos Maidana can again be free and do what he does best. Showing some exuberance for the first time, you can see that it is all worth it for Marcos Maidana.
“I love it! When I look at the crowd, the ring announcers, and the glamor of Vegas…nothing compares to it.”
Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at [email protected]
