Argentina’s Marcos Maidana gave Floyd Mayweather Jnr arguably the toughest fight of his 16-year career at the MGM Grand Garden Arena before losing a majority decision.
Mayweather, bullied for large periods of the fight, was still brilliant in defence. He is not regarded as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter for nothing, and retained his unbeaten record, going to 46-0.
Maidana swarmed him from the opening bell but Mayweather stilll landed the cleaner shots to retain his WBC welterweight title. The judges cards were 117-111, 116-112, while the third judge had it even at 114-114.
I had it 7-4 to Mayweather with one drawn, early in the piece, to return 116-113. From the sixth to the 11th rounds, we witnessed Mayweather soaking up punishment, avoiding the worst of it, and replying with brilliant counters.
There were also times in that period when the sport’s leading protagonist boxed with command from the centre of the ring. It was a delight as a contest. Mayweather – tested – is more impressive.
Maidana threw far more punches, and attacked in flurries, but Mayweather was far more accurate as the two battled into the late rounds.
“It was a tough, competitive fight,” Mayweather said. “I normally like to go out there and box and move. But he put pressure on me. I wanted to give the fans what they wanted to see so I stood and fought him.”
“I won the fight,” Maidana countered. “He didn’t fight like a man.”
Punch stats by Compubox showed Mayweather landing 230 of 426 punches to 221 of 858 for Maidana. It was the most punches landed by any fighter against Mayweather in 38 fights where punch stats were compiled.
“I couldn’t see for two rounds after the head butt,” Mayweather said. “After I could see again it didn’t both me. That’s what champions do, they survive and adjust.”
Maidana had said before the fight he was going to treat Mayweather like any other fighter and go right after him. He did just that, bringing the sellout crowd at the MGM Grand hotel to its feet as he landed some big right hands to the top of Mayweather’s head.
“He never hurt me with a punch,” Maidana said. “He wasn’t that tough, I thought I won.”
Maidana complained about being forced to fight with gloves he didn’t want to use when the two camps engaged in a stand-off at the rules meeting a day earlier.
“If I would have had my gloves I would have knocked him out,” Maidana said. “They took away my advantage.”
“If the fans want to see it again, let’s do it again,” Mayweather added.
