Boxing: Mayweather vs. Maidana 2 Preview

---

Floyd Mayweather Jr. does not do rematches, usually because there is no need.

For the first time since December 7, 2002 -- and for only the second time in his illustrious career -- Mayweather will be part of a sequel. Marcos Maidana earned the right for a return date with boxing’s pound-for-pound king by virtue of his performance against “Money” in May. While he ultimately lost a majority decision, Maidana gave Mayweather arguably the most difficult test of his career. It was something few expected.

The last Mayweather rematch came following a unanimous decision win against Jose Luis Castillo on April 20, 2002. Mayweather outpointed Castillo again in their second meeting nearly eight months later, but it was not any more dominant than the initial triumph. In fact, according to the judges’ scorecards, it was an even closer fight.

Could Maidana simply have Mayweather’s number, or will the tendencies the champion picked up on over the course of their first bout carry over into a relatively easy win? Mayweather will once again be a clear-cut favorite on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, but Maidana’s tenacious effort last spring has our attention.

Welterweights

Floyd Mayweather (46-0, 26 KOs) vs. Marcos Maidana (35-4, 31 KOs)

The Matchup: In their first bout, Maidana established from the outset that this would not be the typical Mayweather fight. The 31-year-old Argentine was aggressive with his pressure and did his best to lure Mayweather into a brawl. Especially in the early frames, Maidana did an excellent job of cutting off the ring, trapping his opponent against the ropes and, more importantly, keeping him there. Eventually, however, Mayweather made the necessary adjustments to use his speed and accuracy to pull ahead on the scorecards.

Still, not even the judges were in total agreement as to how decisive Mayweather’s final push truly was: While judges Burt Clements (117-111) and Dave Moretti (116-112) had it in favor of the American, Michael Pernick had it 114-114, resulting in a majority decision for Mayweather.

After the bout, Mayweather acknowledged an attempt to give the fans what they wanted to see: an exciting fight. All told, Maidana landed 221 punches against a man renowned for avoiding blows; it was the most blows absorbed by Mayweather in his 39 matches tracked by Compubox.

Still, Mayweather is also right when he says people getting fired up over a fight in which he was awarded 23 of a possible 36 rounds means the masses simply expect more from him. The sight of boxing’s best fighter getting bullied against the ropes in the early going is hard to forget.

Now, Maidana must prove he has room for improvement in a second go-around with “Money,” who is well-known for his ability to adapt to his foes. However, recent efforts -- namely his win over Adrien Broner, as well as the spirited showing against Mayweather -- suggest Maidana is at his peak. It is something that cannot be said about Mayweather, who, while not showing any type of significant dropoff, is nearing 38 years old. At some point, Mayweather could show his age, although his ability to avoid damage has undoubtedly extended his career.

That Maidana largely maintained his pace throughout 12 rounds was impressive, even if Mayweather started to figure him out a little bit. To improve upon his initial performance, Maidana needs to replicate the aggressive pressure he utilized in May. However, when attempting to cut off the ring and trap Mayweather, he must also do a better job of finding the right punching distance to make his shots more effective. While his awkward dirty boxing style made life difficult for Mayweather, Maidana was often too close to truly hurt his adversary; and as much as Maidana favors a brawling style, a little more controlled aggression would be ideal.

Although Mayweather is unlikely to stop him, the champion should be able to bait the Argentine to set up prime countering opportunities. Some of that, given Maidana’s forward-at-all-costs style, is unavoidable barring a complete reinvention.

Maidana’s ability to effectively use his jab more of late is encouraging, and he also used it as a feint to set up more powerful punches in the first fight. Staying consistent with combinations and using any means necessary to pressure Mayweather into the ropes will be key to winning rounds.

In the long run, it is unlikely Maidana can extend the success he had last time into the championship rounds. Mayweather is technically superior, and it is entirely possible that he starts much more quickly in the rematch in order to send a message. While Maidana’s power is better, he could not hurt Mayweather the first time, and the odds of him catching “Money” here are not good.

The Pick: With 12 rounds against Maidana already under his belt, look for Mayweather to draw upon that experience to use his opponent’s aggression against him earlier than in their previous clash. Maidana will have some positive moments in trying to make the bout as ugly as possible, but Mayweather’s ability to counter and overall versatility carry him to another decision triumph.