I’ve made it widely known that I favored a
Mayweather-Maidana match-up over Amir Khan (28-3, 19 KO's).
Honestly, I didn’t think Floyd would ever fight Maidana considering the
risk/reward compared to Khan.
Khan provides less risk and nearly as much reward, but it’s
obvious that he did not deserve the fight.
On the other hand, Maidana was coming off the biggest win of his career
(a unanimous decision over formerly unbeaten Adrien Broner), and provides a
more fan-friendly fighting style.
I have to give credit to where it’s due… Floyd chose the
right opponent which is something I didn’t expect him to do.
With that being said, Marcos Maidana merely has a puncher’s
chance of a puncher’s chance to beat Floyd.
Styles make fights and I’ve been a huge proponent of a
certain type of fighter needed to dethrone the pound-for-pound king. It’s going to take a relentless, active and
aggressive hard-hitting fighter with a chin that CANNOT be discouraged. While Marcos Maidana proves to share some of
those attributes, he does not possess the chin or the activity to give Floyd
problems.
Anyone who watched Amir Khan or Devon Alexander outbox
Maidana will quickly tell you that the Argentine fighter has no chance against
the likes of Mayweather Jr.
The biggest difference between Floyd and the aforementioned
fighters is the fact that he doesn’t take any chances. Amir beat Maidana to the punch all night, but
by throwing an abundant amount of punches, not to mention some beautiful
combinations, he left himself open to some heavy leather.
Floyd won’t throw those type of combinations, but he will
obliterate Maidana with his patented straight right hand. Marcos Maidana will not be able to find Floyd
Mayweather Jr. inside the squared circle.
Now I don’t believe Maidana will ever be discouraged or stop
coming after Floyd, but I do believe that Floyd has a decent chance of putting
Maidana on the canvas a couple times. What
makes Floyd so special, is that once he figures a fighter out, he can counter
their offense with quick pot shots… and come May 3rd, he’ll do it to
Marcos Maidana early and often.
So what exactly is a puncher’s chance of a puncher’s chance?
Well… Maidana has been counted out before and has often
walked into the ring as an overwhelming underdog. More times than not, he’s
found a way to get the job done using the ultimate equalizer; power.
Marcos Maidana can punch.
He nearly knocked Amir Khan out and anyone who watched the
10th round of their bout will walk away with a glimmer of hope. Maidana’s also the first fighter to make
Victor Ortiz quit and also found a way to land his blistering shots against
Broner and the infamous shoulder roll.
The question is… how does he hit the best defensive fighter since
Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker or even the legendary Willie Pep?
Fighters who are relentless in their attack eventually land
something. Floyd hasn’t fought a
relentless fighter since Ricky Hatton and prior to that, not since Jose Luis
Castillo. Hatton landed some shots but
didn’t have the power to disrupt Floyd.
Castillo beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the ring, only to be robbed by the
judges.
Maidana has to land something early and make Floyd EXTRA
defensive. By doing so, he’ll aid his
ability to be extra aggressive and force Floyd to fight on the run. From the opening bell, he must sustain a
ruthless body attack. Arms. Chest.
Liver.
Maidana needs to make it a rough and ugly fight. Even dirty.
Unfortunately, I can’t see the Argentine star being the
first fighter to officially beat Mayweather Jr.
He’s too slow, awkward and doesn’t possess the type of activity or chin
to beat one of the best fighters of our era.
I expect Floyd to win a rather easy unanimous decision
victory with a few moments within the fight that will leave fans on the edge of
their seats.
It’s a stop gap fight for Floyd that will hopefully lead to
a bigger fight in September.
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