Floyd 'Money' Mayweather Jr vs Marcos Maidana: Mayweather is undisputed welterweight world champion

Pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather ran his perfect record to 46-0 with a 12-round majority decision over Marcos Maidana in a welterweight world title unification bout Saturday night.

The 37-year-old American Mayweather retained his World Boxing Council world title and took Maidana's World Boxing Association belt, winning the fight on two of the three judges' scorecards, with the third scoring it a draw.

"It was a tough competitive fight tonight," Mayweather said. "I stayed in there. I wanted to stand and fight.

"I could have made this fight easy but it would have been boring."

Mayweather, who was an 11-1 favourite heading into the fight, received scores of 117-111 and 116-112. The third judge scored it 114-114.

Mayweather did not get the decisive victory that so many had predicted as the more aggressive Maidana gave him all he could handle.

Argentina's hard-punching Maidana, 30, who was making the first defence of his title, suffered the fourth loss of his career to go with 35 victories.

Maidana was upset with the way the fight was scored, saying he was "robbed" of the decision.

"I definitely think I won," Maidana said. "He didn't fight like a man.

"Nobody has ever attacked him the way I did. And nobody has ever landed punches the way I did."

Most of Mayweather's recent fights have been boring tactical affairs, but Maidana's relentless pursuit of the unbeaten champion and willingness to go toe-to-toe made for an exciting bout.

Many in the crowd also thought Maidana had done enough to win the fight and his supporters in the arena booed the decision, then tried to drown out Mayweather's post-fight interview.

Mayweather made a grand entrance befitting his superstar status. He was accompanied into the ring by pop star Justin Bieber and rapper Lil Wayne.

Some of the other celebrities in attendance at Saturday's fight at the Grand Garden arena inside the massive MGM Grand hotel-casino complex included rapper Drake, former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson, entertainer Snoop Dog, comedian George Lopez and basketball legend Magic Johnson.

The first few rounds of the main event bout were electric as Maidana stuck to his pre-fight promise to come out swinging.

Mayweather seemed to be content to lean on the ropes and absorb the overhand rights that got the crowd excited but appeared to do little damage early on.

Mayweather did suffer a cut over his right eye in the fourth round from an accidental head butt.

"After the head butt I couldn't see for two rounds. But that is what champions do, they adjust," Mayweather said.

Both fighters resorted to some questionable moves later in the fight.

Maidana hit Mayweather with a low blow in the eighth and later in the round Mayweather tried to surprise Maidana with a ghost punch while the Argentinian was trying to communicate with the referee about something Mayweather was doing that he didn't like.

In the 11th, Maidana pushed Mayweather partly through the ropes then threw more punches while Mayweather was leaning over backwards almost falling out of the ring.

Maidana landed a total of 221 punches - more than any fighter against Mayweather in his last 38 fights.

Mayweather praised Maidana for taking the fight to him but blamed the Argentinian for the rough stuff.

"I thought I was the boxer and he was the WWE wrestler," Mayweather said. "It was the toughest wrestling match I have ever had. Miguel Cotto was a tougher fighter and he hit harder."

But asked if he would give Maidana the rematch that the Maidana says he wants Mayweather replied, "Let's do it again."

At the post fight news conference, Mayweather shook the hand of Maidana's trainer Robert Garcia and said there would be a rematch in the fall.

Some see Mayweather's inability to dominate like he has done in the past as a sign that father time might be catching up to him.

"He is getting older and showing a lot of mistakes that he didn't used to do. It is a great time to catch him," said British boxer Amir Khan who beat Luis Collazo on Saturday's undercard and is also hoping to land a title bout against Mayweather.

Several people were injured and taken out of the MGM on stretchers to the hospital after hundreds of fans stampeded out of the front doors of the Grand Garden arena immediately following the fight.

"People just started yelling and screaming and next thing I knew some guy jumps over my table and hits me on the head. There were a couple of ladies on the floor next to me. It was chaos," said Carlos, who works as a photographer for the hotel.

It was unclear what triggered the stampede.

LIVE COMMENTARY

Mayweather wins by a majority decision against Maidana to be crowned the new WBC/WBA welterweight champion in a unification fight  to extend his unbeaten record to 46-0.

One judged scored it even 114-114 while Mayweather got the nod from the other two judges 117-111, 116-112.

"It was a tough competitive fight. I boxed... I moved," said Mayweather after his win.

"I wanted to give an exciting fight. I want to give fans their monies worth," he said when asked how he fought differently in the second half of the bout.

"A true champion can make ajustments to anything," said Mayweather who saw blood for the first in a bout which came from an accidental head butt.

"For two rounds I couldn't see," said Mayweather who was trailing in the opening rounds of the fight.

"If the fans want to see it, let's do it again," he said when asked whether he had shelved his retirment plans.

Maidana who took the fight to Mayweather and was ahead in the first half of the contest, believed he had won more rounds than his opponent.

"He didn't fight like a man. I won most of the rounds. I'm not scared of him," said the brave Argentinean during the ringside interview.

Round 12: It's now or never for Maidana. Mayweather catches him with two left uppercuts and a jab. Mayweather is outboxing Maidana scoring heavily with his swift hands. Mayweather is beating him to the punch. Maidana is all over Mayweather as the final minutes approaches. Mayweather scores with his right jabs and overhand punches and may have got the nod.

Emirates 24|7 scores 10-9 to Mayweather

Round 11: Maidana is on the retreat as Mayweather comes out firing landing solid blows. Mayweather keeps Maidana at bay with his left leads. Maidana pins him on the ropes but fails to break his solid defence. A bit of wild agression as some wrestling goes on before Mayweather finishes with a couple of right crosses.

Emirates 24|7 scores 10-9 to Mayweather

Round 10: Maidana tries to force the pace but Mayweather is proving to be elusive. Maywweather staggers Maidana with a left uppercut after unleashing a solid combination. Mayweather lands and overhand right to pin Maidana on the ropes this time. Maidana is unable to break the solid defence of Mayweather who leads with a right uppercut finishing the round with an overhand right.

Emirates 24|7 scores 10-9 to Mayweather

Round 9: Mayweather is control now making Maidana stalk him and catching him with a couple of solid right hands. Maidana is missing while Mayweather lands solid overhand rights. Mayweather is punching at will now finding the target with a flurry of combinations punishing Maidana.

Emirates 24|7 scores 10-9 to Mayweather

Round 8: Maidana is all over Mayweather again trying to get his second wind. Mayweather counters with a couple of sharp right hands. Maidana tries to score with left jabs but Mayweather scores with speedy counter punches.

Emirates 24|7 scores 10-9 to Mayweather

Round 7: Maidana has Mayweather backpeddling but the American is stepping up the ante firing in uppercuts and hooks. Mayweather is making Maidana miss while landing solid blows. Mayweather is outboxing his punch weary opponent using the ropes to his advantage. Mayweather in command now dictating the pace of the fight.

Emirates 24|7 scores 10-9 to Mayweather

Round 6: Mayweather is still backing away to the ropes but counter attacks with a right hand lead. Maidana is pinning him on the ropes before Mayweather slips away with a left hook. Maidana scores with a right jab while Mayweather counters with a right uppercut. Mayweeather finally gets his punching range scoring with left and right jabs fighting from the centre of the ring.

Emirates 24|7 scores 10-9 to Mayweather

Round 5: Maidana is leading the fight in the opening minute and lands a solid right. Mayweather is missing his target though frustrating Maidana by ducking and weaving. Maidana lands consecutive left jabs and finishes the round strongly.

Emirates 24|7 scores 10-9 to Maidana

Round 4: Mayweather has a battle on his hands. Maidana protests that Mayweather is using his elbows. Maidana is swinging and missing. Mayweather is trying to box on the outside but Maidana is pinning him on the ropes. Maidana lands left uppercuts and chopping right hands. Mayweather counters with left hooks. Mayweather is in trouble with his right eye after a clash of heads but finishes strongly with left hooks and right uppercuts.

Emirates 24|7 scores 10-9 to Mayweather

Round 3: Maidana is doing what he knows best but Mayweather counters with a left hook. Mayweather tries to keep him at bay but Maidana pins him on the ropes and lands a solid upppercut. Mayweather is missing but Maidana is doing the fighting putting pressure on the American.

Emirates 24|7 scores 10-9 to Maidana

Round 2: Mayweather lands a left hook and jabs to take control of the fight from the centre. Mayweather adopts the rope a dope tactic as Maidana forces the pace and whips with both hands. Mayweather forces him back with a solid body shot and finishes with a right jab.

Emirates 24|7 scores 10-9 to Mayweather

Round 1: Gun slinger Maidana tries to open up and catch Mayweather in a corner but the American slips out. Maidana is pounding Mayweather on the ropes. The Argentinean is all over Mayweather who decides to slug it out. Maidana lands overhand blows but is cautioned for a low blow.

Emirates 24|7 scores 10-9 to Maidana

Mayweather is lighter and older but has a massive reach advantage against Maidana in the tale of the tape.

Maidana enters the ring first while Mayweather makes his grand entry accompanied by Justin Bieber and TMT (The Money Team).

The national anthems have been sung Mayweather and Maidana have finishes the final warm-ups as the crowd wait eagerly for the action to begin.

Amir Khan has proved that he is a worthy challenger to Floyd Mayweather Jr. after winning by unanimous decision against two-time former champion Luis Collazo fighting the welterweight for the first time.

PREVIEW

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is enough of a businessman to know his latest fight would be a tough sell, especially after setting records with Canelo Alvarez his last time out.

But sell he must, even though oddsmakers and nearly everyone else give Marcos Maidana little chance in their welterweight title fight Saturday night.

A full house is already guaranteed at the MGM Grand hotel arena, but Mayweather needs people at home to pay $64.95 for the fight if he is going to recoup his guaranteed $32 million purse.

So Mayweather hinted this week that this might be his last fight, though few in boxing believe that. He also said he planned to stand in front of Maidana and trade punches with the hard-hitting Argentine, though his history in the ring suggests he won't.

Oh, and he wants to score a knockout, something he's done only once in the last seven years.

"I want to look impressive," Mayweather said. "I want to put on a good show. We don't expect this fight to go the distance."

Mayweather returns to the ring for the first time since dominating Alvarez in boxing's richest bout, taking on Maidana in a fight that even Mayweather seems to have trouble expressing much enthusiasm about.

He's a bigger, much more skilled fighter than the Argentine, just part of the reason oddsmakers make him a 11-1 pick to remain undefeated in the 46th fight of a pro career that has made him the richest fighter ever.

Still, Mayweather (45-0, 26 knockouts) says he has to be wary of the power Maidana brings into the ring.

"He's got an 80 per cent knockout ratio so I can't go to sleep on this guy," he said. "But guys can't go to the mental level I'm at. I can beat them many ways."

The fight is part of a pay-per-view card that features former champion Amir Khan moving up to welterweight to fight another former champion in Luis Collazo.

Khan had campaigned to be Mayweather's opponent and won an online poll set up by Mayweather, who ended up picking Maidana instead.

If Khan is impressive, though, and Mayweather wins as expected, the two could meet later this year.

"I would have loved to fight Floyd Mayweather, but I believe it's really for the best," Khan said. "It gives me a chance to get to 147 and feel my way."

Maidana (35-3, 31 knockouts) earned the fight with a strong showing in his last bout, twice knocking down Adrien Broner on his way to a decision win in December.

Though Maidana hits hard, he will be up against a fighter who is such a defensive wizard that he rarely gets hit with more than one punch in any exchange.

"It's very difficult to land a punch against Mayweather," Maidana said. "But when I land a punch I'm going to hit him and not let him go. I will go after him."

Mayweather said he welcomes the challenge after easily beating Alvarez last September in a fight that was supposed to be his toughest test.

"If he brings his best maybe he will be the first guy that actually makes me dig in my bag of tricks and pull out my 'A' game," Mayweather said. "Hopefully he will make me bring out my 'A' game because my whole career all I had to use was a 'D' and 'C' game to beat every guy."

If the Alvarez fight showed anything other than Mayweather's talent for making money — and tons of it — it was that a conventional fighter stands little chance against him.

He's been dodging punches since before he could walk, and he's a wizard at exploiting whatever weakness he finds in the fighter in front of him.

"I can feel when a guy's gonna punch. I can feel it," Mayweather said. "I don't even have to see it; I can feel it. You know, this is just with experience and being around the sport so long."

Maidana says he can become the first to beat Mayweather because he will be the first to treat him just like any other fighter in the ring.

"Other fighters they show respect, they show fear," he said. "That's one thing I won't show against Mayweather."

CLEVER DEFENCE 

Pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather has what he considers the ideal strategy when he puts his perfect record on the line Saturday against power-puncher Marcos Maidana.

"The game plan is to stay in the pocket. Make the guy miss and make the guy pay," says Mayweather, who is the highest paid athlete in North American sports, earning an estimated $85 million year according to Forbes Magazine.

He is a defensive-minded fighter who beats his opponents with Olympic-style tactics - racking up points with the judges.

His counterpunching strategy may not make for exciting knockouts, but it has served him well during his 18-year career.

"Is Marcos Maidana one of the best in the sport? Absolutely," Mayweather said. "But I am the best there is. We are still wondering who's going to solve the 'MayVinci' Code? But come Saturday I will find a way to win."

SIX POUNDS LIGHTER

Pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather weighed in half a pound less than World Boxing Association champion Marcos Maidana on Friday on the eve of their welterweight world title unification fight.

Mayweather, 45-0 with 26 knockouts, stepped on the scales weighing one pound under the 147-pound limit in front of a packed house of about 9,500 at the Grand Garden Arena.

Argentina's Maidana, 35-3 with 31 knockouts, weighed in at 146.5 pounds for Saturday's 12-round bout.

Mayweather is six pounds lighter than in his last fight against Mexico's Canelo Alvarez.

But he looked fit and trim as he stripped off his red and white track suit and stepped onto the scales wearing bright red socks and pink boxer shorts to a loud applause.

Not many Vegas punters are giving Maidana a chance to upset Mayweather, who is a 11-1 favourite to retain his WBC welterweight crown and also claim Maidana's WBA belt.

The two boxers engaged in a brief staredown then quietly went their separate ways, with Mayweather telling US pay-per-view telecaster Showtime that nothing is going to get in his way on Saturday night.

Mayweather is also facing some personal issues involving his love life ahead of Saturday's fight.

He was asked if those issues were a distraction for the fight.

"I perform better under pressure," Mayweather said. "Pressure is normal. I love it. I love it. I am ready to fight."

Mayweather announced last month that he and his ex-fiancee, Shantel Jackson, had broken up.

Showtime revealed the breakup happened after Jackson, who had been pregnant with twins, was no longer pregnant.

Mayweather told Atlanta radio station V-103 on Thursday that he initally thought Jackson had a miscarriage then said he found out from Showtime that she terminated the pregnancy without his knowledge.

"They (Showtime) said 'Floyd this was not a miscarriage, this was an abortion.' So I never knew that," Mayweather said.

"I received some information that was false. I was in love with somebody I didn't know."

Boxing fans began lining up outside the arena doors at 6 in the morning, about eight hours before the scheduled weigh-in start. Dozens who tried to get in after seats were filled were turned away.

Chris Taggart, who came from Cleveland, Ohio, said Mayweather shouldn't have too much trouble keeping his perfect record intact.

"He has never lost and I don't see it happening here," the 25-year-old warehouse worker said of Mayweather.

Taggart, still seeking tickets, says the cheapest he can find so far are about $400 for the "nosebleeds."

Roberto Yanez of Chicago will watch the fight hoping for an upset.

"I would love to see him lose because this is just another one of his hand-selected opponents," said Yanez, who wants to see Mayweather fight Filipino star Manny Pacquiao.

The fight is the third of the 30-month, six-fight deal worth $200 million-plus that Mayweather signed with Showtime.

The undercard features British superstar Amir Khan, who will square off against American Luis Collazo in a 12-round fight.

Khan, who hopes a win Saturday will put him in position to fight Mayweather in the fall, weighed in on the 147-pound limit, as did Collazo.

Khan is fighting for the first time in 12 months. He doesn't expect to be rusty after the longest break of his boxing career.

"I had a nice break," Khan said Friday. "I needed it. My first fight at 147 pounds and I can't wait to put on a great performance."
 

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