For a moment, it seemed like Marcos “El Chino” Maidana could do the unthinkable – hand pound-for-pound champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather the first loss of his brilliant career. Only for a moment.
Mayweather, who is now the WBC and WBA Welterweight World Champion, prevailed with a hard-fought majority decision victory over Maidana in the main event on Saturday on SHOWTIME PPV in front of 16,268 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Judge Michael Pernick scored the fight a draw (114-114) while Burt Clemens scored 117-111 and Dave Moretti 116-112.
Mayweather vs. Maidana and Khan vs. Collazo will premiere on SHOWTIME next Saturday, May 10, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. In addition, ALL ACCESS: Mayweather vs. Maidana will premiere “Epilogue” at 11:45 p.m. ET/PT following the special SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast of the pay-per-view bouts.
Maidana, who said he needed to throw 100 punches a round to win, came out blazing, suffocating Mayweather against the ropes and doing just that – throwing precisely 100 punches in the opening round. But the difference was accuracy, as Mayweather (46-0, 26 KOs) landed 54 percent of his total punches thrown compared to Maidana’s 26 percent landed.
“It was a tough, competitive fight,” Mayweather said. “I gave the fans what the fans wanted to see. Normally, I box and move. Finally, I was in a tough, competitive fight. Tonight, I wanted to stand there and fight and give the fans their money’s worth.”
The thrilling encounter was rough from the start, with Maidana (35-4, 31 KOs) bullying Mayweather against the ropes and Mayweather asserting his dominance in the middle of the ring. Mayweather suffered the most significant cut of his career after a clash of heads in the fourth round and, at times, seemed in danger of losing his first bout since the amateurs.
SHO Stats compiled punches landed in 38 of Mayweather’s previous fights. On Saturday, SHO Stats revealed that Maidana hit the pound-for-pound great more times than ever, with 221 punches making contact.
“I definitely think I won this fight,” Maidana said. “Floyd did not fight like the man I expected him to. He made me change the gloves. I had bigger gloves and everything and I still gave him a fight.
“He did win some rounds, but the majority of them I dominated. I did go after him, but he’s a difficult fighter.”
After the scintillating bout that had pundits and promoters alike calling for a rematch, SHOWTIME reporter Jim Gray pressed Mayweather if he would grant Maidana another shot.
“If the fans want to see it again, we’ll do it again,” Mayweather said.
While Maidana disagreed with the judges, the feeling was mutual for the Argentinean when asked if he wanted a rematch.
“I have to give him a rematch because I won the fight,” Maidana said. “I’m not scared of him. Why not give him the rematch.”
“Let’s do it again,” said Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer.
