In opposition to all expectations, Mayweather vs Maidana proved to be one of the thrilling fights of 2014. As he did towards Adrien Broner 5 months earlier than, Marcos Maidana began quick, attacking relentlessly, pushing Floyd Mayweather into the ropes and throwing large looping punches. A few of these bought by, and Mayweather, unaccustomed to such ferocious barrages, was compelled to swivel inside his shoulder roll protection. The tempo didn’t abate, as coach Robert Garcia’s plan was for ‘Chino’ to throw 100 punches per spherical. Watching Floyd get bullied by somebody with no respect for his expertise was an uncommon sight, and the gang–which included hundreds of Argentines–exulted in seeing Mayweather examined in a approach few had ever seen earlier than. Maidana entered the ring some 15 kilos heavier than Floyd, and he used this additional weight to push “Cash” again. Floyd’s benefits in pace, expertise, defensive acumen, and savvy couldn’t subdue Maidana’s aggression, and thru the primary 5 rounds the Argentine was the higher man.
When an opponent presents Floyd with an issue, he sometimes finds an answer after just a few rounds. However Maidana was so stylistically awkward, that Floyd couldn’t discover a rhythm or snug distance from which to exert management. On this sense, Mayweather vs Maidana was much like Floyd’s first scrap with Jose Luis Castillo, when the Mexican’s uneven, awkward fashion combined badly with Mayweather’s technical mastery. However starting in spherical six, and regardless of bleeding from an unintentional headbutt, Floyd made the stylistic changes essential to subdue his aggressive opponent. Particularly, he started to command the middle of the ring, the place he started to ascertain his jab, repeatedly utilizing it to strike Maidana’s stomach, and he additionally started to throw his proper hand extra liberally. Floyd’s accuracy was exceptional: regardless of throwing half of Maidana’s punches, at this level within the bout he loved a slender edge in blows landed.
In the previous couple of rounds of the bout, with the battle agonizingly shut, Floyd managed to outpoint “Chino” by touchdown the straighter, cleaner pictures. Nevertheless, whereas some appreciated to dismiss Maidana as a crude, two-fisted slugger whose shoddy method allowed Mayweather to achieve the sting, this was unfair to each fighters. Even when wildly swinging his overhand proper and combating with the abandon of a avenue robust, Maidana confirmed technical improvement, as his protection and jab have been sharper than ever earlier than. This ensured the battle can be aggressive till the top. Although he threw 858 pictures, Maidana didn’t punch himself out, and was nonetheless coming ahead within the late going. Whereas its management had been ceded to Floyd, the match was shut sufficient that the championship rounds have been genuinely dramatic. In brief, it took some championship degree ability and composure for Mayweather to achieve the higher hand within the closing rounds.
Floyd received a majority choice with scores of 114-144, 116-112, and 117-11, however these final two rating playing cards didn’t precisely mirror what unfolded within the ring that night time, significantly the 117-111 end result, which was, in a phrase, absurd. Floyd did sufficient to prevail, however his margin of victory was nearer than such scores indicated. Actually, Mayweather appeared visibly nervous when the choice was learn, and didn’t even elevate his fingers when deemed the victor. Afterwards, Maidana, to everybody’s amusement, acknowledged that since he was the true winner he can be completely happy to grant Floyd a rematch. Whereas the judges deemed Mayweather’s precision extra vital than Maidana’s quantity, all agreed that the Argentine’s effort and execution have been distinctive.
Certainly, the night time’s greatest winner was actually Marcos Maidana, who proved he was a extra competent elite performer than most had believed. He confirmed to all that he had made large enhancements beneath the steerage of coach Robert Garcia, and that he now introduced a formidable array of expertise and weapons to the ring, combining energy, some cagey boxing expertise, with bodily power and savage aggression. And his efficiency endeared him to boxing followers outdoors of Argentina, an incredible boon for his profession.
Floyd Mayweather confirmed boxing followers he’s able to coping with a hellion however, tellingly, when the battle had ended there gave the impression to be extra aid, and fewer jubilation, in his nook than in fights previous. Floyd regarded weary, as if he’d been compelled to confront the truth that what he does for a dwelling may be exceedingly arduous when issues don’t go as deliberate. He nonetheless received, however not with out paying a substantial bodily worth. Irrespective of the wages, working as an expert prizefighter takes a vicious toll, and it appeared evident that Marcos Maidana had compelled Floyd Mayweather to confront that actuality in a approach no different opponent ever had. — Robert Portis
