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Mayweather Versus Maidana II

Written by Jason Dewey for @HollywoodbetsFollow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!

The stage is set for one of the most eagerly awaited rematches in modern boxing – Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Marcos Maidana. The bout, which is due to be staged in front of a capacity crowd at the dazzling MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, represents arguably the biggest threat to Mayweather’s perfect 46-0 record. Although the judges’ scorecards read in favour of Mayweather at the end of the first contest, Maidana left the ring itching for a rematch after hitting arguably the best defensive boxer in history a record 221 times.

May 13’s bout will no doubt still be fresh in the mind of Mayweather after having spent large periods of the fight pinned against the ropes, unable to find the space required to avoid the flurry of power punches hurled at him by the Argentine. In those brief moments the usually unflappable Mayweather seemed to writhe under the pressure, before moving the fight back toward the centre of the ring where he’s much more comfortable. There have been very few fighters in the recent past who’ve been able to effectively move Mayweather around the ring in the manner of Maidana. Utilising his jab, the Argentine was able set up bursts of power punches including his trademark overhand right – the same punch that had Adrien Broner scampering around San Antonio’s Alamodome looking like a noodle-legged calf.

Mayweather, who has in the past been accused of picking easy fights, surprised most people in the boxing fraternity with the announcement of this rematch. The fight promises to push Mayweather harder than any of his previous 46 matches, with Maidana seeming to find his way through Mayweather’s customary tenacious defence with comparative ease. This coupled with Maidana’s complete and utter domination of Adrien Broner – one of the sport’s brightest upcoming stars – will give “El Chino” all the confidence he needs when he steps into the ring with Mayweather on September 13.

Where will this fight be won and lost?
Ring control is going to be at the forefront of both fighters’ minds, especially considering how the first bout panned out. If Mayweather finds himself with his back to the ropes, Maidana will no doubt open up with flurries of wild – but effective – power punches. Maidana will look to leave Mayweather with no space to counter-punch and utilise his famed sniper-like accuracy. Maidana’s ability to do this, however, may be slightly hampered by the fact that he will be going into this fight a lot lighter than he did the first time. Maidana weighed in at 146.5lbs for the first fight and spent the next day hydrating in a bid to gain extra weight. In the end, he entered the ring at around 165lbs – essentially stepping into the MGM Grand Arena three weight classes above Mayweather. Many believe that Maidana’s ability to bully and keep Mayweather pinned to the ropes for such long periods of time was down to the fact that he had such a disproportionate weight advantage.

Mayweather, on the other hand, will no doubt look to keep the fight in the middle of the ring; affording himself the space he needs to use his swiftness, accuracy and his uncanny capability of judging distance to land effective punches. It’s simple, really. If Mayweather can keep the now much lighter Maidana in the middle of the ring, he should have very few problems defeating the Argentine.

Personally, I think that this is Mayweather’s fight to lose. Maidana simply does not have the hand speed to effectively hit the American consistently enough to do any significant damage. Relinquishing his weight advantage will also play quite nicely into Mayweather’s hands. Maidana’s trainer, Robert Garcia, has gone on record as saying that he sent his fighter into the last bout too far heavy, claiming that he simply lacked the hand speed and crispness in his punches to further trouble Mayweather. Maidana, however, has never been renowned for his hand speed, even when fighting as a welterweight. It’d take a brave man to bet on Maidana, even after his heroics in the first fight. Mayweather simply has more in his locker in terms of both ability and experience. Unless the Argentine can find a way to keep Mayweather’s back against the ropes, he stands little chance of facing up to the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter in the middle of the ring.

Current Betting:
Mayweather 1/8
Maidana 5/1

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