Let’s hope the boxing public has more interest in Floyd Mayweather’s rematch with Marcos Maidana than Floyd Mayweather seems to have. You would think Mayweather would be eager to hype their Sept. 13 showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
But the pound-for-pound king seemed bored starting a five-city tour in Manhattan on Monday and gave little respect to Maidana, who used constant pressure and rough-house tactics to bang Mayweather around during their first fight in May. Mayweather, who suffered a cut over his eye, was favored on two judges’ cards: 117-111 and 116-112, while the third judge saw a 114-114 draw.
Maidana demanded a rematch and Mayweather (46-0, 26 KOs) obliged though he called the Argentinian a dirty fighter who has no chance of winning.
“He wants to hold with one hand and elbow,” Mayweather said. “I didn’t get a deep gash from a punch. He got a deep gash from a head butt. There were 20 low blows. We can go on and on.”
“He’s not going to win. You can get all the best trainers and all the fighters that think they can beat me. Each fight is going to have the same result. Continue to line them up like bowling pins and I’m going to knock them down.”
The press release announcing the bout began with how “their thrilling first fight last May left sports fans clamoring for more.” That might be an exaggeration. Fighting Maidana (35-4, 31 KOs) again is simply the most viable option among a depleting list of worthy opponents that doesn’t include Manny Pacquiao. Maidana did well enough to make noise about being robbed even though he wasn’t. Mayweather won three of the last four rounds to earn the victory. This is only the second rematch of Mayweather’s career. He fought Jose Louis Castillo twice in 2002, winning both by decisions.
“Our plan of attack in the first fight was great,” Maidana said. “It’s just a matter of adding on to it.”
Mayweather said he agreed to the rematch because, “I just want to give the fans what they want to see.” He’s also guaranteed another $30 million in what will be the fourth in a six-fight $250 million deal with CBS/Showtime.
“Maidana is a tough competitor, but it’s going to be the same thing,” Mayweather said. “I’m really not worried about nothing. I don’t worry about any fighter. They’re all the same to me. They’re just fighters.”
Mayweather wasn’t having as much fun on Monday as he did a few days ago when he was pictured hanging out with Johnny Manziel and Justin Bieber.
“He’s pretty short,” Mayweather said of Manziel. “He didn’t really say much. He just sat and looked at me.”