LAS VEGAS: Undefeated five-division champion Floyd Mayweather Jr claimed a unanimous decision in a feisty encounter against Marcos Maidana to successfully defend three world titles and improve his record to 47-0.
In just the second rematch of his 18-year career, the 37-year-old American came out on top on all three scorecards yesterday, retaining his World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight and light-middleweight belts.
The victory was another masterful showcase of evasion from Mayweather, widely regarded as one of the best defensive fighters of all-time, as he danced out of danger and used his lightning counter punching to great effect.
Despite a dominating display Mayweather could only give his performance a C-minus. “I bring in a game plan, I bring in a team and we gave the fans what they wanted to see,” said Mayweather, who earned a guaranteed 32 million dollar for his night’s work. “He’s extremely dirty but rugged.
“It is another fight, another victory time to move on. The saga continues there are a lot of great fighters out there.”
The 12-round bout was not without controversy, however, with Mayweather accusing Maidana (34-5) of biting him, while the American tagged the Argentine with a low blow late in the bout then taunted him as he recovered in a neutral corner. Mayweather, whose only other rematch came in 2002 against Jose Luis Castillo, executed the perfect game plan, frustrating the 31-year-old Argentine brawler with his speed and sharpness.
Maidana, however, left convinced he had won the fight. “I’m very happy to have fought twice against Floyd Mayweather, I think I did a terrific job,” said Maidana. “Many have fought against him and I don’t think they did what I was able to do.
“I thought I did enough to win. If the judges like a fighter who runs like Floyd there is nothing I can do about it. “He’s beatable, you have to attack him. When you attack him he really doesn’t know what to do. “He is very fast on his feet I will tell you that.”
Maidana employed the attacking tactics that served him well in the majority decision loss in May but failed to do any damage as the elusive Mayweather ducked and weaved away from his hard-hitting opponent’s punches. (PTI)
