Floyd Mayweather vs. Marcos Maidana
Photo by Esther Lin/Showtime
Lou Catalano, Staff Writer
There is a difference between a fight being entertaining, which the first fight was, and a fight being close, which the first one really wasn’t. Marcos Maidana made a fantastic showing of himself, pressuring Floyd Mayweather and making him look quite uncomfortable for much of the night.
But Floyd did what he always does, he adjusted to his opponent and found a decent rhythm by the later rounds.
I’m not sure if Maidana can fight any better than he did the first time around. If his stamina is improved, it could make for a longer night for Mayweather. There’s always a chance that he catches “Money” clean with a power punch, and then all bets are off. That just doesn’t seem likely.
Floyd survives a couple rocky moments on his way to a wide decision, ending this lousy shitfest of a fight card.
Prediction: Mayweather
Sara Beverley Jones, Matchroom Boxing
I think Floyd Mayweather will try new tactics this time and make the proper adjustments to try and get a clear win.
He’ll start with his jab early and counter right and be more consistent. If Mayweather can keep off the ropes and stay more in the middle of the ring, he will win more comfortably this time around.
Marcos Maidana’s tactics aren’t likely to change, he’ll be looking to maul Mayweather in a similar fashion to Shawn Porter against Kell Brook as his talent can not match up to Floyd’s so he’s left with little option.
But, Mayweather definitely has to incorporate the jab more in this fight, he needs his legs because he needs to stay at the proper distance where his jab can be effective. If he allows Maidana to smother him again, then at that distance there’s no use for his jab.
Maidana will most likely want to be in Mayweather’s chest and rush him again. Mayweather needs to create and maintain a comfortable distance. But, will Mayweather’s age be an issue when using his legs?
We have to remember he’s not as young as he once was. But, my prediction is a clear points win for Mayweather if the proper adjustments are made.
Prediction: Mayweather
Donte Brown, Owner of Donte’s Boxing Gym
You always want to give any opponent in boxing a “punchers chance”, and in this fight, that’s about all the chance I will credit Marcos Maidana with.
Prediction: Mayweather
Rob Anthony, Contributing Writer
Marcos Maidana will make it tough for Floyd Mayweather. He will foul. He will throw overhand rights. He will try his best to cut off the ring and block off Mayweather’s escape routes.
Despite all of Chino’s best efforts, Mayweather will win with his amazing endurance, ring IQ, clean punching and puzzling defense.
Prediction: Mayweather
Merissa Dyer, Staff Writer
I covered this rematch in my post-fight analysis of Floyd Mayweather and Marcos Maidana’s first bout, and now it has come to pass. Maidana will likely return to the ring executing the same game plan he did in the first fight, which meant pressuring Mayweather and tagging him against the ropes.
Floyd made the first fight exciting by opening himself up on the ropes, a sweet spot for his opponents. Maidana brings dangerous power to the table and is not an opponent to be overlooked.
However, this time around, Mayweather will not leave room for doubt when the winner of the fight is decided. Both men are going for the knockout, which is the only way Maidana can win. Every boxer has a fighter’s chance, but Mayweather’s defense, speed, timing and high boxing IQ will make Maidana’s victory by knockout an unlikely possibility.
Prediction: Mayweather
Sarah Gruber, Special Contributor
When preparing for a rematch, a boxer is not only in competition with their opponent, but also themselves as they must look within their craft to find how to improve from their previous meeting.
Both Floyd Mayweather and Marcos Maidana have areas in which they will need to focus on improving for their rematch. Maidana will need to have stamina of epic proportion in order to beat Mayweather on the scorecards.
In their first meeting, Maidana was aggressive and scored well early on, but as the match wore on, he began to fade. This lack of lasting push from Maidana left Mayweather able to regain his dominance, winning every round from the fifth on out.
Maidana’s camp has created nutrition and training composition that they believe will take Chino to a stellar 12 round high paced performance level. Money Mayweather should look to be dominant in the earlier rounds of this fight by doing what he does best, make his opponent miss, make them frustrated and then make them pay.
The dirty tactics Mayweather thought were used in the first fight by Maidana will likely by kept in check early on from no nonsense referee Kenny Bayless. Expect to see warnings issued early on, and point deductions issued in later rounds if Maidana attempts any overly aggressive or dirty boxing.
Maidana has stated time-and-time again that he felt he beat Mayweather in their first meeting though the scorecards disagreed. One can’t help but wonder as the fight comes closer, the training camps end, and the pressure continues to mount, which fighter can handle the Mayhem?
The truth is I think we will see a more confident and hungrier Mayweather than ever before. I believe the idea of even coming close to losing was enough to bruise Floyd’s cocky spirit and will positively affect his second performance. While I do feel that Maidana will push the pace dramatically, I just don’t think he will be able to dominate Mayweather with enough pressure and punches throughout all 12 rounds to influence a decision in his favor.
I think Mayweather returns in his vintage form in which his swift defense, mental toughness and lightning hand speed lead him to victory. I predict a Floyd Mayweather victory by majority decision.
Prediction: Mayweather
Vincent Nolasco, Contributing Writer
In the very anticipated rematch bout between Floyd Mayweather and Marcos Maidana, Maidana must try to pressure and attack the body early and often.
This tactic will work for about two rounds. After the third round on, Mayweather will make the quick adjustment to counter and use his slick defense to earn him a unanimous decision victory.
Prediction: Mayweather
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
The first fight between Floyd Mayweather and Marcos Maidana was exciting as hell. Maidana relentlessly pressured Mayweather and was able to trap him on the ropes more than we thought would be the case. Perhaps it is a sign of Mayweather’s age, but Maidana had a lot of chances to attack in close quarters.
Having said all of that, I didn’t feel that Maidana did enough to come closer to meriting a decision victory. The phrase “clean punching and effective aggression” always sticks out to me when I watch fights and try to judge. While I thought Maidana fought well, I simply couldn’t give him credit for arm and back punches. In other words, Maidana’s pressure may have been effective in rattling Mayweather a bit, it certainly wasn’t clean. Maidana has admitted as much in the All Access series, stating he didn’t hit Mayweather with many clean shots.
Chino’s strategy seems to be focused on maintaining a bit more space instead of getting in too close and smothering his own offense. I think that at a longer range, Floyd will be too precise and pick Chino apart, cruising to a decision victory. If Maidana does indeed throw caution to the wind and bull rush Mayweather like he did in the first fight, he may have some early success, but in the end I think Mayweather wins that style of fight as well.
Prediction: Mayweather
