Mayweather closes in on his 46th win. Will Maidana pose a threat to his perfect record?

Three days from now, Argentine slugger Marcos ‘El Chino’ Maidana will walk the walk forty four men have taken before him. Jose Luis Castillo has shared the ring with him twice, but he along with all the others have failed to topple the pound for pound king, Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather.

Mayweather has become somewhat of an enigma in the sport. A gifted technician and savvy businessman, Floyd has transcended the sport of boxing. Perfecting the art of ‘hit and don’t get hit,’ Mayweather’s style has ensured his longevity in the sport, even producing some of his finest performances into his late thirties.

‘El Chino’ climbs through the ropes on May 3rd riding a four fight win streak over solid opposition, with wins over Jesus Soto Karass, Martin Angel Martinez, Josesito Lopez and the previously undefeated and highly touted Adrien Broner. Three of those four victories came by way of KO, and all four under the tutelage of trainer Robert Garcia.

Based in Oxnard, California, The Robert Garcia Boxing Academy has built an impressive team of fighters including Mikey Garcia, Nonito Donaire, Brandon Rios and Evgeny Gradovich amongst others. Whilst Rios and Donaire had a turbulent 2013 at times, Maidana remained a constant in the winning column.

May 3rd Marcos Maidana will look to grasp ‘The Moment’ with both gloves. With a somewhat limited skill set against a defensive wizard like Mayweather, Maidana must capitalize on the smallest openings that appear. Openings are few and far between with Floyd. The overhand right that brought Maidana much success against Broner will surely be a utilized tool on Saturday night.

Never one to shy from exchanges, ‘El Chino’s only genuine route to success is to close the distance and pressure Mayweather. Cotto had some success with an effective jab against ‘Money Mayweather,’ something surely noted by Robert Garcia.

The laws of physics have shown us that those who adapt will thrive. Floyd Mayweather’s success has been born and thrived through his ability to adapt in the ring to any style put in front of him. Defensively minded but equally equipped to apply calculated pressure when the opportunity arises.

Against Maidana, Floyd will look to control proceedings from the off set. Working behind a precise jab, Mayweather’s right hand will likely land clean and often on the often static Argentine. With Maidana’s tight but stationary guard, I expect to see the pin point uppercut we saw Floyd use to split Canelo’s guard last September. Amir Khan sent Maidana to the canvas with ferocious body work. Another chink in ‘El Chino’s armor Floyd may look to exploit.

No matter which way this fight is dissected, Marcos Maidana has a mountain to climb this Saturday. A slick and crafty operator has proven to be Maidana’s undoing in the past. But, Maidana has beaten the odds in the ring and life to get arrive at this point.

Facing Floyd Mayweather has become more than a twelve round bout, it is a spectacle. The magnitude of facing the sport’s pound for pound king has proven to crumble the hardest shells. Forty four have tried and forty four have come up short. Can Marcos Maidana become the one?