(by Frank Walsh) The Mayweather ‘Sweepstakes’, as Floyd’s promotional team likes to label it, has produced a winner. After weeks of speculation and a social media frenzy on the subject, Marcos Maidana has emerged as the man selected to face pound for pound king, Floyd Mayweather.
Floyd Mayweather last appeared in a ring last September, opposite of Mexican sensation Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. Five months shy of his 37th birthday, Mayweather performed a flawless masterclass. Showing no signs of his speed diminishing, it was hard to see where a credible opponent would appear from. Enter Marcos Maidana.
On the back of three stoppage victories over Jesus Soto Karass, Angel Martinez and Josesito Lopez, Maidana next shared the ring with the highly touted and undefeated, Adrien Broner, on December 14th. Putting forth a stellar performance, Maidana solved the problem.
Following Maidana’s impressive victory over Broner, Mayweather without question had seen an opportunity. One man’s loss is another man’s gain. Broner’s loss resulted in Floyd gaining a credible opponent for May 3rd. There was however one more fight to be had before the corner opposite of Mayweather could be occupied.
Maidana campaigned and waged a verbal war with former opponent Amir Khan, whom was the other player in the Mayweather sweepstakes. On Floyd Mayweather’s website a poll was created for fans to vote for whom they wanted to face Mayweather come May 3rd. We now know that Khan may have won the battle in winning votes, but Maidana won the war.
Amir Khan played a risky move last December in opting out of the Devon Alexander bout. Not only has it failed to pay off, but it showed a lack of faith from his advisors. Had Khan fought and possibly defeated Alexander, chances are he may have landed the Mayweathet fight. So where does Amir Khan go from this point? An ideal situation may be to land on the May 3rd undercard. A clash with Adrien Broner would be a nice addition to the card. Another option is a fight with fellow Brit, Kell Brook. Khan vs. Brook would be big business in the UK as fans have shown a desire to see them square off in the ring.
Mayweather vs Maidana holds higher promotional potential and possibly PPV buys. Khan had been hugely inactive, last in the ring with Julio Diaz last April in a below par showing. Fighter’s fight, and Maidana has done that in spades, beating credible opposition in doing so. Maidana faces a mammoth task, the likes he has never faced before. But he is a live underdog. As for Floyd Mayweather, he showed no signs of slowing down against Canelo in one of his finest performances. Like a good wine, he has gotten better with age. The question is, how long can he keep an undefeated record against father time?
Floyd Mayweather speaking in a press release, “Marcos Maidana’s last performance immediately brought him to my attention,” said Mayweather, who celebrates his 37th birthday today. “He is an extremely skilled fighter who brings knockout danger to the ring. I think this is a great fight for me and he deserves the opportunity to see if he can do what 45 others have tried to do before him – beat me.” Challenge accepted.
Mayweather cherry picks once again! Why not fight someone that has a chance. GGG would batter Mayweather but he takes Canelo’s weaker, slightly retarded looking brother as an opponent.
Why does Mayweather fight these sub level fighters?
Maidana arguably LOST to Erik Morales, and you saw what Pacquiao did to Morales
Fight Manny you fraud
Maidana will beat that old man.
I think Mayweather actually stops Maidana. This guy cuts like a knife and Maidana will be real easy to pick off.
I feel bad for Khan. Sure he did not earn the fight, but he was all but promised it. It’s like telling someone that lives on the street that you are going to make him CEO of a company and taking it away.