Garcia: I Don't Blame Marcos Maidana if He Never Returns

By Elisinio Castillo

It's quickly approaching the two-year layoff mark for former two division world champion Marcos Maidana (35-5, 31KOs) of Argentina.

Maidana has been away from the ring since a twelve round decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their Showtime Pay-Per-View rematch in September of 2014.

In less than a year, Maidana had three major contests - with Adrien Broner and two bouts with Mayweather. He made millions of dollars between the three fights and a few months ago admitted that he was lacking the motivation to return to boxing. 

Maidana put on a lot of weight during his time off. His head trainer, Robert Garcia of Oxnard, California said it would take several months just to shave off the additional poundage. There are certainly a lot of options for Maidana in the welterweight and junior middleweight division - with Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter, Broner, Danny Garcia, Kell Brook, Timothy Bradley and many others. If Maidana decides to stay away from boxing for good, Garcia wouldn't  blame him for walking away.

"He's had big fights and made big money. Right now he's enjoying his family and being back home. I don't blame him [if he does not return to boxing]. He has every right not to fight again. If he wants to do it again, I am here to support him. But if he doesn't want to do it at this point, I don't think he should do it," Garcia said.

During a recent interview with the media in Argentina, Maidana said that he still doesn't have the urge to fight again, but he might continue to involve himself in the sport by helping some of the younger fighters coming up in his country.

"Maybe I will continue with the gloves, not boxing in the ring, but perhaps helping boxers, working in a gym or something like that," Maidana said.