By Luis Sandoval
Slowly but surely the first part of 2014 for boxing is starting to shape up with fights being announced and discussed. Of course the biggest fight to still be revealed is the one involving the sport’s number one fighter in Floyd Mayweather. Given what we know about Floyd’s Showtime contract, he’ll definitely be fighting May 3rd but the opponent is still unknown.
When BoxingScene and LA Times’ Lance Pugmire spoke to Showtime Sports Executive Vice President Stephen Espinoza, he was asked when Floyd would possibly be making his big announcement.
“I’m not sure if it’ll be before the Super Bowl of after but I have a feeling it’s not too far off” shared Espinoza.
Up until a week ago, the two front runners to fight Mayweather were Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana who is coming off an upset win over previously undefeated Adrien Broner. Mayweather himself confirmed Maidana was indeed in the running to possibly land the fight but soon after reports surfaced that Broner had chose to exercise his rematch clause and a fight was being planned for sometime in April.
Team Maidana then informed BoxingScene’s Rick Reeno that if a rematch was going to take place it would need to get pushed back as Maidana is expecting a child with his girlfriend in mid March which means he will not be training during that time.
With everything that has transpired, BoxingScene asked Espinoza is Maidana was indeed out of the Mayweather sweepstakes.
“Well, I know both Floyd and Adrien are very interested in fighting Marcos. You know, I’ll leave it up to them but I’ll take either one of those fights. So however they [decide]. If they flip a coin or however they make the decision, I’m fine with it” said Espinoza with a smile.
If things go as planned and a rematch between Maidana and Broner takes place, Espinoza feels Maidana wouldn’t be ready to fight until late April or May given his current situation.
“Not sure. Maidana’s girlfriend is due March 15th; she’s pregnant. And he’s been away at camp for a long time so he’s said very clearly that he wants to be there when the baby is born and spend some time there. So that’s really a timing factor so that means he probably won’t be fighting in mid April. I think anytime from late April to May is probably when he could be available” said Espinoza.
More clarity should be brought to this situation soon as Mayweather could be making an announcement this week or next regarding his opponent according to Espinoza.
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