It certainly seems like. Can't think of any other boxer that would fill the spot.
Let's take a look at his resume, shall we?
Kotelnik - C level journeyman, gives Maidana his first L.
Ortiz - Best win of his career, but he always quits whenever he stepped up
DeMarcus Corley - Shot gatekeeper at this point of his career, but maidana gets a GIFT decision.
Amir Khan - Loses. Was a close match, but honestly Maidana should've finished glass jaw Khan. Maidana supposedly has knockout power but can't put away Khan when he was on Bambia legs.
Erik Morales - An old shot Morales went life/death with a prime Maidana and got robbed. Best case scenario for Maidana was a draw.
Devon Alexander - another C level domestic fighter that clearly beat him.
Oh and then we have his "signature" win when he beat up the undefeated hypejob Broner, which would land Maidana his fights with Mayweather. Who the **** is Broner and what did he even do at welterweight? Oh wait. He went life/death with a shot Malignaggi and only gets a split decision.
Maidana would have one fun fight with Floyd, and then get schooled immediately in the rematch...
I don't know any other boxer with a resume as **** as Maidana that gets hyped like he did....
maidana was about to be the greatest of all time until he ran into floyd. lets not pretend like he wouldnt have ruled ww with wins over spence, thurman, pac and crawford if he hadnt fought floyd
In his Prime, he would have beaten Canelo, Kovalev, and Ward, on the same day, even though he would be moving up in weight divisions.
I would rank him slightly behind Ali for best boxer ever.
Nobody ever rated Maidana as some elite fighter but he was a still a very solid top 10 fighter in his divisions.
He just got gradually better at developing a difficult high pace swarming style. Probably not the best style to look good against for a fighter approaching 40 like Floyd was.
Maidana was a solid fighter, world Champion who other than his terrible performance against Alexander always gave a tough fight.
I and most felt he beat Kotelnik in Germany, who was a solid fighter himself.
Very good wins over Ortiz and Broner as underdog.
Looked poor against Morales and Corley, he seemed to improve abit once he had Garcia in his corner and tightened him up abit.
Solid fighter. Usually a fun watch and could definitely punch.
maidana was about to be the greatest of all time until he ran into floyd. lets not pretend like he wouldnt have ruled ww with wins over spence, thurman, pac and crawford if he hadnt fought floyd
It certainly seems like. Can't think of any other boxer that would fill the spot.
Let's take a look at his resume, shall we?
Kotelnik - C level journeyman, gives Maidana his first L.
Ortiz - Best win of his career, but he always quits whenever he stepped up
DeMarcus Corley - Shot gatekeeper at this point of his career, but maidana gets a GIFT decision.
Amir Khan - Loses. Was a close match, but honestly Maidana should've finished glass jaw Khan. Maidana supposedly has knockout power but can't put away Khan when he was on Bambia legs.
Erik Morales - An old shot Morales went life/death with a prime Maidana and got robbed. Best case scenario for Maidana was a draw.
Devon Alexander - another C level domestic fighter that clearly beat him.
Oh and then we have his "signature" win when he beat up the undefeated hypejob Broner, which would land Maidana his fights with Mayweather. Who the **** is Broner and what did he even do at welterweight? Oh wait. He went life/death with a shot Malignaggi and only gets a split decision.
Maidana would have one fun fight with Floyd, and then get schooled immediately in the rematch...
I don't know any other boxer with a resume as **** as Maidana that gets hyped like he did....
Broner was hyped 100 times more go figure
Maidana is what he is. Can't recall anyone overhyping him to the degree you are implying.
He was a fun pressure fighter brawler type who'd come forward throwing crazy looping shots.