The biggest event of 2014 to date is all set, as Floyd Mayweather defends his lineal World welterweight crown versus Argentina’s Marcos Maidana. The scheduled 12-round affair takes place Saturday evening at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, headlining a four-fight event on Showtime Pay-Per-View. Both fighters make their first appearance of 2014, each coming off of spectacular ring campaigns in the previous year.
LAS VEGAS --- Marcos Maidana appears to be physically in the best shape of his career heading into his showdown against Floyd Mayweather on Saturday night at the MGM Grand on Showtime PPV. Maidana said a big reason for that was the addition of strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza to his camp. "It's very, very important to have someone like Alex," Maidana said. "His work is very intensive. He's very professional. It's always great to have someone like him in your corner."
MGM Grand, Las Vegas - Former champion Carlos "Tata" Baldomir (49-16-6, 15KOs) has arrived in Las Vegas to support his countryman, Marcos Maidana, who later tonight will collide with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Baldomir himself was defeated by Mayweather in November of 2006 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. He is shocked with Mayweather's unbeaten run since that time.
Luis Sandoval catches up with Robert Garcia, trainer of WBA welterweight champion Marcos Maidana, to discuss the controversy with Floyd Mayweather rejecting their gloves for Saturday's contest at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Garcia explains the situation, Mayweather and his team attempting to force them to switch from Everlast to Grant gloves and more.
It’s the biggest fight of Marcos ‘Chino’ Maidana’s career, as the Argentine puncher heads into Las Vegas as an 11-1 underdog to unseat Floyd Mayweather, the very best fighter in the world. The odds alone suggest a mismatch, and an insurmountable task. The early predictions among those in the media also suggest that Maidana doesn’t stand a chance in Saturday’s SHOWTIME Pay-Per-View headliner. All of this would bother Maidana, except that he’s been here before and, on several occasions, has overcome the odds to produce some of the best moments of his career.
Marcos Maidana’s trainer, Robert Garcia, told BoxingScene.com that there is still no resolution to the controversy surrounding his fighter’s gloves for tonight’s fight against Floyd Mayweather. “It’s still not decided. That’s where we are right now,” Garcia said Saturday morning. “I don’t understand why they won’t allow us to use the red MX gloves that the commission approved.”
Here we go again. The All Access infomercial is done. The fetus pictures have come and gone. For a fight where ample tickets remain available, every effort is being made to sell the idea that maybe, just maybe, Floyd is distracted enough to be in jeopardy. Is he contemplating retirement? Did Ms. Jackson take a piece of his soul?
If Floyd Mayweather beats Marcos Maidana on Saturday night at the MGM Grand on Showtime PPV, he would become the first fighter to simultaneously hold a two world titles at 154 pounds and two world titles at 147 pounds. Currently Mayweather holds the WBA/WBC titles at 154 and the WBC title at 147. Maidana has the WBA's title at 147.
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer expects tomorrow's welterweight unification between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Marcos Maidana to go forward as planned at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Following Friday's weigh-in, the two camps clashed over Maidana's Everlast gloves. Mayweather's camp felt the glove was lacking the proper padding. The Nevada State Athletic Commission agreed. The two sides then disagreed over Maidana wearing another pair of Everlast gloves - which the NSAC approved. Mayweather Promotions CEO, Leonard Ellerbe, threatened to call off the fight.
LAS VEGAS --- There's only one way the ageless wonder Bernard Hopkins sees Floyd Mayweather losing to Marcos Maidana on Saturday night at the MGm Grand on Showtime PPV. "The only chance that Maidana has is if the distractions and everything finally catch up with us with him or anybody, which there are not a lot of us on this level at this stage and on these big moments," Hopkins said after Thursday's Mayweather-Maidana undercard news conference.