Boxing Mad Magazine #10 MAYDAY FOR MAIDANA

JACK SUMNER W hen Marcos Maidana walks out at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 3rd, the Argentinean warrior is faced with the most important night of his fifteen-year boxing career. A potentially life changing opportunity awaits, with the ability to claim legendary status overnight if he can dispatch the greatest fighter of his generation. Such is the lack of a genuine challenger to Mayweather’s mantle and the frustration over the numerous botched attempts to match him with the one fighter every boxing fan would give a limb to see him in the ring with, interest in ‘The Moment’ pales in comparison to previous Mayweather extravaganzas, as fans fear an event that would be more accurately dubbed ‘The Anti-Climax’. But as marketable opponents are thin on the ground and we get no closer to a meeting with Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao – do pigs fly? – is Maidana the fighter most deserving of a date with Floyd? And with every ‘expert’ writing him off, could he do the unthinkable and actually win? Maidana’s attempt to unify his WBA welterweight title with the WBC strap that adorns the waist of Floyd Mayweather Jr obviously carries monumental significance in his career, the career of his trainer and the lives of his family, close friends and most ardent supporters. ‘The Moment’ as the fight is being billed – or ‘El Momento’ in Spanish – perfectly summarises the magnitude of the occasion from the 30-year-old underdog’s point of view. But from the vantage point of his opponent, or the vast majority of fans and media from the outside looking in, Floyd Mayweather’s fourty-sixth professional encounter doesn’t carry so much relevance. In fact it is just that, another chance to see the widely regarded pound-for-pound number one put on a boxing clinic against an overmatched opponent, built-up as a threat before the fight and discredited as an unworthy opponent afterwards. 12 MAYDAY FOR maidana BOXINGMADMAGAZINE.COM Less than eight weeks after the birth of his daughter Emilia, ‘El Chino’ has added motivation to do the unthinkable. Fighting for your family pushes the boundaries of your will, especially with a new arrival and another mouth to feed. On the other hand, some may call it a distraction, the last thing you need heading into a bout with a fighter of Mayweather’s calibre. But Maidana worries little about others disregarding his chances. He’s been an underdog may times before and STEVIE ADAMS JNR generally prevailed. BOXINGMADMAGAZINE.COM 13

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