Floyd Mayweather will fight Marcos Maidana in a welterweight
unification contest on May 3, ending Brit Amir Khan's hopes of being the
WBC champion's next opponent.
Khan, 27, signed a contract in December that he had hoped would set
him up for a possible super-fight with Mayweather this year but finally
admitted on Twitter last week that he did not think the fight would take
place.
And now promoters Golden Boy and Mayweather Promotions have confirmed
that the 37-year-old will face Argentinian WBA champion Maidana
instead.
"After weeks of speculation, including feedback from fans across an
array of social media platforms, boxing's pound-for-pound superstar,
pay-per-view king and WBC Welterweight World Champion Floyd "Money"
Mayweather will face the dangerous, power-punching WBA Welterweight
World Champion Marcos "El Chino" Maidana on Saturday, May 3," read the
statement.
Undefeated Mayweather (45-0) launched a social media campaign earlier
this month asking fans to decide which of the two men he should take on
in his next bout.
"Marcos Maidana's last performance immediately brought him to my attention," said Mayweather.
"He is an extremely skilled fighter who brings knockout danger to the ring.
"I think this is a great fight for me and he deserves the opportunity
to see if he can do what 45 others have tried to do before him - beat
me."
Maidana (35-3), who lost to Khan in 2010, claimed the WBA belt in
December with an impressive win over the previously unbeaten Adrien
Broner and is confident he can dismantle another perfect record against
Mayweather.
"I am extremely happy to be facing Floyd Mayweather because it will
give me the opportunity to show the world that I am the best
welterweight in the division," he said.
"I just handed a great defensive fighter his first loss and I plan to
do the same to Mayweather. I don't care whether he's the best and
undefeated."
Missing out on the Mayweather fight will come as a blow to Khan who
had been holding out for a lucrative clash with the pound-for-pound
number one since suffering a scare in his last fight against Julio Diaz
in Sheffield last April.
The Bolton fighter had been in line to face Devon Alexander for the
IBF title on December 7 but suggested on Twitter on Friday that he had
delayed that for the chance to take on the Michigan native.
"No response from Mayweather or his team. Fights not happening. I
should of taken the title fight last December against Alexander," he
said.
"Very disrespected by his team. Wasted my time.
"Good luck to Maidana, against mayweather."
Floyd Mayweather Jr. holds up his title belts after defeating Canelo Alvarez during a 152-pound title fight in 2013. (AP)
To quote Shane McMahon’s old WWE entrance music: “Here comes the money!”
Fathom Events is bringing the big Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Marcos “El Chino” Maidana boxing match to theaters Saturday, May 3 at 6 p.m.
Plan ahead as tickets go on sale Friday, March 21.
Check back for more information as it becomes available.
Argentine welterweight champ Marcos Maidana believes he's
going to be one fighting undefeated pound-for-pound champ Floyd
Mayweather Jr. on May 3 at MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In an interview with Buenas Aires Herald, Maidana confirmed that his
showdown with five-division world champion has already been arranged,
and only an official announcement from Mayweather's camp is needed to
seal the deal.
Reuters Boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr greets fans and amateur boxers during a visit to conduct training clinics in Soweto
Maidana, who is coming off the biggest victory of his career after
pummeling pound-for-pound star Adrien Broner in their WBA Welterweight
title fight last December, said he's already training for the Mayweather
showdown, a fight that would surely give him the biggest paycheck in
his boxing career.
"I'm waiting for the fight to be announced", said golden Olimpia 2013 winner to La Voz del Interior newspaper via Buenas Aires Herald, while he assured he is "already training for the fight." Still Unclear!
Hours right after report from Buenas Aires Herald circulated,
Maidana's camp immediately cleared that the fight with the Grand Rapids
native is not a done deal yet, though the boxer is very much in the mix
to land the fight.
"Maidana is well aware that he is indeed a firm candidate to face
Mayweather Jr next May 3, but the fight is far from being made or
confirmed as other fighters are still also in the mix. Hopefully we will
have news in the next few days but in the meantime we don't want to
confuse the fans or the boxing press. Maidana of course wants to unify
titles with Mayweather but for now we will have to wait," posted by
Maidana camp on Facebook account.
Great Britain's top welterweight Amir Khan remains hopeful that he
will eventually be picked to fight Mayweather, especially after he
defeated Maidana in the poll conducted by Mayweather Promotions.
On the other hand, Mayweather's decision to fight Maidana will surely
a big blow to Khan, who has spent the last 10 months waiting for Money
May to announce him as his official opponent for his Cinco de Mayo
showpiece.
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