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Marcos Maidana confident he can be the first to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Mayweather Jr. Prepares For Rematch With Maidana

Steve Marcus

WBC/WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. looks at his reflection during a media day at the Mayweather Boxing Club Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014. Mayweather will face Marcos Maidana of Argentina in a rematch at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, Sept. 13.

Mayweather Jr. Preps for Maidana Rematch

WBC/WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrives in a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse during a media day at the Mayweather Boxing Club Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014. Mayweather will face Marcos Maidana of Argentina in a rematch at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, Sept. 13. Launch slideshow »

Marcos Maidana lost the fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

But, because he was able to land some punches in keeping the match last May closer than most against boxing’s pound-for-pound king, Maidana certainly seems confident for Saturday’s rematch at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Most opponents win one or two rounds against Mayweather. Maidana was able to win at least four on two of three judges’ scorecards. For some parts of the fight, Maidana appeared in control.

“I have 12 more rounds to finish the job. That what I’m here for,” Maidana said Tuesday in comments provided to the media. “I’m well-prepared and ready to show Mayweather isn’t all that everyone thinks he is.”

While some feel Mayweather’s 116-112, 117-111, 114-114 majority decision victory was the closest he’s come to losing in his unbeaten career, oddsmakers don’t expect the rematch to be close. Sure, he was challenged, but Mayweather is still the unquestioned best in this era and maybe of all-time.

Mayweather (46-0, 24 KOs) is a minus-800 favorite (wager $8 to win $1) to retain his WBA welterweight championship, showing Maidana’s confidence is limited to a select few. And, naturally, Mayweather thinks reports of Maidana’s success in the first meeting were significantly overblown.

“Just look at the fight. The fight is not close,” Mayweather said last week on a conference call. “But he came out, he won the first round. I won the second round. He won the third and fourth, and from fifth he lost every round.

“So, like I said before, I’m going out there and I guess get a knockout, win 12 rounds, and look impressive, but also exciting.”

Mayweather has been knocked down officially just once in 46 career fights, against Carlos Hernandez in 2001. His quickness makes it tough for opponents to make contact, let alone solid contact. Maidana doesn’t agree with the assessment.

A former welterweight champion, Maidana has the power to end Mayweather’s undefeated streak. In Maidana’s 35 career victories, he’s won 31 by knockout.

“When I first analyzed Mayweather, I thought he would be too fast to hit,” Maidana said. “But that wasn’t the case during the fight. I was able to hit him and keep him against the ropes, and I plan on doing the same thing again.”

Only a handful of fighters will get the chance to beat the 37-year-old Mayweather or knock him out. This is fourth fight of Mayweather’s six-fight, $200 million contract with Showtime pay-per-view, and this week he indicated he’ll likely retire next September when the deal expires.

Mayweather has faced opponents such as Maidana numerous times before. They’ve said all the right things and appeared to have a good game plan. Once the fight starts, though, things quickly change.

“I have to go out there and just be me and be first,” Mayweather said. “I can’t really say how the fight is going to play out, but I’m pretty sure he’s going to once again be pretty dirty and wild.

My job is to keep everything under control the best way that I can.”

Mayweather says fans should expect “blood, sweat and tears” Saturday.

“I’m pretty sure Maidana is going for the knockout. I’m going for the knockout, so this is going to be an amazing show,” Mayweather said.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

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