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Blog: Mayweather does it again, beats Maidana to remain undefeated

Mayweather vs. Maidana 2

Steve Marcus

WBC/WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, of the U.S. connects on Marcos Maidana of Argentina during their title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014.

Updated Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014 | 9:30 p.m.

Mayweather-Maidana II Main Event

Marcos Maidana, left, of Argentina and WBC/WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. of the U.S. square off during their title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014. Launch slideshow »

Mayweather-Maidana II Undercards

Boxer John Molina Jr. of the U.S. connects on Humberto Soto of Mexico during a junior welterweight bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014. Launch slideshow »

Floyd Mayweather Jr. was asked following his unanimous decision victory tonight against Marcos Maidana to grade himself in what appeared to be a dominating effort in the welterweight championship fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Mayweather, who improved to 47-0 and is boxing’s pound-for-pound king, is his toughest critic. He says his performance was worthy of a C or C-

“I got hit with some punches tonight I shouldn’t have,” Mayweather said.

He still won convincingly to show once again his the best fighter in this era, if not all time.

Mayweather won 115-112 on judge Dave Moretti’s scorecard, and 116-111 by Guido Cavallerie and John McKaie. His dominance, though, was partially overshadowed by Maidana biting Mayweather in the upper left hand at the end of the seventh round.

In between rounds, replays on the arena television confirmed Maidana biting Mayweather — which made Mayweather livid and caused fans to start a chorus of boos. He wasn’t immediately deducted a point.

“I didn’t know what was happening, but my fingers were numb,” Mayweather said. “Something was wrong with my left hand. We were tangled in the ring. I didn’t know what happened, but I realized he bit me.”

Mayweather said his arm went numb after the ninth round. Maidana, though, disputes the incident. “How can he say I bit him with a mouthpiece,” he said. “I’m not a dog.”

Maidana was just the second fighter in Mayweather’s 18-year career to earn a rematch. When they fought last May, Maidana won a few rounds and earned a draw on one of the scorecards.

He wasn’t as fortunate this time. He clearly won the fourth round and also the 12th when Mayweather was avoiding a late-round knockdown.

“You never win a fight by running,” Maidana said. “I thought I won the fight. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe judges like fighters who run.”

This is a developing story. Check back at lasvegassun.com later for more.

This fight took a turn to the bizarre.

With about 14 seconds remaining in the seventh round, Floyd Mayweather Jr. complained to referee Kenny Bayless that Marcos Maidana bit Mayweather in their welterweight title fight.

The fight was temporarily stopped to sort through the mess, and video replays on the big screens at the MGM Grand Garden Arena confirmed a bite to Mayweather’s lower arm. Maidana was warned; no points were immediately deducted.

Mayweather was livid. He’s still in control of the fight, comfortably ahead. I have him losing just the fourth round. When he walked to his corner after the eighth round, he pointed to Maidana — as if he was instructing him to go back to his corner.

Maybe the hard feelings will lead to an action-packed final three rounds.

Mayweather Jr. receiving challenge from Maidana but appears to be in control

Marcos Maidana landed a solid punch as the third-round bell sounded in his welterweight title fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. tonight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Maidana, who also had some success last May against Mayweather before losing a majority decision, continued with the aggression to control the fourth round. Let’s just say Mayweather took that round off — possibly still in shock from the punch.

Maidana is coming at Mayweather fast, but the pound-for-pound king has been solid most of the night in showing his skills. He slips away from Maidana punches and then lands one of his own.

Mayweather, at least on my card, is comfortably ahead. He’s won five of six rounds.

Mayweather Jr. patiently attacking Maidana, likely ahead after 3 rounds

Floyd Mayweather Jr. appears to be in control after three rounds tonight against Marcos Maidana at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Mayweather has delivered on his promise to stick to his game plan, patiently attacking Maidana and landing the fight’s most significant punches. Well, except for one.

At the end of the third round, Maidana landed a solid right as the bell sounded. It was the most-solid punch of the fight.

Still, Mayweather is likely ahead 30-27 or 29-28, depending on how the judges saw the third round.

The good news is action is starting to pick up. We might be in for some good exchanges the rest of the way.

Prefight: Mayweather Jr. rarely gives rematch fights, should control this one against Maidana

Marcos Maidana has talked all week about making history tonight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

He wants to become the first to beat the pound-for-pound boxing king — something others in 47 career fights have failed to do. Actually, few have come close.

Maidana, though, has already done something others couldn’t — get a rematch. Maidana will become the second fighter to get another crack at Mayweather, joining Jose Luis Castillo in 2002. Most opponents, you see, are overwhelmed by Mayweather and no rematch is needed to settle the score.

Maidana, some argue, gave Mayweather the biggest challenge of his career.

Maidana did most of his damage in the early rounds against Mayweather during their initial fight in May. He wound up connecting on 226 punches — the most Mayweather has been hit in his career, according to boxing stat company CompuBox. Maidana did enough to earn a draw on one of three judges' scorecards, but Mayweather won convincingly on the other two to earn a majority decision.

Maidana claims he’s made some minor adjustments and will finish the job this time. Oddsmakers aren’t buying his confidence, listing Mayweather at a -700 betting favorite (wager $7 to win $1).

Mayweather was vocal after the first meeting about Maidana’s fighting style, saying it resembled wrestling and not boxing. Mayweather gives Maidana credit for winning a few rounds early but says he dominated toward the end of the fight.

We will figure out shortly whether Maidana can make history or whether he'll be history. Mayweather, 37, is in the fourth of six fights of a $200 million contract with Showtime. He hasn’t decided whether to continue fighting after the contract ends, meaning mega-fight nights with Mayweather as the main draw could be coming to an end.

Know this about Mayweather: He’s not bashful in bragging about his undefeated record. It means a lot. Chances are he’ll still be undefeated after tonight.

I’ll keep everyone posted once the fight begins.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

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