Mayweather Repeats, Decisions Maidana in Las Vegas

MGM Grand, Las Vegas - In a rematch of their May encounter, Floyd Mayweather Jr. (47-0, 26KOs) retained his WBC/WBA welterweight titles with a twelve round unanimous decision over Marcos Maidana (35-5, 31KOs). The scores were 115-112, 116-111, 116-111. Mayweather won a twelve round majority decision the first time around. It was only the second rematch of Mayweather's career and the first for Maidana.

It was a feeling out round in the first, which Maidana likely edged. Maidana was applying a lot of pressure, being aggressive but nowhere near as reckless as he was in the first fight. Mayweather, as usual, was picking his shots and being very accurate in the second. Maidana was throwing flurries in the third, though most of the shots were missing. Mayweather was landing accurate shots in spots. But it was Maidana who hit Mayweather big with a right hand that shook him at the bell.
Maidnaa was going for it the fourth, pinning Mayweather against the ropes and really letting his hands go - and some of the punches were landing to the head and body. Mayweather a good account of himself to close the round out. Mayweather dominated the fifth with accurate shots and counter punching. Mayweather's legs were also on display. He was moving very and his defense was sharp. The sixth was close, with Maidana doing the better work in the final minute.

Mayweather controlled the seventh with his accurate boxing, as Maidana was unable to land much of anything. Mayweather started mixing up his attacks with shots to the body. During the eight, there was a strange moment where it appeared (based on replays) that Maidana bit Mayweather on the thumb of his left hand when the unbeaten boxer was pushing him down. There was a brief pause in the action but referee Kenny Bayless did not deduct any points.

Mayweather controlled and outboxed Maidana in the ninth. During the tenth, Maidana lost a point for pushing Mayweather down. Maidana then became angered and had his best rally of punches in several rounds. Mayweather came right back and outboxed Maidana in the eleventh, landing accurate shots to the head and body. Sitting on his lead, Mayweather basically gave away the final round by coasting for nearly ever second of the final three minutes.