By Norm Frauenheim-
LAS VEGAS – Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Marcos Maidana were all business Friday at a weigh-in that sounded like a rap concert with speakers that packed more power than some of the fighters on the undercard.
At 146.5 pounds, Mayweather was a half-pound heavier than Maidana and comparatively understated after days full of off-the-scale controversy generated by Mayweather’s comments about former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice and domestic abuse.
If there was potential that Mayweather might be distracted Saturday night at the MGM Grand in the welterweight rematch of his majority decision over Maidana, it wasn’t evident. Mayweather was as cool as the green color on the sweats that he and his entourage wore as the paraded onto the stage.
That green could have meant Money, too. Mayweather is guaranteed $32 million, according to a contract filed with the Nevada State Athletic Commission before the formal weigh-in for Showtime’s pay-per-view card (5 p.m. PST/8p.m. EST). Maidana’s guarantee is $3 million. The $29 million difference might say all you need to know about Maidana’s slim chances. It also explains how big an upset it would be if Maidana landed a punch that would knock out Mayweather’s attempt to retire undefeated.
“I know I can make adjustments,’’ Mayweather (46-0, 26 KOs) said after stepping off the scale and posing for a
ritual, face-to-face photo with Maidana (35-4, 31 KOs) that was quick and didn’t include any insulting or derogatory gestures.
Despite saying his goal was to knock out Maidana, the common wisdom is that Mayweather will try to exert control with patience and trademark precision. His father and trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr. said he thinks his son was distracted in the May bout, which was preceded by controversy involving his former fiancé, Shantel Jackson, who last week filed suit against Mayweather alleging abusive behavior.
In the early rounds of their first fight, Maidana’s aggressiveness seemed to rattle Mayweather, who suffered a rare cut above his right eye from an apparent head butt in the fourth round. Mayweather, who also talked about knocking out Maidana in May, forgot some fundamentals, according to his dad, who wants his son to rely more on his jab.
“I’m going to take my time and listen to my dad,’’ said Mayweather, whose up-and-down relationship with the senior Floyd has not included too many moments of Father Knows Best.
The biggest news from the weigh-in could be heard in the crowd, estimated to be 8,000. It seemed to favor Maidana, although that might have been the result of noisy fans from his native Argentina. In his parade to the stage and onto the scale, Maidana was serenaded by fans, who sang and chanted, almost as if they were following a bouncing soccer ball.
“I’m here to change history and beat Mayweather,’’ said a thirsty Maidana, who weighed 146-even and looked thirsty as he gulped down a sports drink in an apparent rush to replenish fluid lost in a sauna.
Unlike Mayweather, there’s doubt that Maidana can do anything different in the rematch. Mayweather and his dad accused him of dirty tactics in the first fight. A ringside microphone caught Maidana trainer Robert Garcia urging the Argentine to “fight dirty.’’
It will be interesting to see if Mayweather’s complaints about Maidana’s tactics will affect how referee Kenny Bayless polices the fight. Mayweather was unhappy with referee Tony Weeks’ work in the first bout. He said Weeks let Maidana get away with too much.
“Definitely, I’m going to come out aggressive like I did in the first fight,’’ said Maidana, who enters the encore with as little to lose as he had in the first one.
That might be his biggest advantage.
