If conventional wisdom applies then there is no question Floyd Mayweather leaves the ring at the MGM Grand on Saturday night with his precious ‘0’ intact.
They say a good boxer always beats a good brawler – as evidenced by the undefeated Mayweather’s deserved decision over the pugnacious Argentine Marcos Maidana in their first meeting in May.
But that’s not to say the incessant Sante Fe savage will not again make their rematch compelling viewing.
Such is Mayweather’s reputation as a cerebral operator, the ultimate pugilistic problem solver, most expect him to make the necessary adjustments and enjoy a far easier night’s work.
Few are entertaining the notion that Maidana could improve on his explosive effort, where he gave Mayweather his toughest fight in years, inflicting a cut and coaxing him to rematch an opponent for the first time since Jose Luis Castillo in 2002.
And with that fact, the American enters the ring under a level of scrutiny he perhaps hasn’t faced for some time, and only a year since he ascended to a level befitting his own messianic hyperbole with a flawless dissection of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
The most striking aspect of the first fight was the ease with which the malevolent Maidana cut the ring off and bullied Mayweather on the ropes. The early pressure was intense and the self-styled ‘best ever’ lacked the fleet of foot to evade it.
And, only really as Maidana tired, was Mayweather able to find his rhythm, and with it unleash his rich arsenal of skills.
But his inability to negate aggression with athleticism left him flustered, and in the sort of discomfort he had convinced us he was impervious to.
That raises the question as to whether we witnessed the first cracks in Mayweather’s veneer of invincibility – the start of a gradual decline in a man who admitted this week he has one eye on retirement.
Don’t expect him to grow old overnight, he is far too good, too dedicated, but at 37 it is simple logic to suggest he is moving out of his physical prime.
That doesn’t mean he isn’t still too skilled for Maidana – or any other plausible rival for that matter – but it does introduce an element of doubt, a chink in the armour, a vulnerability previously unthinkable.
Maidana succeeded where others had failed through showing him zero respect. He didn’t just ignore Mayweather’s reputation, he sneered at it. He knew his only realistic chance was to transform the contest into an ugly, wild, tempestuous affair – by making it his kind of fight in a way Alvarez wasn’t yet mature enough to.
It’s an approach he will employ again in Las Vegas this weekend. Will it be enough to force one of boxing’s greatest upsets? Almost certainly not, but it will make it worth watching.
FRAMPTON MUST CRACK AMERICA
It said everything about Carl Frampton’s burgeoning reputation that he hadn’t even finished ruthlessly dethroning IBF Super Bantamweight champion Kiko Martinez before the big fight offers came rolling in.
Midway through his victory in Belfast last Saturday, Mexico’s three-weight world champion Abner Mares was already calling him out via social media.
Frampton has looked capable of great things for some time now, and he took it to a new level in dismantling Martinez. He has an all-round skillset, is a good mover and a heavy puncher who can box or brawl as the assignment requires. He also has a nasty streak and is willing to take risks, making his style extremely fan friendly.
There is a clamour for him to settle a long rivalry with domestic nemesis Scott Quigg, but Frampton should be looking above and beyond that.
The 27-year-old Ulsterman has huge support and, given his Irish heritage, could command great interest in the US.
A fight with Mares would sell very well, while a showdown with another Mexican, the WBC’s superbantamweight king Leo Santa Cruz, is an even more exciting prospect.
A bout with Quigg would be huge in the United Kingdom, but Frampton’s potential is massive and fighting across the Atlantic should be very high on his and his team’s agenda.
