Twenty years in the past in the present day, Marcos Maidana – for loads of battle followers some of the go-to warriors of the 2000s by way of seeing assured motion – punched out his professional debut. Maidana, after having novice profession, throughout which era he fought at 64kg, with him going a reported 86-4, turned professional in his native Argentina. Combating in Corrientes, Argentina, “El Chino” would battle at dwelling till his 18th battle, all wins, with all however one win coming by way of KO or stoppage.
In June of 2007, Maidana started boxing repeatedly in Germany, with him getting his first shot at a world title there. A 25 12 months outdated Maidana got here up brief, dropping a cut up resolution to Andreas Kotelnik. A setback? Perhaps, however Maidana was quickly to burst onto the world stage in thrilling, scintillating trend.
After going dwelling offended after the Kotelnik loss – the choice agreed upon as a controversial one – Maidana boxed his US debut. And what a debut it proved to be. Going through perceived future star and betting favorite Victor Ortiz in L.A in June of 2009, Maidana performed his half in one of many best slugfests ever seen at 140 kilos. Each males hit the mat in a battle that continues to be loved and celebrated on YouTube, with Ortiz ultimately quitting; the loser famously stating within the ring how he “can’t preserve getting his like this,” or phrases to that impact.
Maidana, proprietor of a TKO win, had not even began inflicting mayhem in America!
Having gained the vacant WBA interim belt at 140 with the attention-grabbing win over Ortiz, Maidana confronted Victor Cayo in Vegas, with him getting one other win on the half-way stage of a battle. Then got here a detailed factors win over the savvy DeMarcus Corley, who received up from a knockdown to push Maidana arduous. Quickly, battle followers the world over can be watching Maidana go to work.
Maidana boxed British hero Amir Khan in what turned out to be a modern-day basic (chalk this one up as Maidana’s second modern-day basic), with Khan scoring a hurtful early knockdown after which in some way surviving hellish punishment late on to take the choice victory and maintain onto his WBA belt. Maidana by no means actually stopped asking for a rematch.
As a substitute, Maidana confronted Mexican legend Erik Morales, and one more nice battle was witnessed. Morales, who arguably placed on his final nice battle, fought with a swollen eye, this as he stunned many by taking Maidana all the way in which. It was a majority resolution win for Maidana.
Then got here a win over Petr Petrov, earlier than Maidans misplaced on factors to Devon Alexander. Now 31-3, Maidana might need peaked. Or so the pondering was. No likelihood.
Maidana bounced again by scoring fan-friendly stoppage wins over Jesus Soto Karras and Josesito Lopez – earlier than Maidana took care of a “Drawback.” The massive win Maidana scored in shutting up (for some time a minimum of) large mouth Adrien Broner, actually modified “El Chino’s” life.
Dropping the cocksure, he had no concept what he was in for Broner early, Maidana landed loads of damage in hammering out a call win. Broner, on the time shut buddies with Floyd Mayweather, reduce a tragic and lonely determine as he walked/stumbled again to his dressing room after the beating/life lesson he had taken.
In stepped Floyd to place Maidana again in his place. Maidana had hit the jackpot, the battle with “Cash” incomes him a pile of the stuff. And it might be argued – actually it’s by some followers to this present day – that Maidana gave Mayweather his hardest ever battle once they slugged it out in Could of 2014.
Leaping proper on Mayweather, Maidana loved success, whereas he compelled Floyd to battle. This was no typical Mayweather battle/efficiency and, other than Jose Luis Castillo in April of 2002, no man ever got here so near ruining Mayweather’s excellent report.
It was so shut, Mayweather’s pleasure was jarred. To his credit score, Mayweather took the quick rematch, and this time, displaying once more how he may make the required changes in a fight-two, Floyd boxed his solution to a clear-cut resolution win over the fierce Argentine terror. However Maidana didn’t appear to essentially care; he had made his cash, and now he was going to take pleasure in it!
Retiring with a hard-earned 35-5(31) report in late 2014, Maidana, who was by no means stopped in any battle, went out feeling good, feeling wealthy, and feeling content material. He had, briefly, accomplished far more than anybody may have anticipated, himself included.
To this present day, Marcos Maidana ranks as some of the fashionable, some of the revered, and some of the enjoyable fighters to observe. Ever.
