Mayweather wins rematch over Maidana

Floyd Mayweather Jrand Marcos Maidana (left), exchange punches at The MGM Grand, Las Vegas. Mayweather dominated with a 12 round unanimous decision over Maidana retaining his WBA Welterweight Belt and WBC Welterweight and Super Welterweight World Titles.--AFP

Mayweather, who hasn’t lost a fight since the 1996 Olympics, successfully defended his World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council welterweight belts and the WBC junior middleweight belt.

He improved to 47-0 as two judges scored it 116-111 and the third had it 115-112 for the champion.

Mayweather, 37, was a heavy favourite coming into the bout at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas after winning their first fight by a majority decision in May.

At one point, referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight and deducted a point from Maidana in the 10th round after he used his left forearm to push back Mayweather, who dropped to the canvas.

There is no love lost between the two boxers, who accused each other in the build-up to this fight of using dirty tricks in their first bout.

Both fighters used questionable tactics over the course of the fight, as Maidana appeared to bite the champ’s hand in the eighth round and Mayweather delivered a low blow that buckled Maidana in the 11th.

For the second straight time, boxing fans rushed and fought outside the MGM Grand Garden Arena after the fight.

A stampede in May resulted in a number of people being taken to hospital with various injuries after being trampled on and crushed against the walls of the arena entrance.

Witnesses said Saturday’s incident also saw fans being knocked over as people pushed their way into the narrow corridor that leads out of the entrance. There were no initial reports of injuries.

Mayweather never allowed Maidana to get into a proper rhythm in the rematch, landing the better right hands and counterpunches. He connected on 102 power punches compared to 82 for Maidana.

Mayweather’s game plan was to stay off the ropes but his decision to put Maidana in a bear hug every time he couldn’t slither out of trouble only ended up making Maidana more frustrated and angry.