http://www.knockouts2sleep.com Mayweather vs Maidana highlights. After months of steamy speculation, impromptu Internet polls and persistent pipe dreams that he would at long last fight Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather finally stopped teasing the world. His next fight is now, at long last, officially on the books.
Marcos Maidana, come on down.
The Argentinian slugger will be the next man immortalized by Mayweather, propelled into stardom by a relentless hype machine that started working long before his name was pulled out of a hat. By careful design, it's an announcement much anticipated, one that seems exciting even if it's not.
Mayweather had the boxing world dancing to his beat, the sport's media willingly playing along with his cat-and-mouse game of "who will it be?" Immediately after defeating Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in September, the games began. Mayweather announced his next fight on the spot. It would be, he said, on May 3, 2014. What he failed to mention, of course, was his opponent, tantalizing fans and media alike.
Eventually the list of potential opponents was whittled down to two names: Maidana and the slick British technician Amir Khan. The clear front-runner, Khan appeared to be in the driver's seat. He cancelled a scheduled bout with Devon Alexander to make sure he was available for Mayweather, leading to rampant speculation the bout was a done deal.
It was even announced, at one point, that the fight was on. It made a certain amount of sense too. Despite losing two of his last four, Khan remains a legitimate attraction in Britain, and his speed and technical acumen was thought to be an interesting challenge for the pound-for-pound greatest. He won Mayweather's Internet poll, is the bigger name and holds a 2010 victory over Maidana.
Ultimately, though, the only opinion that matters is Mayweather's. Despite all the compelling reasons to go with Khan, on Monday Mayweather gave himself a 37th birthday present, announcing his next opponent—the Argentinian and not the speedy British boxer. It felt, after countless articles and incessant discussion on forums and Twitter, like an exceedingly big deal.
