Known for his stingy defence, boxer Floyd Mayweather is looking more vulnerable than any other time in his career ahead of Saturday’s world title rematch with Marcos Maidana.
The undefeated champ, 37, has been taking more punches lately in the ring, as Argentine slugger Maidana came the closest of anyone to beating Mayweather in their first fight in May.
Maidana landed 221 punches in that fight against Mayweather, who hasn’t lost since the semi-finals of the 1996 Olympics.
“I am going to try to change history and change Mayweather’s record,” Maidana said at Friday’s weigh-in at the MGM Hotel and Casino. “I am going to come out aggressive like I came out in the first fight.”
The atmosphere inside the MGM’s Grand Garden Arena was electric as the two fighters made their way on to a raised stage for Friday’s televised weigh-in.
Mayweather (46-0) weighed in about one-fifth kilogram (.5 pounds) less than Maidana for Saturday’s welterweight world title fight.
Maidana was the first to enter the arena, stripping off his light blue and white track suit and stepping on the scales wearing white boxers with blue stripes. He tipped the scales at 66.67 kilograms (147 pounds).
Mayweather looked fit and trim in his green track suit and ball cap which read “Money just make it”. He tipped the scale at 66.45 kilograms (146.5 pounds).
“I had a tremendous training camp,” Mayweather told the crowd. “I am ready to fight. I know I can make adjustments.”
Like their first bout four months ago, the rematch will be fought at 147 pounds.
After weighing in at 146.5 pounds for their first fight, Maidana spent the next day hydrating and gained over 15 pounds. Mayweather stepped in the ring at 146.
Maidana’s trainer Robert Garcia said he wants his fighter to come in much lighter on Saturday, around 150 pounds.
In the first fight, Maidana (35-4) hammered Mayweather along the ropes before the Argentine slugger ran out of steam in the later rounds.
“We can do better. We got to pressure him all the time,” trainer Garcia said Friday.
Mayweather’s longevity in the sport has been attributed to brilliant counterpunching skills and a solid defence that doesn’t allow opponents to land many clean shots.
Mayweather, who is the highest grossing athlete in the world, has also survived so long by taking huge chunks of time off. Between December 2007 and May 2013 he fought just four times, going 40 rounds.
Mayweather said he’s ready for Maidana to come out aggressively and said it is also important he keeps his composure for all 12 rounds.
“I don’t worry about the pace. I worry about being me, being smart and winning the fight,” said Mayweather, who is trained by his father. “I have to take my time, not rush and listen to my dad’s instructions.”
The undercard features American Leo Santa Cruz defending his WBC super bantamweight title against Mexico’s Manuel Roman, and Miguel Vazquez, of Mexico, battling Mickey Bey, of the US, for the IBF lightweight world title.
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The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
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