By Nick Bellafatto
In a spirited effort by now former WBA welterweight titlist Marcos “El Chino” Maidana (35-4, 31 KO’s) of Margarita, Santa Fe, Argentina, he would outwork pound-for-pound king Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. (46-0, 26 KO’s) in many and early round, banging Floyd against the ropes to on one scorecard earn a draw at 114 apiece.
However, the two remaining judges saw boxing’s best before a sold-out crowd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas land the visibly more appealing shots in the latter half to exit the ring a majority decision winner, as well as unified 147-pound champion by scores of 117-111 and 116-112 .
Although fading over time to allow defending WBC belt-holder and still undefeated “Money” Mayweather to seize the center of the ring and therefore control, the Argentinian underdog would impress to the point that rematch was on the lips of those that matter.
And why not since Maidana exceeded many an expectation, while performance wise “El Chino” would surpass the combined efforts handed in by Floyd’s two previous opponents.
Khan defeats Collazo to capture WBC silver title
In typical Amir Khan fashion where constant pushing and holding made up the proceedings, this until referee Vic Drakulic in a make-up call saw fit to take a point in the eighth, Amir would overtime as the busier and quicker-fisted fighter distance himself from Brooklyn native Luis Collazo (35-6, 18 KO’s), in effect registering a unanimous decision victory.
The final tallies rendered after twelve rounds of boxing would read 117-106, and 119-104 twice all in favor of Khan (29-3, 19 KO’s) who would garner the formerly vacant 147-pound WBC silver title as well as Collazo’s WBA international welterweight belt.
Rocking Khan in the early going, the Puerto Rican rather than letting his hands go to follow up in a meaningful way opted instead to trail the Pakistani-Brit wherever he went. For his efforts, or lack of them, Collazo would get dropped once in the fourth and twice in the tenth, to otherwise surrender most other rounds of which the scores although extreme would reflect.
All told Khan in acquiring the aforementioned accolade believes he’s nearer a shot at Floyd himself, while more realistically a win against a higher caliber opponent, perhaps an Adrien Broner, is more in tune with putting him on what is a diminishing path.
That’s because Floyd has only a few bouts left on his Showtime contract before supposed retirement of which involving a less than impressive Khan is not such an intriguing prospect, this especially given each man’s style. But stranger things have happened so we shall see.
Broner clowns his way to wide margin decision
Southern California’s quick-handed Carlos Molina (17-2-1, 7 KO’s) would make things competitive early on against Adrien “The Problem” Broner (28-1, 22 KO’s), but in conjunction with Broner getting busy and apparent set-up opponent Molina dropping markedly in offensive output after only a few rounds, the tide would turn.
The end result after ten rounds of boxing would see Broner as the obviously busier and more effective fighter in the latter half depart the venue a clear winner by somewhat skewed scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 100-90. This in a bout where Broner’s stock would fail to rise after a recent beat-down administered by Marcos Maidana set him back.
J’Leon Love survives knockdown to defeat Periban
Still undefeated Mayweather promoted J’Leon Love (18-0, 10 KO’s) survived a fifth round knockdown and further trouble too with a jab and good movement, emerging a unanimous decision winner at the expense of Mexico’s Marco Antonio Periban (20-2-1, 13 KO’s). The final scores after ten rounds would read 97-92, 96-93, and 95-93.
Successful as an aggressor, Periban would after suffering a cut in the fifth from an apparent elbow, allow himself to be affected to in the process abandon what was an effective approach. The end result would see Marco Antonio basically become tentative to the point he would cede the bout to Love who busier would outwork and outpoint the Mexican in the majority of rounds.
