Floyd "Money" Mayweather, Jr. is slated to face Marcos "Chino" Maidana for the second time on September 13, 2014. The sensational match is set to take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Dubbed as "Mayhem", the Mayweather-Maidana II was finalized after World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman approved Money's request to defend both his WBC titles against Chino. These are WBC welterweight and light middleweight titles, which Mayweather won from Victor Ortiz in 2011 and Canelo Alvarez in 2013, respectively.
"There are situations in which you should have that flexibility where you don't disrupt the development of fighters. There is currently no mandatory challenger at welterweight and super welterweight, no boxer is getting hurt [in this move]. It's something that places Mayweather in a very exclusive group in boxing history. His loyalty to the organization has been exemplary and this is also a way to show our loyalty to him," Sulaiman explained his decision.
Mayweather's request was compared with Sugar Ray Leonard's fight against Donnie Lalonde in November 1988.
At present, Maidana is training in Oxnard, California in the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy.
In a statement released to Boxing.com, Maidana confidently asserts that he will emerge victorious in this second bout with Mayweather.
"I'm well prepared, I'll do my job and I know I can win. I'm waiting patiently for the day to come. We are sure that everything will be fine," he shared.
"I know I have an absolute great chance for victory. It will be very difficult just like the first fight, but I'll be well-prepared to win when I get to the fight. I have received great support from the fans, so I have a large commitment to them," the Argentinian boxer added.
For his part, Mayweather aims to eliminate any doubt regarding his win against Maidana on their May 3 match.
Despite his previous win, however, Money commended Chino's skills.
"Marcos Maidana is a tough customer and he gave me a fight that had me work for the victory," Mayweather said in a news release.
"His style is difficult at best, but with experience comes a way and will to win. I'm not one to give second chances in the ring, but I want to give the fans what they want to see. I will be as prepared as I always am when I step in the ring on Sept. 13. I only see the outcome one way and that's another successful night for me and my team," Mayweather said in an ESPN interview.
"The rematch with Mayweather is the only fight that really motivates me," Maidana said in the release.
"I feel I earned it in the ring and Floyd owed it to me. I've already proved that I don't care if the man I have in front of me is the best pound-for-pound champion. I was close to ending his reign last time. On Sept. 13 he will not get away undefeated," he added.
Maidana is one of the two boxers Mayweather agreed to face twice. The other boxer is Jose Luis Castillo whom he faced 12 years ago.
