Marcos Maidana hoping for fair fight
LAS VEGAS - DECEMBER 08: Marcos Maidana of Argentina during his open workout at IBA gym on December 8, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images) Credit: Getty/Scott Heavey
The last time Marcos Maidana was in a boxing ring, he thought he was robbed. Not literally, of course.
Maidana (29-2) lost a unanimous-decision to Amir Khan (114-111, 114-111, 113-112). Naturally Maidana thought he won the fight. It's worth noting that Maidana hit the canvas in the first round and lost a point for throwing an elbow in the fifth.
Maidana will take on Erik Morales for the interim WBA light welterweight title on Saturday at the MGM Grand in Golden Boy Promotions "Action Heroes" card.
But Maidana believes he has moved past that disappointing decision and still has confidence in the current system of judging. And he doesn't feel as if he'll have to knockout Erik Morales to get a win.
"Obviously, I felt that I won. It was very disappointing, but no, I have a lot of confidence in the commission," Maidana said. "I'm very well prepared. It's not going to matter. I think I'm going to win the fight."
As for Morales (51-6), he is not taking this fight lightly. In fact, he is hoping to make a little history.
"This is going to be a very, very good fight; a very, very important fight in my career probably one of the most important fights," said Morales. "I'm trying to do something that no other Mexican fighter has done win a fourth divisional title and I'm ready."
As much as the boxing world respects Morales, there are critics. Morales, 34, hasn't beaten an elite opponent since a win over Manny Pacquiao in 2005. Morales has won his last three fights against Francisco Lorenzo, Willie Limond and Jose Alfaro, but none of those fighters are considered to be in Maidana's class.
Morales had something to say to the doubters.
"Look, I don't have to explain myself. I don't have to say who I am. You guys know exactly what I am, who I was, what I'm capable of doing," he said. "I have a goal. I have a goal in this fight. Since I came back, I've been training for a year and a half now and I think I'm reaching my peak."
Much of the doubt surrounding Morales stems from the three-year hiatus from the sport beween 2007 and 2010.
Morales retired from the sport after a close loss to David Diaz.
"Obviously, after that David Díaz fight, I felt very, very bad-morally, mentally, physically. I was very devastated," Morales said. "That loss was very hard for me. I felt that I wanted to blame people. I felt that someone caused me to lose. I just felt very, very bad."
Now he has a chance at redemption.
