By Dan Ambrose: Marcos Maidana (31-3, 28 KO’s) has reportedly given up his WBA light welterweight title and will now be fighting exclusively in the 147 pound division. Maidana, 29, fought for the first time at welterweight last February and promptly lost badly in a 10 round unanimous decision to Devon Alexander.

Maidana said after the fight that he was in the wrong division and would be moving back down in weight. But it looks like he’s having a hard time making 140 because he’s getting older now. 147 has the bigger opportunities for money fights for Maidana, but he’s going to have to do a lot better than he did in the Alexander fight if he wants to remain as one of the major players in the sport. Maidana, 5’9″, has the size and power to compete at welterweight, but his lack of hand speed and stamina could limit what he’ll be able to do at this weight. It may not matter if he can lucky and land a fight against someone like Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Manny Pacquiao, because he’ll make so much money from one of those fights that he can retire off of it. However, if he keeps getting beaten he’s not going to get any offers from the big named fighters.

Maidana has a fight coming up on September 15th against Jesus Soto Karass (26-7-3, 17 KO’s) on the undercard of the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Josesito Lopez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Maidana absolutely has to win that fight and look good in order to keep alive in the sport. He’s been beaten by Amir Khan, Andriy Kotelnik and Alexander now. He struggled to beat a past his best Erik Morales in April last year, winning a 12 round majority decision. Maidana was able to come on in the last three rounds to get the win in a close fight.