Mayweather v Maidana 2: Time to clean up

By Boxing News - 07/21/2014 - Comments

floyd222By Gavin”Neds” O’Connor: Welterweight fighter Fritzie Zivic was once asked to comment on his reputation as a dirty fighter. Zivic’s reply was, you’re fighting, and you’re not playing the piano.

With the fast approaching rematch between WBA/WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr (46-0, 26 KOs) and Marcos Maidana (35-4, 31 KOs) on September 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada and in light of the perceived roughhouse tactics employed by Maidana in the first Mayweather fight last May and the suggestions by some that his delivery was dirty, is the criticism justifiably warranted?

Dirty tactics have been a part of boxing from day one and gave rise to the interdiction of the Marquees of Queensberry rules being established in 1867, but still the darker side of boxing still has reared its ugly head from that day to the present Times. A classic example is the now infamous bout on June 28, 1997 between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield II. In the 3rd round, Tyson sunk his teeth into the tip of Holyfield’s right ear and proceeded to spit it out on to the canvas.

The referee that night Mills Lane then issued a warning only for Tyson to repeat the same action on the left ear, forcing a disqualification with this sorry spectacle witnessed by one of the largest pay per view audiences in boxing history. (I am only highlighting this fight to illustrate the extreme) There are a few things I believe will be different with the 2nd fight not witnessed in the first the referee will be under stricter instructions to intervene and deduct points for any infractions and will have tighter control over the bout.

Floyd Mayweather has already voiced concern about rabbit punches and other unsavory tactics used by Maidana. But in saying that, Floyd can be cute himself and is no saint in this department on actuation. So gentlemen let’s have a clean fight and defend yourself at all times and may the best man win.



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