By Jason Kim: WBA light welterweight champion Marcos Maidana (30-2, 27 KO’s) could have waited until the smoke had cleared between Breidis Prescott and Paul McCloskey in their WBA light welterweight eliminator bout last weekend to just fight the winner of that bot and not take any fights until then.

But Maidana, 28, has chosen to take what could be a very risky fight against Russian Petr Petrov (29-2-2, 13 KO’s) on September 23 at the Sosciedad Alemana, Villa Ballester, Buenos Aires, Argentina. It’s a dangerous fight for Maidana because Petro has a style of fighting that involves a lot of movement, fast punches and an in an out type of attacking style.

Petrov doesn’t just stand in front of his opponents trying to slug it out with them. He fights in a manner that Maidana has had problems with in the past. Maidana’s big power has saved him in some occasions against quick fighters, but it’s also failed him in losses to Amir Khan and Andriy Kotelnik.

Petrov, 28, appears to have an excellent chin, and that could be a big problem for Maidana if he’s unable to take him out. Maidana has an advantage that the fight will be taking place in his home country of Argentina, giving Maidana a chance to get a decision even if he appears to lose the fight. But that’s not something you can count on or be certain about. This is why it’s in Maidana’s best interest to apply a ton of pressure on Petro from the outset to try and wear him down and take him out so that the fight never makes it to the cards. If Maidana loses this fight, he’ll lose his title and his chance to fight McCloskey and bigger fights in the near future.

Maidana looked vulnerable the last time he fought at home against DeMarcus Corley last year in August. Maidana wore down early in that fight, and ended up making what should have been an easy fight into one that was much harder for him. Corley is about on the same level as Petrov, and we could see Maidana struggling again in this fight.