Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana fought for Khan’s WBA light-welterweight title in December 2010. A tremendous fight from start-to-finish, it was awarded Fight of the Year honors by the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Khan dropped Maidana in the opening round with a devastating left hook to the liver that caused his opponent to palpitate to the canvas.
Maidana, though, refused to lose. He was getting wiped out in the early rounds, but his confidence never gave way because he knew if he landed one big shot, anything could happen, and the hard-hitting Argentinian did just that.
Landing with several hard uppercuts on the inside with Khan trapped on the ropes, he had his man on the run. In the seventh, his overhand right began to land consistently. The relentlessness of Maidana had become mentally exhausting for Khan.
However, it was too little too late and despite having Khan out on his feet in the 10th after another overhand right, Maidana simply ran out of gas.
Close to five years later, it appears that Khan-Maidana II could be made this fall. Both fighters are advised by Al Haymon and Maidana has himself admitted that big fights and big money are the only things that will lure him back into the ring again.
After losing two hotly-contested matchups to Floyd Mayweather Jr. a year ago, Maidana hasn’t fought, but is financially secure, though, August and September have been thrown around for his return.
Sebastian Contursi, Maidana’s manager, confirmed to Buenos Aires outlet “First Glove” via Boxing Scene of his willingness to get his fighter a rematch against Khan.
“I would like Marcos to face Amir Khan in a rematch. But, this is still my personal desire. It appears Khan will not be fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr.”
However, Maidana is going to have to lose a lot of weight if he wants to think even of fighting at 147, unless if he’s planning to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at cruiserweight.
