Floyd Mayweather Jr. survives tough fight from Marcos Maidana

May

Marcos Maidana took it to Floyd Mayweather Jr. during his hard-fought majority decision loss on May 3, 2014, at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Photo by Naoki Fukuda

Marcos Maidana took it to Floyd Mayweather Jr. during his hard-fought majority decision loss on May 3, 2014, at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Photo by Harry How/Getty Images.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. outpointed Marcos Maidana in a rough, tough and surprisingly competitive 12-round welterweight championship on Saturday at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev. Mayweather, who suffered a cut over his right eye, won a majority decision by scores of 117-111, 116-112, 114-114.

"It was a tough, competitie fight, what the fans wanted to see," said Mayweather (46-0, 26 knockouts), who fought through arguably his hardest fight since his first bout against Jose Luis Castillo in 2002.

"Normally, I got out and box and move, but tonight I wanted stand and fight and give fans what they want."

Mayweather, who added the WBA belt to his RING and WBC titles with the victory, said Maidana did well enough to merit a rematch.

"If the fans want to see it again, we can do it again," said Mayweather, who started slow but gradually took over the second half of the bout with accurate body punching and right hands.

Maidana (35-4, 31 KOs) is certainly open to that option.

"I'm not scared of him. Why not do the rematch?" said Maidana, who swarmed out to an early lead by outworking Mayweather whenever the 37-year-old veteran went to the ropes.

"I definitely think I won this fight. Floyd did not fight like a man like I expected him to. The other fighters (he fought) respected him (too much) and didn't take it to him like I did. He dominated some rounds, but the majority of the rounds, I dominated."

A full ringside report from Tim Smith will be filed shortly.