By James Slater – Marcos Maidana, the lethal-hitting Argentine 140-pounder, is still angry about the points loss he suffered at the hands of Britain’s WBA champ Amir Khan. Maidana still insists, some three months or so later, that referee Joe Cortez allowed Khan to clinch repeatedly, and that this tactic saved the 24-year-old from being KO’d. Maidana, in speaking with The Las Vegas Review-Journal, revealed how has also continued to be annoyed at the way the man known as “Fair But Firm” took a point from him in the 5th-round when a stray elbow hit the third man in the ring, not Khan. Had the deduction not happened, Khan would still have won the decision, but Maidana is miffed that Cortez failed to live up to his oft-spoken catch-phrase..
The Review-journal reports that it will be Tony Weeks who referees the Maidana-Erik Morales fight on April 9th; something that makes “El Chino” happy.
Maidana, 29-2(27) may respect “El Terrible” but this will not stop him from doing his best to destroy the Mexican legend when they meet in Las Vegas. Maidana is a big betting favourite to win, and some fans and experts even fear for the 34-year-old’s well being ahead of this fight. The fight will contest the interim WBA title, seeing as how the organisation promoted Khan to “Super” champion, and Morales feels he can make history by becoming the first Mexican to win “world” titles in four different weight classes.
Whether or not you feel Morales, 51-6(35) can beat Maidana, or even make the fight competitive (Morales reportedly pleaded with Golden Boy for this chance, so convinced is he that he has the style to be able to outclass Maidana), the supporting card will make the event a decent one to watch. Always-exciting Australian warrior Michael Katsidis will face Robert Guerrero in what looks like a good match-up for the interim WBA and WBO lightweight titles, while Paulie Malignaggi will face Jose Miguel Cotto, Danny Garcia will face the returning Nate Campbell and James Kirkland will meet former titlist Nobuhiro Ishida.
Both of the unbeaten contenders will be taking something of a step-up in quality of opponent and the other two supporting bouts should be exciting to watch. And, in good news for those fans who have access to Sky Sports, the whole card will be shown live on regular Sky Sports, not on Box Office!