LAS VEGAS– Eric Poleski, battalion chief for the Clark County Fire Department, said 24 people were taken to Las Vegas hospitals after a panicked crowd stormed out the front doors of the MGM’s Grand Garden arena. This was after the Mayweather versus Maidana world championship fight had just finished late on Saturday evening. All in all, about 60 people were injured after a rush to leave the arena. Las Vegas police confirmed reports of a loud bang at the venue that probably led to spectators stampeding out.
With way over 16,000 energized boxing disciples at the MGM Grand Garden Arena urging the fierce action on, Floyd Mayweather Jr. edged Argentina’s Marcos Maidana in 12 rounds.
Mayweather, 46-0, said post-fight, “This was a tough, competitive fight, a fight the fans wanted to see. I wanted to give the fans excitement. A true champion can adjust to anything.” Maidana, dropped to 35-4, and was upset by the decision. “I trained hard, and he never hurt me with a punch,” said Maidana. “I feel I was robbed,” Maidana added through a translator. “I feel I won.”
The scorecards by the judges had Burt Clements- 117-111, Dave Moretti- 116-112 and Michael Pernick scored it 114-114. The Rolco Sports Network team had it at 115-113 in favor of Mayweather.
Throughout the fight, Maidana tried to crowd Mayweather and the Argentinean threw every conceivable punch. Many didn’t score though. Mayweather suffered a cut over his right eye in the fourth round from an accidental head butt.
After the fight, while celebrating inside the ring, Mayweather posed for selfies with pop-singer Justin Bieber. The champ wore a hat with a new logo- TBE, which stood for, The Best Ever.
“This won’t be my last fight. Tonight I put on a show. If he wants it, and the fans want it, let’s do it again, Mayweather added.”
The other main fights on the card had British fighter, Amir Khan, taking a unanimous 12-round decision over Luis Collazo. Former Kronk boxer J’Leon Love survived a fifth-round knockdown to score a 10-round unanimous decision over Marco Antonio Periban. Love went to 18-0.
In other boxing news, Oscar De La Hoya met with selected media before the welterweight unification title bout between Mayweather Jr. and Maidana. This was the first time he has formally addressed such a group since finishing a three-month rehabilitation stint in December for his latest battle against substance abuse. De La Hoya spoke about his awkwardness’ with Richard Schaefer and future plans for Golden Boy Promotions.
