Mayweather, Maidana make weight for Saturday’s title fight

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Published Friday, Sept. 12, 2014 | 4:07 p.m.

Updated Friday, Sept. 12, 2014 | 5:03 p.m.

They started arriving at the MGM Grand Garden Arena today three hours before Floyd Mayweather Jr. was scheduled to weigh in for his welterweight title fight against Marcos Maidana.

By time Mayweather took the stage to tip the scales, about 8,000 people were standing and wildly cheering. Some took photos or shot video and most seemed to be bobbing their heads to the loud music played.

The modern-day weigh-in resembles a nightclub and not an age-old formality before a prizefight. Mayweather, as expected, was the main attraction. He’s the sport’s biggest star.

Both fighters made weight — Mayweather at 146.5 pounds and Maidana at 146 for Saturday’s pay-per-view fight. The maximum was 147.

Showtime’s Jim Gray asked the undefeated Mayweather, a Las Vegas resident, about the advantage of fighting at home. He’s been a professional for nearly two decades, fighting mostly at the MGM. The loud applause answered the question.

“I just love these fans,” Mayweather said. “I’ve been in the sport for 18 years, and the fans are always supporting me.”

A small group of fans waving Argentinian flags were vocal for Maidana. He’s just the second fighter to receive a rematch with Mayweather and is looking to avenge a majority-decision loss last May. He had some success early in the last fight, and one judge scored the match a draw, giving the former two-division champion confidence.

“I’m definitely going to try to change history, try to change Mayweather’s record,” Maidana said through a translator.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21