[BrutalBodyShots]

What do you guys think? Every time I hear people talk about the guy it's that he's this beast; a force to be reckoned with and almost everyone seems on the Maidana bandwagon.

Don't get me wrong - I think he's a tough, durable 140 pound fighter that will probably do decent at 147 as well. But is he really all that good? I think it's easy to get behind a guy like Maidana that always comes to fight, always tries to KO his opponent, and basically just always gives it his all. He's always in exciting fights. But, putting that aside the bottom line is you really need to look at who he's beat and assess from there.

I think the big one for me is his fight against Morales. I don't know about the rest of you, but I thought Morales pulled out the win. Regardless, it was a very close fight that could have gone either way. If Maidana was as good as most make him out to be, he should have clearly beat Morales IMO. Morales fighting 10 years past his prime, 3-4 weight classes above his prime against arguably one of the best natural 140 pounders in the world, IN his prime? I mean come on. So does Maidana lose a few points in everyone's mind or just kudos to Morales?

Another thing is Maidana's power. I think it's a bit over rated as well. There's no reason IMO that Maidana shouldn't have KO Corley when he fought him. Sure Corley has proven to be pretty durable over the years, but he was knocked out by 1 punch prior to facing Maidana at the hands of Freddy Hernandez who isn't a huge banger.

I dunno... I like the guy and all but when I think back to his fights he really hasn't accomplished all that much. Sure, the win over Ortiz was nice but it's more of a retrospect win to me. That is, at the time it was a solid win, but it's magnified by the fact that Ortiz' best work (wins) have come SINCE the loss to Maidana.

Your thoughts? Maybe I'm just being over critical - but I've always been a fan of rating fighters based on their ability to beat top opponents, and Maidana in my view really hasn't done that.

This post has been edited by BrutalBodyShots: Feb 16 2012, 12:28 PM

[Cshel86]

Good post! You know me, Im "War Maidana" all day, every day! I have two words to kick this post off...Victor Ortiz! The fact that he gave Maidana everything he had, and still ended up succumbing to his onslaught and quitting on top of that, pretty much put a fucked up image in most fighters' head, whether they choose to admit it or not.

Had Victor beat him that night, especially after one of those knockdowns that he produced, then I doubt that people would be think Maidana was that dangerous. We call him "The Test" for this reason alone, he makes EVERYBODY get in that ring and work. He gave Khan a few stripes, though he almost lost the fight in the 10th. He even made Erik Morales look good while giving him a beating and taking some punches of his own.

Fact is, no matter who steps in the ring with this guy, they can either be the victor and somewhat erase a negative public image of themselves, or they can take a beating and be tarnished for what seems like an eternity. Khan was looked at as having a bad chin, but ended up getting some type of credit for it after beating Maidana. Morales' career was "shot" and he was supposed to die in the ring that night, but he looked good losing (though I felt he edged the victory), and found a second wind in his career.

I don't believe Maidana is a world-beater by any measure, but guys are usually forced to get on their shit before stepping in there against him. No matter how much he is being exposed for his lack of skills, his opponents are usually left with these options...

1. Gut it out and look good winning
2. Look good losing a nasty fight
3. Succumb to an ass-kicking and be prepared to take the back seat for a while

Either way it goes, he challenges guys from the opening bell to end (however it may end)...

[mitukczuk]

Good post! You know me, Im "War Maidana" all day, every day! I have two words to kick this post off...Victor Ortiz! The fact that he gave Maidana everything he had, and still ended up succumbing to his onslaught and quitting on top of that, pretty much put a fucked up image in most fighters' head, whether they choose to admit it or not.

Had Victor beat him that night, especially after one of those knockdowns that he produced, then I doubt that people would be think Maidana was that dangerous. We call him "The Test" for this reason alone, he makes EVERYBODY get in that ring and work. He gave Khan a few stripes, though he almost lost the fight in the 10th. He even made Erik Morales look good while giving him a beating and taking some punches of his own.

Fact is, no matter who steps in the ring with this guy, they can either be the victor and somewhat erase a negative public image of themselves, or they can take a beating and be tarnished for what seems like an eternity. Khan was looked at as having a bad chin, but ended up getting some type of credit for it after beating Maidana. Morales' career was "shot" and he was supposed to die in the ring that night, but he looked good losing (though I felt he edged the victory), and found a second wind in his career.

I don't believe Maidana is a world-beater by any measure, but guys are usually forced to get on their shit before stepping in there against him. No matter how much he is being exposed for his lack of skills, his opponents are usually left with these options...

1. Gut it out and look good winning
2. Look good losing a nasty fight
3. Succumb to an ass-kicking and be prepared to take the back seat for a while

Either way it goes, he challenges guys from the opening bell to end (however it may end)...

Nothing else to be added. C' hit the nail again.

[BrutalBodyShots]

Agreed with everything you said... so you don't necessarily think he's a top fighter either, just that he's a great test and makes for a great fight regardless of who he fights. Does Ring Magazine even have him in the top 10?

[Cshel86]

Yep, that's what he is, simply a grueling test for anybody. It looks worse for a guy to lose to Maidana, because let's face it, he's not all that technically sound to begin with. It sucks to see a guy give it their all, just to have that "oh shit, did that just happen moment" (i.e. Khan letting the fight slip away in the 10th, and Victor's 3 knockdowns).

As far as him being ranked, I highly doubt if he's ranked in Ring Magazine. Dont quote me on that, I haven't researched anything. HIS best test to this date would be Lucas Matthysse, which is nearly a carbon copy his, with the exception of technique. Im waiting to see who will commit to body work against Maidana. I've yet to see it thoroughly executed.

[mgrover]

exciting fighter but generally the reason people fight him cause of his style, they think its easy enough but the pressure usually gets to them when they tire

[Hittman25]

Like you guys are saying he cant be over rated because you know what he is. Hes a guy thats gonna be in your chest swinging away til you drop or he drops. Ranked unranked hes the peoples champ because he puts on a show everytime he fights. I like his chances against any one.....even maywheather. Quote me on that I dont care, the guy doesnt care what your gonna do in the ring all he cares about is making you feel his power and putting your ass outta there. I dont know how any one can hate on maidana. He gives you the same thing every fight a war and thats what most people watch boxing for. Dont get me wrong i would love for chino to gain some kind of technique or be trained by Nacho like he was gonna be (it would have been over if that happened). BUt the fact is there needs to be more maidana who are willing to risk it all.

[BoxingEinstein]

If Maidana had Nacho taught him and train him a technique it would've been over for the entire 140 division. The man already has a iron chin, steel-like will power, a unquenchable thirst to KO his opponent, and KO power to boot. Maidana in his last fight showed some movements I've never seen him do in any other fight so maybe he can apply that in his future fights which would make him more dangerous than he already is. Maidana overrated? Just ask Khan, Ortiz, Cayo, Petrov, Morales,and Corley . Win, lose or draw Maidana brings hell to ALL of his opponents.

[BrutalBodyShots]

Maidana overrated? Just ask Khan, Ortiz, Cayo, Petrov, Morales,and Corley . Win, lose or draw Maidana brings hell to ALL of his opponents.

I don't doubt that, but over rated in the sense of being able to beat top opposition. Like the other guy in this thread a few above that said he likes Maidana's chances against Mayweather. I mean really? That's the kind of shit I'm talking about with respect to Maidana and him being over rated.

[daprofessor]

we see this all the time. a guy has a questionable performance (morales, corley, khan) then all of a sudden we're discounting or discrediting all that he did before!? make no mistake about it...maidana is not overrated. he is what he is....a gun slinger who can punch like he has bricks in his gloves. sure he's slow and crude, but it works for him. he's not fighting to win decisions...and before the ortiz fight he was 25-1 w/24kos. that does NOT happen by accident. he's fun to watch and he has that equalizer. his 2 losses were great efforts and i've never seen the guy stink out the joint. let's see if he can bring his punch with him to 147. if not...he's not gonna do so well there because his power is pretty much all he has. doesn't mean he won't be entertaining....or that he won't make money. i'll enjoy seeing where the road takes him the same way i enjoy all fighters' journeys.