SPORTS SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014 Mayweather’s best offence is clever defense LAS VEGAS: Pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather has what he con- siders the ideal strategy when he puts his perfect record on the line today against power-puncher Marcos Maidana. “The game plan is to stay in the pocket. Make the guy miss and make the guy pay,” says Mayweather, who is the highest paid athlete in North American sports, earning an estimated $85 million year according to Forbes Magazine. The 37-year-old undefeated American will be a 12-1 favorite when he defends his World Boxing Council 147-pound crown against the World Boxing Association champ Maidana in a unification bout at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. Mayweather has won championship belts in five divi- sions and remained undefeated in 45 career fights. He is a defensive-minded fighter who beats his opponents with Olympic-style tactics-racking up points with the judges. His counterpunching strategy may not make for exciting knockouts, but it has served him well during his 18-year career. “Is Marcos Maidana one of the LAS VEGAS: Undefeated boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr, gets the crowd laughing during his speech at the AEG and MGM Resorts best in the sport? Absolutely,” International ground breaking VIP/media event on Thursday, May 1, 2014. —AP Mayweather said. “But I am the best there is. We are still wondering who’s going to solve the ‘MayVinci’ Code? Khan ‘hungrier But come today I will find a way to California Chrome buffed to win.” The fight is the third of the 30- than ever’ to step month, six-fight deal worth $200 mil- sparkle at Kentucky Derby back into the ring lion-plus that Mayweather signed with pay-per-view outlet Showtime. LOUISVILLE: California Chrome, winner of his The outside post in the crowded field isn’t all LAS VEGAS: Amir Khan is hungrier than In his last fight, Mayweather last four races, is primed to shine today as the bad news. Big Brown won from the 20 hole in ever to step back into the ring, saying he became the unified super welter- 140th Kentucky Derby kicks off US flat racing’s 2008 and Orb won from the 16th post last year. didn’t want to come off the longest break of weight world champ by dominating Triple Crown. The chestnut colt trained by Art Danza, trained by Todd Pletcher, is a question his career against an easy opponent. The Mexico’s Canelo Alvarez on Sherman was installed as the early 5-2 favorite for mark, but was priced at 10-1 on the strength of 27-year-old Briton will end a 12-month hia- September 14, 2013. His fight against the $2 million, 1 1/4-mile race at Churchill Downs, his stunning victory in the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas tus today when he moves up in weight to Alvarez was the highest grossing pay- where he will break from the fifth post under Derby as a 41-1 underdog. Pletcher was happy face American Luis Collazo in a non-title per-view bout of all-time with rev- jockey Victor Espinoza. with the number four post drawn by Danza, who fight at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. “I enues of more than $150 million. For “I think it’s a perfect spot,” said Sherman. “I will be ridden by Joe Bravo. “He has some experi- fight everyone,” Khan says. “Collazo is a mix- today’s contest, Mayweather is guar- think if we break clean, he’ll get out of a lot of ence from inside, so I don’t think it’s a big disad- ture of a boxer and a fighter. He is slick and anteed a purse of $32 million while trouble.” At 77, Sherman could become the old- vantage,” said Pletcher, who also saddles the 12- he knows how to fight. I am a similar style Maidana will receive $1.5 million. The est trainer to condition a Derby winner. Hall of 1 Intense Holiday-an unlucky second in the so that is what is going to make this fight 30-year-old Maidana (35-3, 31 KOs) Famer Charlie Whittingham, another Californian, Louisiana Derby in his last start. exciting.” will be making the first defense of his won the race at 76. The week in Kentucky has had The unfancied first post was drawn by Vicar’s Khan and Collazo’s 12-round welter- belt. Sherman recalling his only prior trip to the Derby in Trouble, who finished second behind weight fight is on the undercard of the Some boxing purists have a hard 59 years ago-as a stable hand for legendary 1955 California Chrome in the race for Derby qualify- Floyd Mayweather-Marcos Maidana 147- time getting excited for today’s fight. winner Swaps. Despite the pressures that come ing points but was priced at 30-1 after drawing pound (67 kg) world title fight. “He is going Journeyman Maidana earned this shot with saddling a Kentucky Derby favorite, the rail. The last horse to win from the number to give it 100 percent and he is in great by beating Adrien Broner for the WBA Sherman was enjoying the experience. “I’m going one spot was Ferdinand in 1986. “I was kind of shape,” Khan said Thursday at a news con- title in December. But the heavy to go to the parties, relax and have a good time,” shocked,” jockey Rosie Napravnik said of the ference Thursday at the Hollywood Theatre underdog has also lost to one of the he said. draw. “It’s not ideal for anyone, but if I had to in the MGM Grand. “He will be bigger than fighters on the undercard, Amir Khan, The 5-2 odds on California Chrome make him have a horse coming out at number one it would me on the night of the fight and at times I who stopped Maidana in December of one of the strongest pre-race favorites of recent be Vicar. He’s sharp coming out of the hole.” will have to dig deep.” Size and weight will 2010. “Maidana is a predictable fight- years. Orb won as 7-2 early favorite last year. Napravnik, who piloted Vicar’s in Trouble to vic- be crucial for Khan in his first welterweight er,” said Floyd Mayweather Sr., who Hoppertunity, the colt trained by Hall of Famer tory in the Louisiana Derby on March 29, will be bout. trains his son. “When I see Maidana. I Bob Baffert that was made the early second out to make history as the first woman jockey to see someone that Floyd can easily pick choice at 6-1, was taken out of the running with a win the Kentucky Derby. Her fifth-placed finish ‘Trained my way up’ apart. Maidana may be able to punch left front hoof issue on Thursday, Baffert saying on Mylute last year was the best ever for a female “I have not ate my way up to this weight. strong, but here’s the thing-how you he’d point the horse at the Preakness, second leg rider.—AFP I trained my way up to this weight,” Khan going to hit something you can’t of the Triple Crown, on May 17. The series con- said, adding that he’s more comfortable at catch.” cludes with the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes on 147 pounds because he doesn’t have to Today’s undercard features British June 7. The last horse to achieve the coveted tre- starve himself to get down to 140 ahead of superstar Khan squaring off against ble was Affirmed in 1978. Friday’s weigh-in. “I feel so much stronger American Luis Collazo in a non-title and happier at this weight,” he said. “That fight that could put the winner in line Hoppertunity knocks seven pounds makes a big difference and I to fight Mayweather in the fall. Khan California Chrome established himself as the have kept all my power and speed.” Khan’s had thought he was on course to fight stand-out among this year’s crop of three-year- last fight was in April of last year when he Mayweather on this card, but olds with dominant victories in the Grade Two won a 12-round decision over Julio Diaz in Mayweather plumped for Maidana San Felipe and the Grade One Santa Anita Derby, Sheffield, England. instead. The 27-year-old Khan will end dominating fields that included graded stakes Just over a month later Khan got married a 12-month hiatus today when he winners by a combined 12 lengths. With and now the couple are expecting a baby. moves up to the welterweight division Hoppertunity out, the main threats to California After the win over Diaz, Khan took four to face Collazo. “He will be bigger than Chrome include Wicked Strong and Danza. months off from boxing to spend time with me on the night of the fight and at Wicked Strong had been widely expected to be his bride. Khan (28-3, 19 knockouts) says the times I will have to dig deep,” Khan priced as the second choice, but was out at 8-1 time away was good for him mentally and after drawing the outside 20th post. “I’m trying to KENTUCKY: Kentucky Derby contender said. There is also a non-title super California Chrome stands while being bathed physically. “My body needed a break,” he lightweight fight between Americans convince myself that it’s not a bad post,” trainer said.