Marcos Maidana’s trainer believes Floyd Mayweather can last as long as Bernard Hopkins

THE few observers predicting that Marcos Maidana will give Floyd Mayweather a tougher contest than their May opener base their views on the Americanโ€™s advancing age. But the challengerโ€™s trainer Robert Garcia does not believe, openly at least, that Mayweatherโ€™s form is declining with time.

โ€œI donโ€™t think age is a factor,โ€ he said. โ€œHe [Mayweather] is a great athlete. He is always in great condition. I donโ€™t think he drinks, I donโ€™t think he smokes. Look at Bernard Hopkins, heโ€™s the same and heโ€™s 49, still at the top. I think Floyd is going the same way.โ€

There had been some bad feeling brewing between Mayweather and his opponentโ€™s trainer in the build-up after the undefeated 37-year-old pointed out Maidanaโ€™s dirty tactics in the first bout. Garcia admitted that those comments might do the Las Vegas resident some favours in the MGM Grand return.

โ€œFloyd has been very smart by calling Maidana a dirty fighter because now the judges, the officials will be quick to punish anything we do,โ€ Garcia explained before wisely complimenting referee Kenny Bayless. โ€œWe have no problem at all with the referee. Heโ€™s a professional, he always does a good job, and Iโ€™m sure heโ€™ll do a good job this time.โ€

Garcia spoke of the difficulty of trying to replicate Mayweather in sparring, but praised Mikey Garcia for his role in preparing Maidana for this rematch.

โ€œNo one could imitate Floyd,โ€ he said. โ€œIf they did they would just make mistakes so we didnโ€™t try to do that. But Mikey was brought in because of his speed and accuracy, and he did a good job all the way through.โ€

Maidana, dressed in an outrageous jacket โ€“ some kind of snakeskin/leopard print number โ€“ and sunglasses, does not believe that having experience of already facing Mayweather will be advantageous this time.

โ€œOf course itโ€™s supposed to be easier [second time round], but weโ€™re both in the same boat, because he knows me as well.โ€

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