On May 3, 2014, the world of boxing held his breath when Floyd Mayweather Jr. faced one of the most dangerous moments of his illustrious career, almost knocked out in the first seconds by Marcos Maidana. The fight, held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas for the WELTER weight titles of the AMB and the WBC, remains recorded in memory as a rare instance in which the undefeated “money” staggered the edge of defeat, reported at 2:45 pm +07 on Monday, June 23, 2025.
The drama developed in the first round when Maidana, known for her relentless pressure and powerful blows, unleashed a vicious attack. Only 10 seconds from the fight, the Argentine landed a thunderous right hand followed by a left hook, sending Mayweather staggering against the strings. The crowd exploded when Maidana pounced, unloading a flood that caused the champion to be visibly shaken. The commentator’s voice to Bernstein increased disbelief, shouting: “Maidana hurt him early!”
Mayweather, with his registered brand defensive skill, managed to survive attack by ensuring and using the ring to recover its composure. Later, his corner revealed that he suffered a minor cut and swelling, but the 37-year-old legend adapted, winning by majority decision for scores of 114-114, 116-112 and 115-113. The early domain of Maidana, however, showed a vulnerability rarely seen in Mayweather’s 50-0 race.
Reflecting after the fight, Maidana said: “I knew I had it. If I had moved on, it could have been different.” Fans in X continue to review the moment, with publications such as “Those 10 seconds were wild: Maidana almost ended the myth!” And “Mayweather’s fate saved him there.” Argentina’s 35-5 record at that time stressed his threat, which made him an almost defining chapter.
Years later, this fight is a testimony of Mayweather’s resistance. Could Maidana have altered the story with a final blow? The boxing world is still debates, but that day is still an exciting reminder of the thin line between the victory and the defeat for the self -proclaimed “TBE” (bigger of all time).
