Marcos Maidana's star rose in 2014 despite taking two straight losses, because he was defeated both times by Floyd Mayweather Jr., the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world. By even being competitive, Maidana raised his stock a level. Now, he wants nothing but big fights and has set his sights on current junior welterweight champion Danny Garcia.
"We are targeting Danny Garcia because that's the biggest fight. He has something in his blood, the way he beat my fellow countrymen, Lucas Matthysse; he wants to take revenge for Lucas." Maidana's manager Sebastien Contursi said.
"Marcos Maidana says he's ready for that fight. He doesn't want any interim fights or tune-ups at all. After fighting Broner and Mayweather twice, at this stage of his career, he's ready to take down another name."
Garcia has an April 11 fight to worry about first. Garcia will face Lamont Peterson, the IBF junior welterweight champion, although none of the three titles the fighters hold will be at stake since the matchup will be held at a 143-pound catch weight.
This will be Garcia's second consecutive fight being contested at a catch weight without his belts on the line, fueling speculation that this will be his last fight as a junior welterweight. Should he get by Peterson, he will have cleaned out the division save for Adrien Broner, whom he's shown little interest in fighting at this point in time.
There is also interest in a fight vs. Amir Khan, however Contursi seemed down on the prospects of that rematch happening.
"I think talking about Amir Khan is wasting our time," Contursi said. "Every time we request the rematch either officially in writing or verbally or in the media he always refuses."
Contursi complained that Khan's always negative toward Maidana in his public comments, but maintained that Maidana is willing to face him. "If he wants that fight, all he needs to do is talk to Al Haymon."
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