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Argentinean hard man Marcos “El Chino” Maidana 30-2(27) has been enjoying a well earned rest of late after going life and death with modern day legend Erik Morales back in April. The 27 year old regained the WBA Interim Light Welterweight title when he scored a close majority decision over the rejuvenated Morales. He had lost that very crown when he fought WBA champion Amir Khan last December in a fight that was voted fight of the year at the weekend’s BWAA awards in Las Vegas. After surviving a torrid opening round when he was almost broken in half from a debilitating bodyshot from Khan, Maidana came on and showed how much of a warrior he is going toe to toe with Khan rocking him several times before losing a close decision. He first gatecrashed the world scene when he lost a razor thin decision to Andreas Kotelnik back in 2009; he rebounded with a career best win over new WBC Welterweight champion Victor Ortiz. It was another exciting fight in which both guys were on the canvas 5 times in total before the fight was stopped in the sixth round. If you want excitement Maidana is your man, he boasts knock out ratio of nearly 90% and is regularly in thrill a minute fights. Here’s what “El Chino” had to say in an exclusive interview with 15rounds.com when he kindly took time out from his vacation.

Hello Marcos, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Firstly you recently fought Erik Morales, what are your thoughts on that fight looking back?

Marcos Maidana – Great fight, great rival! It was a close fight in which I made the difference in the last two or three rounds.

Anson Wainwright – Was Morales tougher than you expected? Were you 100% in shape for the fight or did you look past Morales?

Marcos Maidana – If you review all my quotes before the fight I always said he would come tough and prepared for a war. You should never write off a great champ like Morales. No way I underestimated him at all. And yes, I was fully prepared.

Anson Wainwright – What have you done since your last fight?

Marcos Maidana – It was crazy and we were jumping from here to there since we got back to Argentina. Press conference and tons of interviews in Buenos Aires, first. Then, I finally made it back to my home province of Santa Fe, where the governor appointed me as Sports Ambassador. Then, I had the best welcome party ever in my birth-town of Margarita. All the people went out to the streets to greet me. It was great. Now I am finishing my vacation after spending time with my family.

Anson Wainwright – What are your plans for 2011? Do you have a rough idea when you’ll be next in action? Are you targeting anyone?

Marcos Maidana – Our plan is to have the next fight by the end of July or early August. We have a few offers to fight in America and others to fight here in Argentina. My team will weigh them all and make a decision very soon. I am not targeting anyone in particular.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team; who is your manager, trainer & promoter? Also what gym do you train at?

Marcos Maidana – My advisor is Sebastian Contursi, who I worked with since a few years back. My trainer is the well known Mexican Rudy Perez, who formed Marco Antonio Barrera. I worked with him for the first time for the Morales fight. My promoter is Golden Boy Promotions. I usually train in Buenos Aires only for a few days before going to training camp overseas.

Anson Wainwright – You were going to train with Nacho Beristain for the Morales fight however Juan Manuel Marquez wasn’t happy with this and ultimately you didn’t work with Beristain. What are your thoughts on that? Would you like to fight Marquez?

Marcos Maidana – We were quite upset with Beristain’s last minute decision to go back on his word to train me. But things in life happen for a reason. We were already in Mexico City when this happened but we were lucky enough to find Rudy in the same city. I’ll fight Marquez, of course. But I’m not particularly interested on him. If it comes, it comes.

Anson Wainwright – What are your thoughts on the current Light Welterweight champions WBC/WBO Tim Bradley, WBA Amir Khan & IBF Zab Judah?

Marcos Maidana – They are all great champs, no doubt about it. They are skilled and fast. I respect them all and I’d like to face them.

Anson Wainwright – You lost a very close fight with Khan last December, what do you think you’d need to adapt if a rematch took place?

Marcos Maidana – I’d make a only few changes in the tactics. But I’d try to put the same pressure on him in a rematch ‘cause I think he would not take it again.

Anson Wainwright – One fight many people have wondered about is you against fellow Argentinean Lucas Matthysse. You both have very similar records and are both big punchers. You fought in the amateur’s could you tell us about those fights and what your thoughts on Matthysse and fighting him are?

Marcos Maidana – Matthysse is a great fighter. We fought four times in the amateurs, when we used to compete for a spot at the national team. I beat him three times and we had a draw. Three of those fights were tough and close but I came stronger in the end. We could very well fight each other as pros yet I guess he needs to beat a few names out there first.

Anson Wainwright – You currently fight at 140, do you make weight easily enough or do you think you’ll move up to Welterweight at some point? What is your walk around weight between fights?

Marcos Maidana – For the time being I can make 140 lbs. Not easily, but I can still make it comfortably. Between fight I normally go up to 160 lbs. Yet, I feel I have a few more fights before moving up to Welterweight.

Anson Wainwright – You’re younger brother Fabian is a top amateur, he won a bronze medal at the 2010 Youth Olympics. Can tell us about him, will he go pro? Are any other members of your family Boxers?

Marcos Maidana – He is the only other boxer in the family. He is tall with long arms and more skilful than me. He will probably go pro next year but he is trying to qualify for the next Olympics first.

Anson Wainwright – You were born in Santa Fe, can you tell us about your early years growing up there? Was it tough for you as a kid and was that how you first became Interested in Boxing?

Marcos Maidana – I was born in a little town called Margarita, which has about 5,000 people. I was raised in a farm and had great memories of my childhood. We were poor but always had something to eat. I started boxing at 14 and then moved to the city of Santa Fe, where it was tougher ‘cause I had to be on my own until I was called up to the amateur national team.

Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do away from Boxing to relax? What are your hobbies and Interests?

Marcos Maidana – I am a family guy. I enjoy myself spending time with my 7-year-old son Yoyo, my mom, dad, bros and sisters. I don’t have the chance to be with them often, so I spend good time with them between fights. I love hunting and fishing also. My tattoos don’t have a special meaning for me. Just like the street-style ‘cause I know the streets.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans?

Marcos Maidana – I always thank my fans for the great support they show me every time I fight. They know I am not the most skilful boxer but I always leave it all in the ring for them.

Thanks for your time “El Chino”

Anson Wainwright

15rounds.com

Weekend Thoughts – Manny Pacquiao has taken a bit of criticism for his performance against Shane Mosley, it’s tough being Pacquiao it seems not even a near shut out is enough against one of the best fighters of the past 20. In truth it wasn’t his best performance and he only fought in spells but when he went through the gears, it was all Mosley could do to get out the way of the firestorm. It was surprising to hear boo’s in the arena during the fight, the Las Vegas crowd is indeed a tough crowd. Perhaps we are seeing the very first signs that Pac Man is actually slowing down but I’m still not sure there is a fighter in the game outside of Mayweather who could live with him…It was good to see Kelly Pavlik return to action after a year out in which he’s gone into rehab for an alcohol problem. He lacked the sharpness though that was to be expected, the ten rounds would of done him good. Hopefully they can keep him active and get him back out in the next few months, perhaps in front of his adoring fans in Youngstown while moving towards something bigger…I didn’t expect Jorge Arce to be much more than cannon fodder against Wilfredo Vazquez, but full credit to the old warrior who joined and illustrious band of Mexicans to win world titles in 3 weight classes. Arce started extremely fast and bullied the young Puerto Rican for much of the first four rounds before walking onto to a huge hook from Vazquez who gamely hung in there and did well in the middle rounds when it looked like Arce was fading. Full credit to Arce who charged out in the eleventh and let his hands go like a human windmill. By the end of the round Vazquez was hanging on, a minute into the final round Arce scored the KO when Vazquez corner called the fight off. Arce’s will to win was humbling. It was a brilliant fight with fantastic two way action. At the time of the stoppage two judges had it all square while the third has Arce up 107-102.