Full Name: Marcos Rene Maidana
Nickname: El Chino
Weight Class: Junior Welterweight
Birthdate: July 17, 1983
Birthplace: Santa Fe, Argentina
Record: 28-1, 27 KOs
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 5'9"
Reach: 68"
Trainer: Robert Garcia

Accomplishments

• 2002 and 2003 Argentine National Champion
• 2003 Quarter-finalist at the World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand
• WBA Super Lightweight Interim Champion

Biography

A devastating puncher with a take no prisoners style in the ring, interim WBA junior welterweight champion Marcos Maidana has rapidly made his mark on the world boxing scene as he approaches his second title defense against Victor Manuel Cayo on March 27, 2010.

The Argentine national amateur champion in 2002 and 2003, as well as a quarterfinalist at the 2003 World Championships, Maidana finished off his amateur career after just missing the 2004 Olympics by losing a close decision to eventual US Olympian Rock Allen in the final qualifying tournament.

Knowing that his fighting style was tailor-made for the pro game, Maidana entered the punch for pay ranks on June 12, 2004 with a first round knockout of Adan Mironchik. And in his early days, it was clear that Maidana didn’t care to stick around in the ring too long, as his first seven victories (all knockouts) saw him end six of those fights in the opening round.

It wasn’t until August of 2005 that the precocious Maidana was finally extended the six round distance in a fight (by Daniel Carriqueo), but since then, all his victories have come by knockout, 14 of them in three rounds or less.

On December 22, 2006, Maidana earned his first pro title when he halted respected contender Miguel Callist in three rounds to take the WBA Fedelatin title. The bout also served as a WBA title elimination bout, but the Argentinean knockout artist was avoided until February of 2009, when the 25-0 battler finally got his shot against Andriy Kotelnik. Unfortunately for Maidana, what many saw as a clear victory in Kotelnik’s adopted home country of Germany turned into a split decision win for the champion, who retained his belt.

But Maidana got his second shot at the belt when he battled hot prospect Victor Ortiz for the interim title on June 27, 2009, and this time, the Argentinean brought his fists as the judges in his United States debut, as he rose from three knockdowns to drop Ortiz twice en route to a sixth round TKO victory. This Fight of the Year candidate not only earned Maidana the interim WBA title, it made him an instant star among diehard fight fans.

On November 21, 2009, Maidana was back in action and back in fearsome form as he halted William Gonzalez in just three rounds, and on March 27th, he kicks off 2010 against highly regarded and unbeaten Victor Manuel Cayo in another bout that has Fight of the Year written all over it.