Richard Schaefer speaking inside of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada (Photo: Chris Robinson – www.HustleBoss.com)

By Chris Robinson

This past weekend in Las Vegas, inside of the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Golden Boy Promotions put on their first pay per view showcase of the year, as come backing former junior middleweight titlist Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez scored a brutal 10th round stoppage over a very game Alfredo Angulo.

Throughout the fight week in Las Vegas, there was an equal buzz in the air for the May 3 Floyd Mayweather vs. Marcos Maidana matchup, also set to take place inside of the MGM Grand.

Catching up with Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer on the eve of Canelo vs. Angulo, he spoke on what the pay per view duel represents for his company.

“I think it’s a fascinating match and I think a match the general public is going to be looking forward to,” stated Schaefer. “I think, over the years, a lot of those Mayweather haters have actually become his fans. It used to be maybe 50/50. 50 percent of the people who were buying his pay per views were haters; they wanted to see him lose.

“And 50 percent were his fans, supporting him and admiring him,” Schaefer added. “I think that has clearly shifted, but there still is that group of people who Mayweather rubs the wrong way. And I think those haters, they’re going to feel re-energized with Marcos Maidana, because Marcos Maidana is a very dangerous opponent.”

This is a huge step up for Maidana, who is still riding a high that came from his resounding upset over Adrien Broner this past December.

Schaefer feels that the awkward attack from the Argentinean may just serve him well against the ultra-elusive Mayweather.

“We know that Floyd Mayweather is a defensive wizard,” Schaefer stated. “Certainly I think the best defensive fighter in the history of the sport of boxing. But if you ask Adrien Broner or you ask some of those guys who were actually in the ring with Maidana, you know what they all tell you?

“‘Man, I didn’t see the punch coming’,” Schaefer continued. “It doesn’t matter how good of a defensive fighter your are, you can’t protect against what you don’t see coming. That is, I think, the danger in this fight.”

Schaefer took a second to then compliment Manny Pacquiao, as he compared the younger version of the Filipino icon to today’s version of Maidana.

“You know what he reminds me of?” Schaefer asked. “Another guy who was so awkward and gave a lot of fighters a lot of problems, including Oscar. And that is a young Manny Pacquiao. Who was very awkward, with punches coming from angles you just didn’t know where they were coming. And I look at Marcos Maidana a bit like that.

“I think he has a hell of a chance,” Schaefer noted. “I would not have picked that opponent.”

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Chris Robinson can be reached at Trimond@aol.com