Fighter embraces higher profile

The Argentine junior welterweight boxer was relatively unknown despite a string of impressive knockouts while fighting mainly in Argentina and Germany. All that changed June 27.

Fighting in the United States for the first time, Maidana came back from three knockdowns to record a stunning sixth-round stoppage of Victor Ortiz and become the WBA interim super lightweight champion.

“Beating (Ortiz) was huge for me,” said Maidana, who defends his title against Victor Cayo tonight in the main event of a Golden Boy Promotions card at the Hard Rock Hotel. “Doors have opened. I’m getting better fights. It has definitely changed my life.”

Maidana is 27-1 with 26 knockouts, showing knockout power in both hands.

“He’s very dangerous,” Cayo said. “But I was at the Ortiz fight, and we saw some flaws in Maidana, and I thought, ‘Hey, I can beat this guy.’ “

Cayo (24-0, 15 KOs) will get his chance before an HBO audience. But Cayo has a habit of dropping his hands and could be vulnerable to Maidana’s power if he chooses to stand toe to toe with him.

“I think my speed’s going to be very effective against him,” Cayo said. “But you need to have speed, toughness and power to beat Maidana.”

Maidana said he would love to see Cayo stand and fight, but the champion expects Cayo to try to elude him throughout the 12-round bout.

“I know I’m going to have to be the aggressor,” Maidana said. “I’ll have to cut off the ring, dictate the pace. Sooner or later he has to stand and fight, and if he drops his hands I’ll be ready to connect.”

Maidana’s only loss came Feb. 27, 2009, against Andriy Kotelnik in Germany, a 12-round split decision for the WBA world super lightweight belt.

Four months later Maidana stopped Ortiz, and he hopes a victory over Cayo will put him in position for another crack at the WBA title. The champion, Amir Khan, defends the belt May 15 against Paulie Malignaggi in New York.

“If Amir Khan keeps winning and I keep winning, sure, we should meet,” Maidana said. “I would love another chance to fight for that title.”

Tonight’s co-main event — a rematch between Ali Funeka and Joan Guzman for the vacant IBF lightweight title — lost some of its punch Friday when Guzman weighed in nine pounds over the 135 limit. He was fined $31,250, the maximum 25 percent of his $125,000 purse, by the Nevada Athletic Commission. If Funeka wins, he will get the title. If Guzman wins, it will remain vacant.

The first bell is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. The HBO part of the card starts at 7:30.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.