Mayweather opts to fight Maidana on May 3
WBC welterweight world champion Floyd Mayweather (45-0) will fight WBA champion Marcos Maidana (35-3) in a title unification bout on May 3.
Promoters Golden Boy and Mayweather Promotions have confirmed that the unbeaten American will face Argentinian Maidana at a venue to be decided.
"After weeks of speculation, including feedback from fans across an array of social media platforms, boxing's pound-for-pound superstar, pay-per-view king and WBC Welterweight World Champion Floyd "Money" Mayweather will face the dangerous, power-punching WBA Welterweight World Champion Marcos "El Chino" Maidana on Saturday, May 3," read the statement.
"This is a great fight for me and he deserves the opportunity to see if he can do what 45 others have tried to do before him - beat me," Mayweather said.
Former light welterweight champion Amir Khan claims a deal was signed in December to put him in line to fight Mayweather, but has now lost out after Maidana, who lost to Khan in 2010 but claimed the WBA belt in December with a superb victory over the previously unbeaten Adrien Broner, got the nod instead.
"I am extremely happy to be facing Floyd Mayweather because it will give me the opportunity to show the world that I am the best welterweight in the division," he said.
"I just handed a great defensive fighter his first loss and I plan to do the same to Mayweather. I don't care whether he's the best and undefeated."
Mayweather said: "Marcos Maidana's last performance immediately brought him to my attention.
"He is an extremely skilled fighter who brings knockout danger to the ring."
Mayweather, a 10-time world champion in five weight divisions, set the record for the highest-grossing pay-per-view event in television history last September when his defeat of Saul Alvarez brought in more than $150m (£90m).