Boxing

'Can I beat Mayweather? You bet'

ESPN staff

July 15, 2014

Floyd Mayweather Jr won the first fight by a majority decision © Getty Images

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Marcos Maidana has accepted Floyd Mayweather's challenge to bet his share of their fight purse ahead of their rematch in Las Vegas.

The pair are set to go head to head once again on September 13 - having first clashed in May - and Mayweather, who is ranked by ESPN as the highest paid athlete in the world, has boasted that he expects to pocket around £41 million for the fight.

The pound-for-pound king is so confident he will triumph in the rematch that he has dared Maidana to bet his share of the purse, saying: "So however much you're making for the fight, I'll bet you I'll beat you.

"That's how much I believe in myself because I can afford to give up whatever. So if you believe in your skills like you say you believe in your skills, however much you're making for the fight, I'll bet I beat you.

"If he believes in his skills, bet the fight. Either you're going to bet or not. Since I know I'm probably making about $70m (£41m). He believes in his skills and I believe in my skills."

On Mayweather's challenge, Maidana said: "As far as the bet, yeah, I'm willing to take the bet no problem. I will take the bet."

Mayweather won the first fight by a majority decision 117-111, 116-112 and 114-114 with the unbeaten American branding Maidana a "tough customer".