Marcos Maidana Newest Fighter to Hire Trainer Robert Garcia

Marcos Maidana is the latest name fighter who will be heading to Oxnard, Calif., to train with Robert Garcia, joining camp with the likes of Brandon Rios, Nonito Donaire, Mikey Garcia, Kelly Pavlik, and Antonio Margarito. Maidana's team sent out a press release today which discussed the move:

"We have nothing set yet. But I want to go back to 140 lbs. for my next fight as I didn’t feel comfortable against Alexander. I am still a world champion and want to defend my belt but especially I want to redeem myself after such a lackluster performance," Maidana explained.

Maidana (31-3, 28 KO) lost badly on February 11 in St. Louis to Devon Alexander in an experiment in the welterweight division. He made no excuses and said he simply didn't have it in the ring or feel right at the weight.

But apart from just the weight not being right for him, Maidana, 28, simply didn't look like he had a lot of spirit in the ring, no energy, and little zip on his punches. Maybe that was mostly the weight, but he just seemed off overall, totally unlike himself. By the latter portions of the fight, he was surviving, and not risking anything. He was defeated and behaved as though he was defeated, which is not usual for Maidana.

Given Garcia's success with Brandon Rios, the fit seems solid for Maidana, but is it possible -- or even likely -- that he's simply peaked already? For as crude as Rios can be, he's much more skilled than Maidana, who just cannot box at all. He's a one-dimensional slugger, period. I simply wonder if we've really seen the best of him and it's not all downhill from here.

Hopefully not, because he's a very entertaining fighter when he's on his game, and tough to count out against anyone, no matter the gulf in pure class.

Maidana's adviser Sebastian Contursi mentioned new WBC titleholder Danny Garcia, Michael Katsidis, and the Lucas Matthyssee-Humberto Soto winner as possible opponents in the future.