Floyd Mayweather beats Marcos Maidana to keep welterweight belts

Floyd Mayweather was declared the winner in a unanimous points decision

Floyd Mayweather remains the WBA and WBC welterweight boxing champion after a unanimous points victory over Marcos Maidana in Las Vegas.

It extends five-weight world champion Mayweather's unbeaten run to 47 fights.

In just the second rematch of his 18-year career, the 37-year-old American emerged as a comfortable winner on all three judges' scorecards.

During the eighth round, Mayweather accused Maidana of biting him on the wrist, a charge the Argentine denied.

The incident happened while the pair were in a clinch near the centre of the ring during their feisty encounter.

"We were tangled and I didn't realise what it was," said Mayweather. "Then I saw that he bit me. After the eighth round my fingers were numb, I couldn't use my left hand.''

Two judges scored the 12-round contest 116-111 and the third had it 115-112 for the champion, who was a heavy favourite coming into the bout after winning their first fight by a majority decision in May.

Mayweather claimed Maidana bit him on the wrist in the eighth round

Another flashpoint came when the American tagged the Argentine with a low blow late in the bout then taunted him as he recovered in a neutral corner.

"I felt sharper in the first fight, my rhythm was off," Mayweather said.

"I got hit with some shots tonight I shouldn't have gotten hit with. But that comes with the sport."

Mayweather is reported to have earned $32m (£19.6m) from the fight, taking his career earnings to more than $100m (£61.5m) in the last year alone.

Maidana, 31, who appears unlikely to get a third rematch with Mayweather, left convinced he had done more than enough to win.

"I'm very happy to have fought twice against Floyd Mayweather, I think I did a terrific job," he said.

"If the judges like a fighter who runs like Floyd there is nothing I can do about it.

"He's beatable, you have to attack him. When you attack him, he really doesn't know what to do.

"He is very fast on his feet I will tell you that."

Argentine Maidana struggled to land many significant punches during the 12-round contest

Mayweather connects with a right to the face of Maidana

Maidana showed his disappointment when the unanimous points decision was announced