Floyd Mayweather Jr. has agreed to face a left-handed welterweight champion.
No, not that one.
With the prospect of a career-defining fight against Manny Pacquiao hovering over him, the undefeated Mayweather announced Tuesday on Twitter that he’ll end what’s now a 13-month layoff by boxing WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz in a pay-per-view bout Sept. 19 at an undetermined site. Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs) is a credible, heavy-handed opponent for the embattled Mayweather, 34, a five-division champ who is widely considered one of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the world.
But he’s not Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KOs), the Filipino superstar virtually every boxing fan wants Mayweather to fight to end the pound-for-pound debate in the ring. Mayweather made no mention of Pacquiao in comments released by his publicist.
“I am ready to return to the ring and give my fans a fantastic night of boxing by fighting the best out there, and for me, that is Victor Ortiz,” said Mayweather, who’s 41-0 with 25 KOs. “He is the current champion and an extremely talented fighter who showed amazing skills and heart in his last performance against Andre Berto.”
Ortiz, 24, of Oxnard, Calif., overcame two knockdowns to win the WBC 147-pound crown from the previously unbeaten Berto by unanimous decision April 16 in Mashantucket, Conn.
Pacquiao, 32, has tentatively agreed to meet Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez (52-5-1-38 KOs) for a third time, Nov. 12 in Las Vegas.
For more on Mayweather’s comeback, visit our boxing blog, Ring Posts, at northjersey.com.
