1. Is Victor Ortiz a legitimate contender?
[+] Enlarge Ethan Miller/Getty Images Victor Ortiz Arash Markazi, ESPNLosAngeles.com: There’s no question Ortiz is a legitimate contender. I think anyone who would argue otherwise hasn’t seen him fight. The question is whether he has what it takes to beat Mayweather on Saturday night. Mayweather is a cerebral technician in the ring who knows exactly what he has to do to win and exactly how to prevent his opponent from getting to him. Does Ortiz have what it takes to break through that wall and knock Mayweather down and ultimately win the fight? I’m not convinced Ortiz does, despite his being a legitimate contender.
Steve Springer, ESPNLosAngeles.com: When someone holds a title — especially one from the WBC, the most credible of a suspect group of sanctioning bodies — the word contender is no longer applicable. The fighter has arrived. That is especially true of Victor Ortiz. He beat a name fighter in Andre Berto to win the crown and did so in spectacular fashion, showing the power to knock Berto down twice and the resilience to get up after being knocked down twice himself. Such experience should give Ortiz the confidence to compete in the spotlight he is about to enter.
Noel Pi?eiro Planas, ESPNDeportesLA.com: Victor Ortiz is a legitimate opponent because he is a boxer who has a good punch, is daring and is hungry to continue to move up to a level where there’s money and fame in this sport. But in general, his abilities are not better than Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s, though hardly anyone is at his level. Ortiz instead relies on youth, and that’s something the majority of “Money” Mayweather’s opponents didn’t have. Besides, Ortiz is the WBC welterweight champion and legitimately won his title by beating Andre Berto. Therefore, if you add and take away some values, Ortiz is a legitimate opponent for Mayweather. The only thing missing is for Ortiz to show he has the necessary elements to be able to beat Mayweather.
Miguel ?ngel Cebreros, ESPNDeportesLA.com: I believe that Victor Ortiz is not only a legitimate contender, but also the world champion. He is young, strong and hungry, and if we add that he’s a lefty, we can conclude he will be a very complicated rival for Floyd Mayweather Jr., but nothing else. Ortiz has an aggressive style, and if he forces the fight, that would be his only possibility. To me, Floyd is the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter, and he will win Saturday, without taking anything away of the fact that Ortiz is a real contender to Floyd.
Alfredo Berrios, ESPNDeportesLA.com: We keep forgetting that Victor Ortiz is the champion, and to paraphrase a well-known athlete: To be the man, you have to be the man. That being said, Floyd Mayweather is still one of the best pound-for-pound fighters ever, but he is 34 years old, with only two fights in 45 months. His last challengers were over-the-hill boxers who were older than he was. Ortiz has the chance to stop a legend only if he is prepared, not only physically, but mentally. He also must figure a way to stop Mayweather’s continuous hit-and-run technique, which could be the biggest challenge of all.
2. Who has more to lose on this fight: Ortiz or Mayweather?
[+] Enlarge AP Photo/Isaac Brekken Floyd Mayweather Jr. Arash Markazi, ESPNLosAngeles.com: Without a doubt, Mayweather has more to lose. This is a huge opportunity for Ortiz, and it would make his career and cement his place in boxing if he were to win. But he’s 24 years old and has plenty of time to rebound if he loses to Mayweather by a decision. A close loss like that would not break him; if anything, it might even solidify his status as one of boxing’s rising stars. Mayweather, on the other hand, needs this fight. He needs to win this fight to set up his mega-payday — er, mega-fight — with Manny Pacquiao. A loss would likely cost Mayweather a chance to earn more than $60 million for the fight, which would be the most in boxing history.
Steve Springer, ESPNLosAngeles.com: Clearly, Floyd Mayweather has more to lose. At 24, as a rising star, Ortiz figures to have more opportunities to prove himself if he falls on his face this time. Not so for the 34-year-old Mayweather. At stake is his unbeaten record, his claim of being the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and his shot at perhaps the richest match in boxing history, the showdown with Manny Pacquiao. Losing would destroy the aura of invincibility Mayweather uses as a psychological shield against opponents — and could decimate the future earning power of the man who likes to call himself “Money” Mayweather.
Noel Pi?eiro Planas, ESPNDeportesLA.com: Without a doubt, Ortiz has a lot more to lose than Mayweather. The opportunity to shine on center stage and big purse fights are scarce. A victory for him would be like hitting the lottery. Having on his r?sum? that he was the first boxer to beat Mayweather would garner Ortiz worldwide attention, something he could never imagine — plus the money he would be able to make. Meanwhile, Mayweather would suffer only his first loss at a stage in his career when he fights just to increase his substantial millions — and that, as we know it, would not be a hindrance for him to keep selling big fights.
Miguel ?ngel Cebreros, ESPNDeportesLA.com: Undoubtedly, Floyd Mayweather is the one risking the most because even though he’s not the champion, he is the star. He is the one who makes the most money being the challenger, and a loss would be catastrophic, not only for him but for the promoters who are planning a mega-fight in 2012 between Mayweather and Pacquiao. It is rumored that such a fight would bring Mayweather $100 million, a sum that Ortiz would not make even if he fought seven times with less prestigious fighters.
Alfredo Berrios, ESPNDeportesLA.com: This one is easy. If Ortiz loses, while it’s true he would not be the champ anymore, he still will be a young fighter with a loss against one of the best ever, at least at one time. Mayweather, on the other hand, would tarnish his unbeaten record, but he already has his niche in boxing. Would his big-money days be over if he decides to continue fighting even with that loss? Yes, but his possible fight against Pacquiao would still make a lot of money.
3. Regardless of the outcome, should Mayweather fight Manny Pacquiao?
[+] Enlarge AP Photo/Julie Jacobson Manny Pacquiao Arash Markazi, ESPNLosAngeles.com: This fight should happen regardless of how Mayweather and Pacquiao fare in their next bouts, but it will lose a lot of luster if one or the other comes into it after a loss. The whole allure of the fight is having the two best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, who are seemingly unbeatable, finally square off to see who is the best. If Ortiz beats Mayweather on Saturday or if Pacquiao loses to Juan Manuel Marquez on Nov. 12, Mayweather-Pacquiao is not quite the same draw. There’s too much money in that fight for both fighters for it not to happen, but that payday won’t be as great if either one loses his next fight.
Steve Springer, ESPNLosAngeles.com: The question is, if Mayweather loses, could he fight Pacquiao? The issue, as is always the case with these two, would be money and ego. Despite anything Pacquiao has accomplished in the ring or in terms of becoming an international star, Mayweather considers himself superior in both categories. It has been tough enough to make Mayweather-Pacquiao until now, with Mayweather unbeaten and staking a reasonable claim that he should still be considered the best pound-for-pound fighter. A loss to Ortiz would end that discussion, but not necessarily in Mayweather’s mind. Which might make already unsuccessful negotiations with Pacquiao impossible.
Noel Pi?eiro Planas, ESPNDeportesLA.com: Definitely. In the past years there hasn’t been a more logical fight than that one. Both Mayweather and Pacquiao have dominated the sport in their own way, with class and superiority over their opponents — and in a sport that’s hungry for big and legitimate fights, there will not be another that will compare. Win or lose, Mayweather needs to make that fight come true; it would be the richest purse in history. If he considers himself the best boxer of this time, then it’s time for the one we all consider to be the best boxer of his generation to prove it.
Miguel ?ngel Cebreros, ESPNDeportesLA.com: This answer goes hand in hand with the previous question. The fight’s outcome is very important. As I said, if Mayweather loses, the Pacquiao fight would be off for obvious reasons, Mayweather’s value would spiral down, and there wouldn’t be much interest in such a fight. If that happens, Ortiz would be the logical rival for Pacquiao, if and only if he beats Juan Manuel Marquez on Nov. 12. In a few words, the interesting fight would be between the two winners, with one exception. If Marquez and Mayweather win, a second fight between them would not be as attractive because the first one was one-sided and not that good.
Alfredo Berrios, ESPNDeportesLA.com: Win, tie or lose, this fight must happen. Would it be as profitable? Not as much if Mayweather loses to Ortiz, but still a lot of money. The on-and-off Pacquiao-Mayweather bout still has a lot of interest, at least for me, and I believe millions around the world would gladly pay to view it. The only thing that can keep this fight from happening would be a devastating loss by Pacquiao against Juan Manuel Marquez. But that is rather unlikely.
4. Is Saul “Canelo” Alvarez poised to be boxing’s next big star? [+] Enlarge AP Photo Saul “Canelo” Alvarez Arash Markazi, ESPNLosAngeles.com: He has certainly positioned himself to be the next big star. Whether his talents match the hype, however, is still a question mark. We would all like to see Alvarez get in the ring with Alfredo Angulo, Miguel Cotto and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., but Oscar De Lay Hoya doesn’t want to rush the 21-year-old cash cow into a fight he’s not ready for and thus ruin his mystique and confidence. There’s no questioning Alvarez’s skills and abilities in the ring, but there is a growing contingent of fight fans who are getting tired of seeing him beat up overmatched opponents. That will likely be the case once more against Alfonso Gomez, a former reality television fighter who is probably in over his head against Alvarez.
Steve Springer, ESPNLosAngeles.com: In Mexico, his homeland, he’s already there. His last fight, against Ryan Rhodes in June, drew an estimated TV audience of almost 40 million. No surprise. With bright red hair, freckles and boyish good looks, Alvarez is attractive enough to lure the female fans. With the power and defensive skills to have amassed a 37-0-1 record with 27 knockouts, he has the credentials to draw big male audiences. And at 21 years old, Alvarez has plenty of time to grow into a seasoned fighter. Will that translate into U.S. appeal? Only if he keeps winning, always the bottom line.
Noel Pi?eiro Planas, ESPNDeportesLA.com: I’m sure that Alvarez is on his way to being the next great boxer to come out of Mexico, but I don’t think he’s destined to be the sport’s next megastar. To even consider him to be close to that level, he would need to start facing better opponents, and beat them in dramatic fashion. His promoters are obviously cultivating a path toward that goal, but a big part of the job is making sure what he does inside the ropes is exceptional so he can reach worldwide popularity.
Miguel ?ngel Cebreros, ESPNDeportesLA.com: I particularly believe that Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is ready to face the challenge of becoming the next Mexican boxing idol and boxing’s newest star. I find him to be very focused, even with his immense popularity, and that speaks volumes of him and his mental readiness. But to get there, he has to beat the best, and there are still a couple of steps to be taken. He is on the right track; each day he learns more and more, in each fight you see something new. I truly believe that he will be sitting in Julio Cesar Chavez’s throne among Mexicans and non-Mexicans.
Alfredo Berrios, ESPNDeportesLA.com: Canelo is a young, charismatic fighter who can morph into not only Mexico’s newest star but one of its brightest stars. He is young, hungry and powerful. The only one who can keep this from happening is Canelo himself. As for the argument of being a protected champion, who isn’t? With very few exceptions, most champions fight challengers they should beat, which reminds me of a quote by Bob Arum regarding Floyd Mayweather: “He will not fight anyone that can beat him”.
5. Win or lose, what is Erik Morales’ legacy?
[+] Enlarge Jaime Lopez/Jam Media/LatinContent/Getty Images Erik Morales Arash Markazi, ESPNLosAngeles.com: Morales’ legacy as one of the greatest fighters of his generation is already cemented, in my book. A win on Saturday would only be a cherry on top of what has already been a Hall of Fame career. If Morales wins Saturday, he will become the first boxer born in Mexico to be crowned world champion in four different weight classes. That’s an amazing accomplishment, but if the 35-year-old falls short of that goal, it wouldn’t make me think any less of a fighter who is sandwiched between Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather at the end of ESPN’s 50 Greatest Boxers of All-Time list.
Steve Springer, ESPNLosAngeles.com: Morales doesn’t have to prove anything to anybody. If he never puts on another glove, his legacy is assured, at least in the minds of anyone who ever saw him fight. The word “warrior” tends to get overused in sports, but it aptly describes Morales, as does his nickname, “El Terrible.” He has won titles in three weight divisions, fought a bitter, classic trilogy against Marco Antonio Barrera, handed Manny Pacquiao one of his three losses in their trilogy, and has faced everybody else of note in his weight divisions over a bruising 17-year career.
Noel Pi?eiro Planas, ESPNDeportesLA.com: Morales’ legacy is already set. His moment of great glory would not be winning a fourth title in a fourth different weight category this Saturday, even though he would be the first Mexican-born boxer to achieve that. He’s been the last man in a while to achieve a victory over Filipino Manny Pacquiao. Winning a fourth crown would be a historic moment for him and his country, but at the same time you have to remember that he would be winning a vacant championship against an opponent who was chosen at the last minute. Besides that, his legacy wouldn’t be as great as the one other great Mexican boxers have established– above all, the one that Julio “Cesar” Chavez worked for during his spectacular career.
Miguel ?ngel Cebreros, ESPNDeportesLA.com: Erik “Terrible” Morales does not have to show anything to anyone. He already made his history. Whatever he is doing now is extra, and I believe he has a place in the Hall of Fame with what he’s achieved so far. His legacy would be: three-time world champion in different divisions, four if he beats Paclo Cesar Cano, one of Mexico’s latest great idols; the only Mexican to clearly beat Manny Pacquiao; a pay-per-view star with Top Rank. That establishes him in a class by himself in modern boxing.
Alfredo Berrios, ESPNDeportesLA.com: Morales established his legacy a long time ago, probably after the second Marco Antonio Barrera classic. At 35, Morales only has to prove things to himself and be a part of the spotlight. A fourth championship in four different weight classes? Already done by someone else. Did Muhammad Ali’s losses at the twilight of his career tarnish his legacy? No. They only told everyone that he didn’t know when to retire, and that can be the case for Morales.
