This is a companion piece to our story about ?What Victor Ortiz Needs To Do,? and in some ways it?s a flip side to it. But the WBC welterweight title fight this Saturday presents a little different angle for Mayweather, because even though he is the ?challenger,? the perception of those who are judging the fight might be that Ortiz is the guy who has to come and take the fight from HIM. Indeed, if Ortiz played it ?safe? and tried to do just enough to win rounds, it would not likely bring the desired outcome for him, because Mayweather is going to do the flashy things that tend to impress people artificially, if not in substance.
With that said, it is reasonable to outline some of the things Mayweather has to avoid doing in order to emerge victorious in this fight. Some of it may go without saying, but it also goes without saying that Ortiz is behind the eight-ball unless Mayweather makes a mistake.
AVOID THE ROPES ? Mayweather can, from time to time, get lazy and cocky and sit on the ropes, because he knows that is he gets himself in a jam, he has such a talent advantage over his opponents that he can simply dance out of it, or throw a couple of combinations, and if that?s not the case, he is aware that his defensive abilities are likely to keep him out of harm?s way.
Of course, we could say all of this any time Floyd gets in the ring, but in this case he?s got a foe in front of him who can punch better than most of them. So if I were him, I would keep this fight in ring center as much as possible. I don?t think he?s in any real danger as long as he?s got all of his options of movement available to him. Why endanger yourself when you don?t have to? And he?s doesn?t have to.
