SAN DIEGO–Put me down as a perhaps unlikely defender of Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr. but, in the wake of the stinko ending to his fight with Less Than Vicious Victor Ortiz, I can’t comprehend why so many are trying to put the goat horns on Mayweather’s head.
I mean, come on boyos, let’s be fair. It wasn’t Mrs. O”Leary who started the terribly destructive Great Chicago Fire, it was one of her cows.
You bovine and conflagration historians could look it up.
The guy who sparked the furor in the Mayweather Mess is the always emotionally need Ortiz, the 24 year old who was kicked to the curb by his own mother and father through no fault of his own.
Mayweather gave Ortiz a mock “kiss” at their weigh in.
But, to borrow the comic Jackie Mason line, Ortiz did not need a weigh in, he really needed a way out.
Unlike never laced up the gloves Larry Merchant, I am permitted to discuss such fistic matters owing to my motley experiences as a college boxer (would I love to see 156 pounds again) and from amateur bouts (would you believe I started at welterweight?) in Boston and in the Lowell and New Bedford Golden Gloves. Advertisement
(This is Mayweather’s new rule, you can’t write, talk about or report on boxing unless you’ve been in the ring. Somehow, Larry Merchant continues to be brilliant despite never have been clocked in the amateur or pro ring.)
Even a Novice Division Golden Glover knows you must protect yourself at all times. Kids in thge Junior Olympics have learned as much. It is beyond elementary.
But Ortiz, the psychologically needy fellow, wanted a confirmatory hug from Mayweather, a sign that Less Than Vicious was forgiven for his foul tactics.
As for ref Joe Cortez, his mind wandered or so it seems. Maybe he was diverted, asking someone at ringside if the flailing, failing Red Sox lost again, blowing their Wild Card playoff spot.
Mayweather scouted Ortiz when Victor got off the deck twice to outlast Andre Berto. “Money” was there ostensibly to view Haymon Organization stablemate Berto as his next foe. But Vicious wrecked that script.
Which reminds me that the quotes from Manny Pacquiao, Bob Arum and Freddie Roach should be disregarded on Mayweather’s perfectly legitimate KO over Ortiz.
Something tells us that trio has their own agenda and that is goading Mayweather into the ring.
Pro boxing ain’t beanbag. It’s as parlor game between the ropes.
There are no merit badges for sportsmanship in what we laughingly call the fight game.
Let’s stop demonizing Mayweather, trashing him like he was dogfighting organizer Michael Vick, for doing what a trained, professional fighter is supposed to, take the knockout opportunity whenever it presents itself.
It is more than telling Ortiz is not complaining vociverously. I guess he was busy rushing to the bank with a $2.5 million check, a vast overpayment for the abbreviated services he rendered.
This so-called Mayweather controversy is for simpletons.
Mayweather is unfairly accused like Mrs. O’Leary was.
It’s not like Mayweather said, ‘Hey, Vic, your shoelace is untied,’ and then KO’d him when he glanced down at his boxing shoes.
There was no trickeration, to use the great Don King coined word, involved.
Let’s place the blame for being unprofressional and naive where it belongs on Nice Guy Victor.
In this instance, Ortiz is the cow who knocked over the lantern that sparked the Great Las Vegas Fire.
Unlike the Great Chicago Fire, this one will burn out shortly.
I just don’t think fight fans will be looking to pay $60 or $70 on PPV TV to watch Huggy Bear Ortiz anytime soon.
