Victor Ortiz is set to fight Saul Corral tonight in a non-title contest which will be televised live on Fox Sports 1?
Sunday Night Football in the United States is as coveted a spot in terms of fall sports television coverage as it can possibly get. However, in any season under the sun, Sunday night boxing cannot say the same. This in no way suggests that fighters who commit to the ring on any day of the week don?t deserve equal respect. Regardless, every boxer or mixed martial arts competitor would do nothing short of clamor for a shot at the spotlight on a Saturday evening.
A Sunday night boxing card and more to the point, one presented on basic cable TV can have a multitude of reasons for receiving any type of forced attention. Usually, it?s either a showcase of up-and-coming talent or perhaps a former fighter of note is making a comeback. The latter is the case for one-time WBC welterweight champion ?Vicious? Victor Ortiz (31-6-2, 24 KO?s), who is set to fight Saul Corral this Sunday night in Bakersfield, California in a non-title contest which will be televised live on Fox Sports 1.
The last time we saw Ortiz, the Oxnard, California based fighter was busy dodging drinks, snacks and other projectiles that were hurled in his direction courtesy of irate fans. More than a few in attendance at the Stub Hub Center tagged Victor as far from one with an attitude of a victor and closer to that of a quitter. Andre Berto won by knockout in the fourth round and had effectively exacted his revenge for 2011, when Ortiz earned an opportunity to fight Floyd Mayweather, thanks to a unanimous decision victory over Berto. The mere mention of Ortiz?s near slapstick efforts against Mayweather in September of 2011 hasn?t lightened much over the years. It still makes fans cringe and often laugh, yet laugh with pity. We all remember just why.
This begs a question, as silly as it may sound at this time. Victor Ortiz was knocked out in the fourth round by Mayweather in a bout which he was being completely outclassed, save for just a bit of what ended up being the final period. He acted like a fool and head butted Floyd, after which he got what he deserved, according to many.
Finally, jump forward to the present time and more specifically, August 26. Fans have packed the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and sit in obscenely priced seats. Others paid triple digits in dollars for a pay-per-view telecast, while some even paid over forty to venture to a neighborhood cinema for a big screen showing of the expertly planned clash of worlds. One corner is home to one of the best fighters of boxing?s modern era, the aforementioned Mayweather. Of course, UFC superstar Conor McGregor stands across the ring from him.
The bell rings to begin the contest and its respective promotion can boast no more than the shouting from here onward. As many had predicted, a game yet infinitely disadvantaged McGregor is unable to land a meaningful punch on his unbeaten opponent. There?s been no knockout as of round ten. Floyd seems more interested in torture than execution and has successfully throttled his Irish adversary to the tune of three scorecards likely in unison at 90-81. This is slightly longer than Conor has ever fought in a professional setting and he?s grown visibly frustrated. Though he?s lasted longer than Victor Ortiz did six years earlier, he still sees no viable path to victory, so he throws caution as well as common sense to the wind and well, cheats. He throws a perfect elbow to Mayweather?s face or locks his arm in a clinch to a near snap.
No referee has been named for the contest as of late July, so ?name withheld? separates the two men and gives McGregor but one stern warning. On deaf ears the caution lands and Conor lives up to his moniker ?Notorious? by once again using an MMA tactic on the man he simply cannot beat when the rules of boxing are used. The bout is called to a stop and McGregor is disqualified, rather than knocked out while not paying attention as Ortiz was in September 2011. What is the feeling that sets in deep in the heart of paying customers? Buyer?s remorse or the feeling of being played like a grand piano?
Hopefully, none of this takes place and the winner emerges fair and square. While the September 16 contest between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin waits in the wings, one can only hope it has big shoes to fill. Wouldn?t that be the true spectacle?
