Once again just when the boxing community is starting to think we have seen the last of ?Money? Mayweather, just like the fabled phoenix, once again the so called legend rises from the ashes to announce a showdown with newly crowned WBC welterweight king ?Vicious? Victor Ortiz.
For the past few years now the fans have wanted, in fact no, the fans have demanded a showdown with WBO king and pound for pound rival Manny ?Pacman? Pacquiao, but once again haven?t got what they long for. Speculation is still rife as to why the fight hasn?t of maybe won?t take place at all, yet people seem to be clinging on to the hope that ?Vicious? Victor is nothing more than a tune up leading to a super fight next year.
For the record I am not one of these people, for me the Pacquiao/Mayweather fight hype died for me a long time ago after the first negotiations fell through, and I have no interest as to why or whose fault it is. Boxing for me is bigger than Pacquiao and Mayweather and there are plenty of fights I?d rather see, like Froch/Pascal 2, Gamboa/Lopez (yes still) and Cotto/Margarito 2 to name just a few.
Anyway back on subject here, Mayweather/Ortiz. So is this fight legit of not? Over the last few days there has been a lot of noise over this fight, but the thing I have noticed most is not one person has picked Ortiz to win. So the question I have is this fight really legit?
Well Mayweather has been inactive for well over a year now and Ortiz has recently won the WBC belt from the previously unbeaten Andre Berto, in what is described as the best performance of his career. That statement could be considered fair considering his career so far hasn?t been the glittering one of his opponent. Having quit in 6 against hard punching but limited Marcos Maidana in 2009 despite being up on the cards and dropping Maidana 3 times. Then after beating the ghost of Nate Campbell and Vivian Harris faced contender Lamont Peterson battling to a draw despite dropping Peterson twice and seemingly being in full control of the fight early on.
The next time Ortiz stepped out it was for the WBC welterweight title against Berto and was considered the big underdog for the fight, but If we are honest Berto still had a few questions left unanswered too as did Ortiz. The fight turned out to be a very good one and taking nothing away from Ortiz did what was needed and answered a few questions on rout to picking up his first alphabet strap in the process.
However Floyd Mayweather Jr is no Maidana or Peterson, he is a different beast altogether. Mayweather has beaten and destroyed people like Shane Mosley, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, the late Diego Corrales, Zab Judah, Juan Manuel Marquez and the late Arturo Gatti to name a few and has answered pretty much most of the questions asked of him to prove he is rightfully considered among the best in the world.
But……
Where there?s Mayweather there?s always critics with something to say about his choice of opposition. Mosley was on his last legs, Hatton was too small, Marquez way to small ect ect. This may be true but Ortiz is none of these things, he?s not old or shot, he?s definitely not too small but the question is can he hang with someone with the talent of Mayweather?
Here is what a few people had to say on the matter…..
?Mayweather will ease this fight from 4 rounds onwards, Ortiz will come out like a raging bull & as soon as Floyd works him out it’s going to be 1 sided.? Oli Haslam.
?Floyd won’t let Ortiz land anything clean on him. Unless FMJ ages on the night, it’s an easy fight. It’ll be interesting to see how Victor deals with the pressure in the build up.? Darryl Waterhouse.
?Mayweather will school him pal, do the usual job he does. Hit.. grab, push off.. move. If he fought pac at this moment in time I honestly believe he would get beat. In his head he is beat by Pacman, that?s the only reason the fight hasn?t been made yet.? Leon Holmes.
?Hate to say it think Mayweather will be too classy for him! Don’t recon it will be a stoppage it will go 12 but Mayweather is used to the stage! Good fight but Mayweather unanimous decision!? Tim Wilson.
So clearly the common belief is that Mayweather will be too classy and that Ortiz is out of his depth. I for one side with this and think the fight will play out with Ortiz coming out fast and after 2-3 rounds Mayweather will figure him out and outbox him and counter everything Ortiz throws resulting in him or his team throwing in the towel in the later rounds when they realise like most do that Floyd is just too good. Hopefully I am wrong.
As for the fight being legit I would say it is but only just, but that?s just my personal opinion. Yeah Ortiz is a title holder but hasn?t for me done anything to prove he is even close to as good as Floyd except beat an over hyped Berto. But that said he is a big, strong, young and hungry welterweight (unlike a lot of his opponents) and Floyd is not getting any younger so an upset is possible just like in any fight, but for me Floyd is on another level and I think it will show quite clearly come fight night.
So the answer to the starting question?
LEGIT!
