FLOYD Mayweather may be the fighter you love to hate. Soon after Floyd?s controversial knockout of Victor Ortiz last Saturday, his hate meter must have gone up a few more notches.
But no matter how the fans see Mayweather?s fourth-round KO of Ortiz for his World Boxing Council welterweight title, Floyd was awesome in all of four rounds.
Ironically, Ortiz came to life in the fourth round, backing Mayweather against the ropes with a flurry of combinations to the head, but must have got carried away as he headbutted Floyd. This prompted referee Joe Cortez to step in to deduct a point against Ortiz.
An apologetic Ortiz embraced Mayweather to say he was sorry for the flagrant foul, but he made the fatal mistake of apologizing again after Ref Cortez had motioned the fight to continue. This was when Mayweather snapped a left hook to his chin and as Ortiz turned to the referee, who was not looking, Floyd delivered the coup de grace, a right straight to the head that sent Ortiz sprawling to the canvas for the full count.
Call it a sucker punch, but the rule is a fighter must always protect himself at all times. Ortiz did not and he paid dearly for it.
?It was a learning experience, ? said Ortiz with a sheepish smile.
Before the fight, Mayweather said he would ?take Ortiz to school for the first few rounds, then beat him up before knocking him out.?
School ended early for Ortiz in 2:59 of the fourth.
