What are we to make of Floyd Mayweather Jr.?s knockout win over Victor Ortiz in their recent World Boxing Council welterweight title bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena?
The question on every reporter?s mind at the post-fight press conference was whether Mayweather did anything wrong when he clobbered Ortiz with a two-punch combination late in the fourth round after longtime Referee Joe Cortez was handing out instructions after the 24-year-old champion intentionally head butted Mayweather. For sure, what Mayweather did isn?t against the rules, but it was a strike against good sportsmanship.
Ortiz was wrong when he launched himself at Mayweather, and apologized once, twice, and maybe three times, but he clearly angered Mayweather, who saw an opening and seized the moment by landing a clean left hook followed by a powerful straight right as Ortiz was counted out with one second left.
?It wasn?t one head butt, but two,? said Mayweather, who raised his ring record to 42 victories without a defeat and 26 knockouts. ?I have a cut on the inside of my mouth, and the outside of my mouth. Only the strong survive. And it?s like the referee always says: protect yourself at all times.?
Ortiz was grateful for the chance of a lifetime, and promised he?d get his belt back that he claimed from then-undefeated Andre Berto in April. ?I?m blessed to be in this position,? he said. ?I fouled Floyd and I apologized. He caught me with a payback.?
Ortiz (29-3-2 with 22 KO?s) connected with several sound blows in the fourth round, and even took the opening round on Judge Jerry Roth?s scorecard.
The other judges, Adalaide Byrd and Glenn Trowbridge each sided with Mayweather, a six-time world champion in five weight classes, in the first round, and all three had him taking the next two rounds.
