Mayweather (left) Ortiz (right)
“SUPER FIGHT” BOXING RETURNS!
New York,NY– Millions around the world will be in anticipation of an intriguing battle when newly crowned WBC welterweight (147) champion “Vicious” Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs) engages top ranked “pound for pound” elite pugilist Floyd “Money” Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) in a proposed 12 round showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV, Saturday at 9 PM ET, live on HBO PPV.
HEADED FOR THE BIG TIME, ORTIZ QUIT DURING TEST!
In a “life or death” battle against tough champion Marcos Maidana, Ortiz floored Maidana in the first stanza. Maidana recovered, beat the count, and an over confident Ortiz moved in for the kill. Rising to the occasion, a clear-headed Maidana railed sending Ortiz flat on his back to the canvas. Ortiz quickly got up and a memorable war ensued. After six back and forth action filled rounds, Maidana hit the canvas once more, got up, and so did Ortiz. After rising to his feet, a weary Ortiz got drilled by a few more shots, took a knee on his own admission, and quit. Since committing ”boxing’s biggest sin”, Ortiz picked up a few wins against “club fighters” and landed himself back in the spotlight against then WBC belt holder Andre Berto. In a savage war of knockdown exchanges and brutal punishment administered to both combatants; Victor Ortiz prevailed earning a 12 round unanimous decision.
A CLOSER LOOK AT “VICIOUS”
Victor Ortiz
Characteristically, while Victor has never fought at this level of the game; Ortiz brings a lot of intensity and emotion to the show. As far as boxing is concerned; Victor’s versatile arsenal of assault contains a decent combination of speed and power while keeping regard to a tight “hands up” style defense. Ortiz usually enjoys a slight size advantage over his adversary and is a southpaw; a style which enables most conventional fighters to look off the mark.
LOVE’ EM OR HATE’ EM, NOBODY’S BEATEN FLOYD
Before his first true test at top-level competition against former champion Diego Corrales, Mayweather emerged on the boxing scene destroying his first 24 foes with 18 wins by way of flashy knockout. During his dismantling of the warrior spirited scrapper Corrales (W TKO 10), Mayweather commanded the show and demonstrated a virtuoso of brilliant artistic assault. Floyd then went on to easily defend his title two more times before earning a controversial points decision victory in a struggle to the finish against veteran brawler Jose Luis Castillo. Immediately thereafter, the boxing public demanded a rematch and Mayweather met and dominated Castillo eight months later (W UD 12). Over his next nine bouts, Mayweather took on formidable opposition, highlighted by a knockout win over gladiator fan favorite Arturo Gatti (W TKO 6). Because of the ease in which Mayweather blasted out his seemingly over matched adversaries, outcry from the boxing world ensued for Mayweather to step up and face a more dangerous and bigger fighter; a demand which brought life to one of the richest fights in the history of the sport. In an intriguing bout on paper, Oscar De La Hoya accepted Floyd’s challenge. The fight failed to live up to expectation, and saw Mayweather win a close boxing exhibition against a seemingly faded once great champion (W SD 12). In the aftermath of the Oscar encounter, Mayweather pursued one of boxing’s biggest attractions Ricky Hatton for a mega fight. In a closely contested bout, Mayweather nailed an overly aggressive Ricky Hatton with a perfectly timed “check hook” which handed Hatton his first defeat and knockout loss (W TKO 10). After a brief retirement, Mayweather commendably came out of a two-year hibernation to easily outpoint one of the sports best competitors; Juan Manuel Marquez and then went onto to start the “beginning of the end” of future hall of famer “Sugar Shane Mosley” career en route to a 12 round unanimous decision victory.
Mayweather (right)
A CLOSER LOOK AT “MONEY”
Despite an a near 16 month absence from the ring, Mayweather brings an enormous amount of attributes to the dance. Floyd possesses exceptional hand and foot speed, accompanied by superb youthful reflexes and tremendous defensive movement. Mayweather’s from a family of decorated fighters and from this he has obtained a brilliant boxing IQ that has garnered him consideration to one of the most gifted fighters to ever step into a boxing ring.
STACKED UNDERCARD
Having an unheard of 38 contests at just the tender age of 21, Saul Alvarez (37-0-1, 27 KOs) looks to keep pounding toward the top as he takes on come backing former “reality” T.V. star of the “Contender” Alfonso Gomez (23-4-2, 12 KOs) over 12 or less light middleweight (154) rounds.
Morales (right)
Mexican legend Erik Morales (51-7, 35 KOs) attempts to earn his six-world title when he faces undefeated knockout conqueror of seven of his last ten opponents Pablo Cesar Cano (22-0-1, 17 KOs) over a slated 12 frames for the vacant WBC light welterweight (140) crown.
Stay tuned for more exclusive coverage leading up to this exciting event all week long right here at Ring talk!
John Signorella