Floyd Mayweather vs. Victor Ortiz Preview & Prediction

Mayweather vs. Ortiz Preview – Star Power

On September 17th, the 16-month layoff for Floyd “Money” Mayweather comes to an end, as he squares off against WBC welterweight titlist “Vicious” Victor Ortiz at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mayweather vs. Ortiz, dubbed “Star Power” and broadcast via HBO PPV, is an intriguing contest that pits the sport’s former pound for pound king, still undefeated, against a decade younger, power-punching champion, who happens to hold the welterweight belt that was formerly his. It’s the kind of match that fans and critics have longed to see Mayweather in, and it’s the premiere event of a busy boxing year.

Mayweather vs. Ortiz – Tale of the Tape

—> Buy Mayweather vs. Ortiz tickets online!

Mayweather vs. Ortiz – The Pacquiao Factor

Any conversation concerning Floyd Mayweather must include a debriefing about the current state of the Pacquiao vs. Mayweather contest. As of late, Mayweather has been mired in legal trouble and boxing complacency, while Pacquiao’s career has been taken down a curious path by Top Rank and Bob Arum.

One of the most fascinating elements of the Mayweather-Ortiz encounter is the clear line that can be drawn between Victor Ortiz and Manny Pacquiao.

In Ortiz, Mayweather is facing an aggressive, strong fighter who’s going to bring the fight to him and make him work hard for the win. Ortiz is a southpaw who packs thunderous power in his gloves. He has quick hands and is eager to be a crowd pleaser.

Sound like any Filipino congressmen you know? But make no mistake about it, Victor Ortiz is not at the same level of Pacquiao. However, the similarities between the two fighters make this already juicy encounter all the more compelling because they could signal a potential Mayweather-Pacquiao clash coming our way in 2012.

In the past, Mayweather has been keen to take on a preparatory opponent before facing a fighter who showcases a particularly unique skill-set. When Mayweather debuted at welterweight in November 2005, it was against speedy southpaw Sharmba Mitchell, a clear indicator that Mayweather wanted then welterweight champion Zab Judah, a speedy southpaw, next.

(Of course, Zab being Zab, after the fight was signed he upset the apple cart by underestimating Carlos Baldomir, losing their contest and taking all the luster off what was once a glimmering Judah-Mayweather showdown. Luckily neither Mayweather nor Pacquiao, who has a rubber match with Juan Manuel Marquez set for November, are prone to such mental nosedives.)

While the Ortiz fight would stand up all on its own, what it represents in relation to Pacquiao is just as meaningful. Keep in mind that there has also been a change in Mayweather’s rhetoric as of late, as he has been signaling that, yes, he wants the Pacquiao fight.

Mayweather vs. Ortiz Preview & Background

Speculation about Mayweather vs. Pacquiao does not take away from the importance or quality of Mawyeather vs. Ortiz. The looming presence of Manny Pacquiao only serves to make this contest even better. Mayweather vs. Ortiz could lead to Mayweather-Pacquiao, but the potential for a concussive knockout upset looms and either outcome will have boxing fans buzzing.

Mayweather hasn’t fought since May 2010, against Shane Mosley, and he fought just once in 2009 and not at all in 2008. Therefore, while Mayweather may be fresh at 34, some wonder whether there will be more rust and signs of aging as opposed to healed wounds and renewed vigor.

Combined with the legitimate talent and threat-level that Ortiz brings into the ring with him, many are predicting an upset win for Vicious Victor. A fascinating comparison has even been made between Mayweather-Ortiz and Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Terry Norris, highlighting just such as possibility.

Ortiz has always been brimming with talent. That’s what led Oscar De La Hoya to hurriedly anoint him the next Golden Boy – with that friendly bright smile, hardscrabble background and prodigious punching power, he was a promoter’s dream.

Then came the TKO loss to Marcos Maidana in June 2009, a fight he removed himself from rather than continuing to battle. Worse was an unfortunately blunt post-fight interview during which Ortiz said things such as “I don’t deserve this” and pondered quitting the sport of boxing altogether in front of millions of viewers live on HBO.

He may as well have entered the ring for his following fights with a scarlet  “Q” embroidered onto his robe, Quitter.

In the fights that followed, as Ortiz looked to rebuild his reputation and confidence, he appeared timid in the ring. Ortiz may have been forging ahead with his boxing career, but Vicious Victor was absent, pounded away by the relentless assault of the Argentine Maidana.

Then came his April bout with undefeated WBC titleholder Andre Berto. Tired of being the whipping boy of fight fans and writers, Ortiz was different in the buildup to his match against Berto. So confident was he of his chances, and so apparently oblivious to the outcome of the Maidana fight, that it appeared to many that Victor Ortiz had perhaps lost his marbles.

As it turned out though, he actually found them – two of them. With a menacing glower on his newly-bearded jaw that would make the lot of us crumble, and extra muscle mass on his frame without having to cut down to 140 lbs, Ortiz calmly strutted to the ring before jubilantly leaving it as a freshly-minted champion, career and reputation restored. He knocked Berto down twice, but more importantly, he survived two knockdowns en route to the Unanimous Decision victory.

So it is that Mayweather-Ortiz isn’t just a good comeback fight for Mayweather, a placeholder until a Pacquiao showdown comes along or a mere payday for either man. It’s a fight between two of the best three welterweights in the world.

In one corner we have the more mindful Money Mayweather, eager to outshine Pacquiao and reclaim pound for pound supremacy. In the other, we have the vindictive Vicious Victor, WBC champion, out to prove that he’s nobody’s stepping stone.

—> Buy Mayweather vs. Ortiz tickets online!

Mayweather vs. Ortiz Prediction & Fight Analysis

Ortiz’s aggression and power give him an opportunity to win this fight. Unfortunately, his style will play right into Mayweather’s own strengths. Critics who decry Mayweather as boring forget that some of his best and most exciting performances, including the showcase destruction of an undefeated Diego Corrales, and dominating wins over Carlos Hernandez and Jesus Chavez, came against busy, come-forward, aggressive fighters.

Mayweather’s pride and signature is his defense, that expertly honed shoulder roll that makes it near impossible to hit him flush on the jaw. But his true bread-and-butter may actually be his counterpunching, with its uncanny timing, rhythm and accuracy.

A fighter who throws more punches against Mayweather simply leaves himself open to return fire, with no guarantee of landing his own strikes in the process.

Mayweather’s favorite punch is a sneaky counter right hand lead, and what do you know, a firm straight right is the golden antidote for any southpaw’s advances. Expect Mayweather to throw that punch early and often, while also establishing his jab, both to the head and body, to keep Ortiz at arm’s length.

Working inside isn’t a solution for Vicious Victor, either. He needs room to operate and standing in Mayweather’s chest all night would open him up to pinpoint uppercuts and forearm shoves that will only wear him down more quickly.

His best bet then is that Mayweather is indeed rusty and a bit slowed at 34, with just five fights in the five previous years. Standing with his back to the ropes, one of his shoulder roll slips may come a half second late, allowing an Ortiz bomb to find its way home, perhaps signaling the end to Mayweather’s undefeated run.

Barring that, Ortiz has to out-time and out-smart Mayweather, and as vicious as he may be, and as worthy an opponent as he is, that’s not a likely scenario. He has fast hands, but not fast enough to overmatch Mayweather’s speed, or his timing. He has power, but landing big shots will be prove troublesome. He has technical skill, but not as much as the Pretty Boy.

Mayweather-Ortiz will be a fun fight and a big event which should provide some solid action, for a change. Ortiz will bring out the best in Mayweather, and even in defeat, Ortiz has nothing to lose with a spirited effort. Mayweather has only stopped one of his past six opponents, and that streak won’t end here, particularly considering that Ortiz would likely do anything to keep from having that scarlet “Q” embroidered back on his robe once again.

Mayweather vs. Ortiz Prediction: Mayweather UD12