It’s almost fight time for Floyd Mayweather vs. Victor Ortiz, which means it’s time for the ProBoxing-Fans.com staff picks for the upcoming bout. Below, find all of our Mayweather vs. Ortiz predictions from the writers and some of our friends, and see how we think the fight is going to play out. Here’s a hint, not too many people are foreseeing any big surprises with this one…
Mayweather vs. Ortiz Predictions from the Team
Rich Thomas: I look at Floyd Mayweather as being in a different class from the rest of the top fighters at welterweight, a class he shares only with Manny Pacquiao. Comparing Pretty Boy or Pacman to the rest of the Top 10 in the division is akin to comparing Tommy Hearns to Pipino Cuevas or Wilfred Benitez to Carlos Palomino. Cuevas and Palomino were good fighters and worthy champions, but they just weren’t in the same league as guys like Hearns, Benitez and Leonard. Likewise, Ortiz isn’t in the same league as Mayweather.
However, a question mark hangs over Floyd Mayweather now. No matter what Floyd, Floyd’s dad or his uncle say, a man beleaguered by as many family disputes and legal troubles as Pretty Boy cannot possibly be 100% focused. Also, Mayweather has fought infrequently, and unless he is pulling a Leonard-style perpetual secret training camp complete with gym wars, Mayweather must be rusty around the edges. I don’t care how devoted Mayweather is to boxing; a man who fights inconsistently sees his edge grow dull. Finally, Floyd Mayweather is 34 and arrogantly self-satisfied, while Victor Ortiz is 24 and hungry.
The fact is that Mayweather needs to be in a different league to beat Ortiz at this stage of his career. Because he is, I pick him to win… but Ortiz has some upset potential. Mayweather-Ortiz Prediction: Mayweather UD 12
Be sure to check out our full Mayweather vs. Ortiz preview & prediction, and on fight night, check back with ProBoxing-Fans.com for our live Mayweather vs. Ortiz results and round by round coverage!
Scott Levinson: Part of me thinks the gap between Mayweather and Ortiz in terms of boxing skills and ring intelligence is too vast. Another part of me says the hunger and youth of Ortiz will make him far tougher than the odds suggest. While there is a possibility that Floyd at 34 and coming off a layoff will be a deteriorated force in face of the energetic and peaking Ortiz, I suspect he will be reasonably close to his peak.
Ortiz is a fine fighter, but will not receive the type of cooperation he needs to get his offense untracked. I don’t believe Mayweather’s pre-fight comments that he will “fight” Ortiz. I suspect he will provide a boxing-heavy performance and forego the more macho antics en route to a 12-round decision win. Mayweather-Ortiz Prediction: Mayweather UD 12
Dana Miller: This is going to be a great fight. Ortiz will try to do what every other fighter attempts to accomplish against Mayweather, and this is apply effective pressure. I believe that for the first couple of rounds, Mayweather will back up and box as he will feel out Ortiz and figure out his timing.
Once Mayweather figures out Ortiz’s timing, Mayweather is going to surprise a lot of boxing experts as I believe that he will stand his ground in this fight and throw a lot of hard counterpunches that Ortiz will not be able to handle. I do give Ortiz a shot in this fight because I still feel if he can catch Mayweather with one of those hard hooks, he can seriously hurt him. I like Ortiz as a rough and tough fighter, but remember boxing fans, the way to beat Mayweather is to try and apply effective pressure in hopes of landing a lucky shot, and dealing with pressure is Mayweather’s biggest attribute. Mayweather-Ortiz Prediction: Mayweather UD 12
Garret Gonzales – Fight Game Blog: Victor Ortiz looks great on 24/7. His hand speed looks tremendous. For the most part, he’s calm and is trying to say the right things. His one chance is to catch Mayweather with a power shot, much like Shane Mosley did, and follow up on it. He’s not going to out-box Mayweather. But I think the moment will just be too big for him. I think he’ll be frenetic, blow himself up, and look unlike the aggressive Victor Ortiz we’re used to seeing. The most telling thing about this fight will be if Mayweather has slowed down at all. Even if he is a tad bit slower, he’ll be able to control this fight, though I do think Ortiz will fight well early on. But this is Mayweather’s fight and it will be a boxing lesson for Victor Ortiz. Mayweather-Ortiz Prediction: Mayweather UD 12
Brandon Taylor: This fight has a number of questions. Will Ortiz get overwhelmed by the situation? Is he ready for the big stage? Has Mayweather entered the declining phase of his career? Victor Ortiz is a threat to Mayweather. In my opinion, Ortiz is the biggest puncher to test Mayweather’s chin since he fought Diego Corrales over a decade ago.
Mayweather is still the best defensive fighter in boxing, but his reflexes have slowed, if only slightly. That means Ortiz will have openings, even if they are quick. The problem for Ortiz is that his own defense will let him down. Mayweather will land some shots and then roll and slip Ortiz’s punches. Ortiz is likely going to try to knock Mayweather out at all costs. There are going to be some good exchanges where we see them fight toe to toe, but in the end, Mayweather prevails by decision. Mayewather-Ortiz Prediction: Mayweather UD 12
Jake Emen: One factor I want to focus on in the final buildup to this fight is that all of their fighting attributes aside, I think Mayweather is coming into this fight specifically to make a statement to the boxing world, to fans, and to everyone else out there. He is the one facing a top 147 lbs challenger, not Manny Pacquiao. He’s the one facing a young, hungry power puncher, not Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather wants to show he’s the top dog out there, even at age 34, and he wants to put all of the negotiating and public relations strength on his side of the table in preparation for a potential bout with Pacman.
With all of that said, the more Ortiz opens up, the worse it’s going to be in there for him. If he stays aggressive, Mayweather will stay in the pocket and pick him apart with his counter shots. Ortiz’s corner or the referee will be forced to pull the plug sometime around the 10th round, as Mayweather puts on one of the signature performances of his career. Mayweather-Ortiz Prediction: Mayweather TKO10
Final Tally: 6 for Mayweather (5 by decision, one by stoppage), 0 for Ortiz
Thanks for checking out our staff picks and all of our Mayweather vs. Ortiz predictions, and keep on coming back all week long for more coverage in the final week before the Star Power PPV.
