Mayweather vs Ortiz
Unbeaten US boxing star Floyd Mayweather said Tuesday he will end a 16-month layoff on September 17 when he fights countryman Victor Ortiz for the World Boxing Council welterweight title. Mayweather tweeted his return on September 17, “My fans have been waiting long enough. Floyd Mayweather vs Victor Ortiz. Sept-17 2011 for the WBC World Championship”.
Mayweather, 41-0 with 25 knockouts, has not climbed into the ring since May of last year when he won a unanimous 12-round decision over Shane Mosley. Southpaw Ortiz, 29-2-2 with 22 knockouts, claimed the WBC crown last April with a unanimous 12-round decision over previously undefeated Andre Berto of the United States.
Although a huge 1-8 underdog in most online betting sites, Ortiz at 24 is 10 years younger and has the speed and power to upset the unbeaten Mayweather, De La Hoya observed. Victor Ortiz is strong he’s quick and full of energy and I’ll be right there in his ear giving him pointers in camp. Mayweather has been inactive for over a year now and he’s fighting a young strong fast lion in Victor. It’s not going to be Victor’s strength or power it’s going to be his head and will that will beat Mayweather.
Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 by knockouts) exuded supreme confidence about his chances in what could be the biggest fight in his career. “He [Mayweather] is not fighting Pacquiao next; Pacquiao will be fighting me,” Ortiz told reporters in Los Angeles Wednesday to promote to the fight.
“If he wants to box, I’ll box, if he wants to bang I’ll bang. Either way I’m gonna be that pound for pound champ,” he added.
The thrash-talking Mayweather, who will be coming off a 16-month hiatus by the time of his fight with Ortiz, was unusually subdued at the LA press conference.
“I go out there, execute the game plan,” Mayweather said. “That’s what I do. Right now Victor Ortiz is the champion. Him first, Pacquiao next. I have been in fights with big punchers, I don’t have to brag about what I do.”
The Mayweather vs Ortiz fight may be considered a tune-up fight for the upcoming mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather and Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.
The Mayweather vs Ortiz pay-per-view telecast, which begins at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and will be available to more than 92 million pay-per-view homes. The Floyd Mayweather vs Victor Ortiz telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View®, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry.
