Instead, it was two of the biggest names in boxing today that drew an overwhelming crowd to the outdoor plaza, which is located right across the street from STAPLES Center.
Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz took different roads during their professional career, but they will step inside the ring on September 17th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Wednesday night was the final stop of a two-day press tour to announce their showdown in a few months’ time. On Tuesday afternoon, both fighters and their respective camps were in New York City, holding court in front of the media and fight fans.
After defeating Andre Berto two and a half months ago, Ortiz confirmed to the media that he went to the office of Golden Boy Promotions and demanded that they arrange a bout between him and Mayweather. Since Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer and Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe have worked together in the past, the fight was arranged with little hesitance.
Possibly because of the electricity in the air and the crowd that favored Ortiz, there was a great deal of talking from the Ortiz camp, more so than at the press conference in New York.
When Schaefer announced to the meeting between the two fighters was called “Star Power,” explaining that Mayweather was the star and Ortiz had the power, Ortiz interjected.
“I am the power and I am the star!” proclaimed Ortiz, drawing applause from the crowd.
Possibly, considering that Ortiz defeated Berto with power and has risen to the star that the media and fight fans projected him to be when he was a prospect.
Ortiz did not hide his emotions in explaining that he was frustrated and felt disrespected that Mayweather, in an interview with ESPN’s Brian Kenny, focused his attention on a possible fight with Manny Pacquiao.
“I’m tired of keeping my mouth closed. I’m tired of hearing about Pacquiao. Mayweather is a beast, but I’m a monster. If he wants to box, we’ll box. If he wants to brawl, we’ll brawl. I’m the new WBC champion and I’m keeping the belt. I’m going to knock Mayweather out the way Julio Cesar Chavez knocked out Roger Mayweather.”
Mayweather thanked Ortiz for not only “stepping up to face him,” but for submitting to the Olympic-style drug testing, an alleged sticking point that Pacquiao did not want to agree to by Mayweather.
Praising the late-Genaro Hernandez, who passed away a few weeks ago to cancer, Mayweather stated that he has been in grueling fights with Mexican fighters and he expects one from the young Mexican-American.
“It’s going to be another amazing night. I’m going to go toe-to-toe. I’m not going to box. September 17th will be an amazing night. I’m not going to overlook Ortiz. He’s young and I can’t overlook those victories. But, Victor will be now, then Pacquiao is next.”
MGM Grand executive Bob Halloran announced that Mayweather is a -750 favorite, while Ortiz is a +525 underdog.
“That’s fine by me. I was an underdog going into the Berto fight,” was what Ortiz responded when asked about the odds.
Schaefer announced that tickets will go on sale a week from Friday. Besides HBO Pay Per View, the fight will be shown on closed circuit in Las Vegas and in movie theatres across the country.
Also, a “behind the scenes” press tour video will be shown on Youtube.
Aside from the face-to-face jawing between the two before and after the press conference, the event was rather calm and more entertaining for the media and fight fans.
Let us hope that the press conference will translate to a lot of action in the ring on September 17th.
Source: fightnews.com
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