Ortiz says he's ready to rock Mayweather -- OC Register

By MARK WHICKER, The Orange County Register

VENTURA – They wouldn't be upsets if you could see them coming.

Coffee cups dropped on floors all over the world when Leon Spinks knocked off Muhammad Ali.

The unofficial "Yeah, right" record was set when people heard the bulletins from Tokyo: Buster Douglas really had stopped Mike Tyson.

The Las Vegas bookmakers think Victor Ortiz is swimming upstream when he meets the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr., on Sept. 17 at the MGM Grand.

If Mayweather agreed to fight Ortiz, the reasoning goes, he must know he will win.

That's why Mayweather hasn't fought Manny Pacquiao, because he really doesn't want to put the "0" in his 41-0 record within Pacquiao's artillery range.

All of that makes sense.

But you never see history coming.

On Thursday, Ortiz lay on the floor at his training gym, a converted garage in the back of an industrial park, and propped his legs against a wall. He missed a workout last week because of back problems.

But three weeks before that, he entered a triathlon at Camp Pendleton. A triathlon is something for which you train, not a training tool for boxing.

"They had 2,500 people and I finished ninth," Ortiz said. "This time, the guys who were with me put me in the elite bracket. I said, dude, this is my weekend off. They said, come on, Vic, just do it. But it felt good. I didn't even try that hard."

Ortiz likes to surf. He spent a year and a half at Ventura College, in between two jobs and training. He says he wants to get through boxing cogently enough to "dive out of a plane if I want to. At the end of the day boxing isn't what defines me. I'm Victor, not Vicious. That's my other persona. I don't even know that guy."

The party line from Camp Ortiz is that Mayweather has dodged more than just uppercuts.

"He's never fought anybody in his prime," said Danny Garcia, Ortiz's trainer. "Everybody's been either too old or too young."

Ortiz is only 24, a decade younger than Mayweather, but he is 29-2-2 with 22 knockouts. With a jarring right jab and a big left hook, he has floored everyone he has fought.

He was flying toward pay-per-view stardom when he got cut by Marcos Maidana on June 27, 2009, and the referee stopped the fight after six rounds.

"I don't deserve to get beat up like this. I have a lot of thinking to do," he said in the post-fight interview, a cryptic remark that, understandably, followed him around.

"We can thank our good friend Max Kellerman (the interviewer) for that," Ortiz said, smiling. "He ruined me for two years, but I should say thank you, because it made me stronger."

Ortiz went to the back of the line. He left Bob Arum's organization and signed with Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy.

"I told them I wanted Andre Berto," he said. Both Ortiz and Berto went down twice, but Ortiz won a bravura unanimous decision and the WBC welterweight title.

"Now I want Mayweather," Ortiz told Golden Boy matchmaker Eric Gomez.

"And everybody laughed. But Mayweather has never impressed me, ever since I was a kid," Ortiz said. "There's been a lot of hype. He's fought the right fight at the right time. Go home and turn off the sound. He's nothing. Well, not nothing, but not as great as people think.

"I thought he lost to (Jose Luis) Castillo. I thought Oscar was beating him, one-sided, until he stopped using the jab. I don't know that it's really a tough fight."

While Mayweather erupts at family members, Ortiz grew up by himself. His parents' influence was erased by their own substance abuse, and from 13-16 he lived with foster parents Sharon and John Ford in Garden City, Kan.

"I was a little knucklehead, not exactly a demon but I had some demons on my back and shoulders," Ortiz said. "I thought I knew it all. I've apologized to them quite a few times."

He and his younger brother, who lives under Ortiz's custody now, moved to Denver to be with a sister.
Former heavyweight Ron Lyle noticed Ortiz in a gym and began training him; trainer Robert Garcia, now estranged from his brother Danny, noticed Ortiz in a junior Olympics and moved him here.

Compelling life stories don't beat Mayweather, who loves to set the tone with his pre-fight jabber. De La Hoya admitted Mayweather infuriated him.

Ortiz said he has neutralized that already.

"I'm not dumb or anything, but talking to me like that is like talking to a mute, or a tree stump," he said. "I don't listen to a lot. Everything's been done to me."

Amusement danced in his eyes. Ortiz probably will not become the first man to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. If he does, you've been warned.

Source: ocregister.com

Hearns mulls Mayweather, Pacquiao against himself, Leonard, Hagler -- Ring

By Lem Satterfield, Ring TV

Thomas Hearns ponders who wins between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Paquiao, and how each would do against himself, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Wifredo Benitez or Robert Duran.

RingTV caught up to 52-year-old Thomas Hearns on Tuesday to reflect on his on career as well as those of eight-division belt-winner Manny Pacquiao and six-time title winner Floyd Mayweather Jr.

First, a brief look at the career of Hearns (61-5-1, 48 knockouts), who won six career title belts over as many weight divisions despite "never asking for a catch weight," according to his former trainer Manny Steward.

Hearns weighed 146 pounds when his second-round knockout dethroned Pipino Cuevas for the WBA welterweight belt in August of 1980. Then, Hearns rose to earn the WBC's junior middleweight belt with a 15-round, majority decision over Wilfred Benitez as a 153.5 pounder in December of 1982.

Next, Hearns climbed to light heavyweight and weighed 173.5 for his 10th-round knockout of Dennis Andries for the WBC crown in March of 1987. After that, Hearns dropped to 159.5 for his very next win, a fourth-round stoppage of Juan Domingo Roldan for the WBC's middleweight belt in October of 1987.

Two fights later, a 165.5-pound Hearns decisioned James Kinchen by majority decision for the WBO's super middleweight belt in November of 1988. Finally, Hearns weighed 189 pounds when he won the IBO cruiserweight title by unanimous decision over Nate Miller in April of 1999.

Hearns won another notable fight by second-round stoppage over former belt-holder Roberto Duran in June of 1984. Hearns lost by 14th round knockout to Sugar Ray Leonard in a welterweight unification bout in Sept. 1981, and by third-round knockout to Marvin Hagler in his bid for the undisputed middleweight crown in April of 1985.

In a subject-response talk with RingTV.com, Hearns mulled how Mayweather and Pacquiao would fair against each other as well as in the mix with himself, Leonard, Hagler, Benitez and Duran.

Hearns' thoughts on Mayweather:

"Floyd Mayweather Jr. is an excellent fighter. I will give credit where credit is due. I can not take anything away from Floyd Mayweather.

"Floyd Mayweather is a very smart fighter in the ring. He feints well, and he punches pretty good. I mean he's pretty active while he's in there."

On how Mayweather and Pacquiao would do against himself, Leonard, Hagler, Benitez and Duran:

"I think that he would do pretty good. He's got good head movement and I can't put him down. He's pretty active while he's in there. Floyd Mayweather is an excellent fighter. I have to give him his props. He could last.

"Manny Pacquiao, I think that he's a pretty good fighter too. I think that he would do well. He would do okay. I think that he would do pretty good."

On what his strategy would be in a fight against Mayweather:

"Against me, I would have to respect him. I think that he could go the distance with me. I would have to out-think him and definitely out-jab him. He's a shorter man, so he can't get to me.

"I would have to keep the jab on him and keep him at a distance and force him to use his head movement all of the time. Somewhere down the line, I would probably hit him with a couple of right hands.

"I would probably get him with a good right hand if not an average right hand. If I was to go to the body, you know that might play into what he is probably trying to do strategically.

"I think that if I got closer to him trying to land a body shot, that would be what he wants. So I think that my best thing would be to stay on the outside and just box him. But I think that he could go the distance with me."

On his strategy against Pacquiao:

"He would definitely have to come to me. I would probably just box him and keep boxing him and look for the shot. Yeah, definitely, I would box him and look for the opening. I would give him a good boxing lesson [laughs.]"

On who would win between Mayweather and Pacquiao:

"I would say that it would be an awesome fight between the both of them, but I think that Floyd should win the fight. If Floyd does what he's supposed to do, then I think Floyd wins and that he should be victorious.

"If he doesn't, then Pacquiao will take over the fight. Manny Pacquiao comes to fight. That's all that he wants to do. But I think that the only way that Pacquiao could win is by knockout of Floyd.

"The way that Floyd is going to win is to out-box Manny Pacquiao and to make Manny Pacquiao fall apart."

On whether either Mayweather or Pacquiao could beat him:

"[Laughs.] Listen, they're good fighters, right? Can't take anything away from those guys. But you know anybody who was in my weight division, you know, I would give them hell.

"They would have to be really fighting hard and be ready to absorb a lot of punches to beat me. Because, you know, I ain't going to let anybody just come in and beat me."

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lem.satterfield@gmail.com

Source: ringtv.craveonline.com

Floyd Mayweather Jr: 'I would love to fight Amir Khan at Wembley' -- The Guardian

By Kevin Mitchell, guardian.co.uk

Floyd Mayweather Jr talks like he boxes, slipping questions with the practised ease of someone for whom evasion is as easy as breathing. He is the Natural.

However, dropping his guard, he says he would fight Amir Khan – in London next year – if the WBA light-welterweight champion beats the IBF title-holder, Zab Judah, at the Mandalay Bay on Saturday night.

"I would love to come and fight at Wembley," he says. But he sidesteps all questions about Khan's friend and training partner, Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather does not reach out to boxing; boxing comes to Mayweather – or, at least, that is his perspective.

Jab away at him, however, and a few light bruises appear on an ego more fragile than he would like to admit. In the course of 25 minutes – while one of the hired helps wraps his hands in preparation for pad-work with his uncle, Roger – the finest pure boxer since Sugar Ray Leonard raises his voice just once, and even then briefly.

"How can I not be rated No1 if I haven't been beaten?" he asks, incredulous at the suggestion that he needs to seal his standing in boxing history by fighting Pacquiao, regarded by good judges as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and a champion in eight weight divisions – instead of Victor Ortiz, whom Mayweather meets in Las Vegas when he returns to the ring, on 17 September, after an absence of 16 months.

"I am not worried about the Pacquiao thing at all. I can do whatever I want in this sport. Floyd Mayweather is in the sport to give great performances. And I must be happy myself before I can make anyone else happy.

"The British fans would love to see me fight Amir Khan and I'm pretty sure the Filipino fans would want to see me fight Pacquiao. The American fans would love to see me fight anybody."

This is a narrow reading of the wishes of boxing fans, wherever they are from. The one fight boxing wants and needs is Mayweather-Pacquiao. There is no other contest that appeals more or is as capable of reaching out to an audience beyond the hardcore – and, while Mayweather pretends he is not bothered (because he is the centre of his own universe), he wants the fight too.

Roger, who is also Floyd's trainer, wants the fight, although he has done his best to scupper it by suggesting Pacquiao has used performance-enhancing drugs – something the Filipino denies – an accusation he this week threw at Khan, who shares Pacquiao's conditioner, Alex Ariza, and trainer, Freddie Roach.

Pacquiao this week denied he was going through his considerable fortune, confirming that he is worth $26m (£16m), even though he has earned much more than that in his career. A fight with Mayweather would probably bring each of them upward of $50m, although Pacquiao is reluctant to submit to Olympic-standard drugs tests to convince Mayweather he is clean.

"If the tables were turned and I didn't want to take the test," Mayweather said, "people would be saying Floyd Mayweather is doing something. No wonder he won all these fights. All I'm saying is a fighter doesn't all of a sudden become a good fighter at the age of 25. Do you guys think that Floyd Mayweather could just move to heavyweight and all of a sudden compete with the Klitschko brothers? Absolutely not."

Mayweather was not tempted to pick the winner of Khan's fight against Judah. "It will all come down to who wants it more, who is the smarter fighter and who has the better chin. I fought Zab Judah at 147 pounds. Both are explosive fighters. It's a good fight to watch.

"Amir Khan came here and trained in the boxing gym with my uncle Roger a few times. He's a good young fighter. We're in the fight game so every fighter wants to fight Floyd Mayweather. But he must get past the obstacles put in front of him first. Then we'll go from there."

He would not be drawn on his uncle's evidence-free claims about Khan. "It's not my place to comment on what Roger said about Amir Khan and steroids. All I will say is that if you are facing Floyd Mayweather, you got to take the test." Neither will he budge from the view that he is the biggest draw in boxing, and it is true he has posted several impressive pay-per-view numbers.

"Everywhere I go, I will make a good payday. But we got to choose the right opponent and the right time and the right venue. You guys got some great venues. I could fill a soccer stadium over there.

"I like fighters who come to fight. Amir Khan is a young champion. I take my hat off to him. It's a difficult challenge [against Judah]. It will not be easy for either man.

"Every fight I look at as all the same, just another fight. I'm not worried about nothing. You say Victor Ortiz, you say Amir Khan, no matter what name you say, it's just another fighter to Floyd Mayweather."

Mayweather's look-at-me, third-person posturing is not unusual in boxing. It is what sustains nearly all its participants, and arrogance is part of what makes Mayweather a great fighter. He says he fears nobody, that no opponent has ever stretched him to his full potential, and he is right.

He tries to be polite, but it is plain he does not consider Khan capable of it, either. "Have I used my A-game yet? Absolutely not. I have not had to really bite down and say: 'Damn, this is a tough fight.' When I go into a fight it is just another guy. If somebody hits me with a good shot, I go back to the corner and they say: 'It was a good shot but don't worry about it.'"

Mayweather shifts uneasily when asked about the domestic violence charges he has yet to face in court. "We just try to be positive and hope for the best. Once you show me some real photos of someone being battered or beaten, then we just say OK. But I am already in a contact sport, which is boxing, so someone says they got touched in an unlikely manner and people automatically say Floyd Mayweather is guilty. Guys have got to say OK, we seen Mayweather when he fought Zab Judah and when a melee broke out, what did he do? I went back to my corner and conducted myself like a true gentleman."

Mayweather, who is 34 and who has retired twice, says he will box for at least another three years. "I need more titles and more money," he says.

He has had enough questions. With friends and neighbourhood gawpers gathered to pay homage, Mayweather climbs into the ring and goes through his dazzling repertoire of combinations, a ritual so familiar to him and his uncle that each punch finds the moving target as if connected by string.

As we leave, his white Rolls Royce parked outside the gym in a part of Las Vegas some way from the glitter of the Strip is a loud statement by the fighter who is comfortable with the most appropriate nickname in boxing: "Money."

Source: guardian.co.uk

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Burns $100 Bill at Atlanta Club -- NowPublic

NowPublic.com

Floyd Mayweather Burns $100 Bill: That's a Crime

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has money to burn, and he proved it by torching a $100 bill at the Velvet Room nightclub in Atlanta over the weekend.

Burning currency is illegal in the US: Floyd Mayweather Jr. faces an investigation by the Secret Service, which is tasked with enforcing that particular law. However, the WBC Super Welterweight Champion shouldn't be too worried.

Since the fine for burning money is only $100 (funnily enough), it's exceedingly unlikely that action will be taken against Mayweather. Still, it's sort of a chump move to burn money in the middle of a recession. After all, $100 could buy maybe four drinks for random strangers at a high-end club.

Perhaps Mayweather should be more worried about Manny Pacquiao, who could ruin his unbeaten record, but that fight is not looking likely anytime soon. Floyd Mayweather faces Victor Ortiz on September 17.

Source: nowpublic.com

Mayweather – Ortiz: Delaying the inevitable -- 8CountNews

By Jeremiah Yap, 8CountNews.com

Victor Ortiz (29-2-2) is not afraid to take any crap from Floyd Mayweather, Jr. He visibly showed no fear and was surprisingly believable when he said that he wanted to "smack" Floyd during their press conference kicker. The young WBC World Welterweight Champion played the role of young-fighter-overearger-to-prove-that-he-can-beat-a-legend-and-become-the-sport's-next-mainstream-star perfectly. He wasn't mincing words when he declared that he'll fight Manny Paquiao after he beats Mayweather.

His frustration was well justified during the conference because of the slew of questions circling around the potential Mayweather-Pacquiao fight. Questions about how Mayweather (41-0) was going to handle his southpaw style were replaced with questions about whether Mayweather was willing to fight Pacquiao next year.

Mayweather, on the other hand, was content on playing Rocky Balboa in Rocky VI (or “Rocky Balboa”). He was thankful for the support and sounded at peace while reflecting on his career. I'm not questioning the sincerity of his sudden epiphany, but it's possible it could be just a show of character sympathy given the legal mess he's in right now.

If there's one thing we can't knock Mayweather for, it's his willingness to fight a young, hungry champion in his prime. When the news first broke out that he was going to fight Ortiz, the first thought that came to my mind was, “Are you sure he’s fighting Victor Ortiz and not Tito?”

Mayweather wants a challenge and found the right opponent for it. Everybody knows that Mayweather has difficulty fighting southpaws and rugged brawlers -- which Ortiz both is. Ortiz has a vicious right uppercut that can send Floyd sprawling to the canvas. Another advantage he has is youth. Floyd hasn't fought for over a year. Age has slowed him down and it'll take time for him to get his rhythm back. It was apparent in his fight against Mosley that Floyd has lost a step.

But Floyd is still the smartest fighter out there. He'll neutralize Ortiz's power and aggressiveness by taking away the angles. Floyd will keep turning him and by the second half of the bout Ortiz will tire from hitting air. I believe that Mayweather already has a game plan for Ortiz. He didn't pick him as his next opponent for nothing. Mayweather has already seen the holes and knows he can exploit them.

This match is exciting because Ortiz moves in only one direction -- forward. He'll make it a fight in the early rounds much like Ricky Hatton did. But it won't be enough to stop the inevitable – a Mayweather – Pacquiao fight early next year.

Source: 8countnews.com

Ortiz-Mayweather LA Presser -- FightNews

By Francisco Salazar, FightNews.com

The stars were out at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday night. There were bright lights, a red carpet, hundreds of fans in attendance seeking autographs or pictures. One would have thought that famous actors, rappers, or other celebrities were attending an awards show based on the electricity of the event and the crowd.
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

Floyd Mayweather says he wants to fight Manny Pacquiao, as he promotes bout with Victor Ortiz -- NY Daily News

By Tim Smith, DAILY NEWS

In the past when Floyd Mayweather Jr. had a press conference to announce his upcoming fight he used the occasion to get under the skin of his opponent.

So there was the expectation that Mayweather would use Tuesday's press conference at the Hudson Theater near Times Square to unnerve WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz, whom he will fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Sept. 17.

Instead, Mayweather, who hasn't fought in 13 months, was in a more reflective mood. When it was his time to speak to the media and the many fans who packed the theater, Mayweather sounded as if he was delivering a testimonial than the usual fight hype.

Mayweather praised Ortiz and thanked everyone from the members of his team to the guys who sweep the floor in the balcony of the theater. For 15 minutes Mayweather talked about spending more time with his children, being misunderstood and not being given the benefit of the doubt on his many legal woes.

But the only thing that anyone wants to hear from Mayweather is if he will fight Manny Pacquiao, and if so, when is it going to happen? And while everyone is thinking that Ortiz, a young, powerful southpaw who comes straight ahead, is the perfect primer for a Pacquiao match, only Mayweather is certain whether the mega fight everyone wants to see will happen next year.

"Floyd Mayweather doesn't duck or dodge anyone," Mayweather said. "Do I want the Pacquiao fight? Absolutely. If that's what the fans want. It takes one step at a time. I can't overlook Victor Ortiz. He's tough and he's earned the chance."

By taking on Ortiz, a 24-year-old with pop in both hands, Mayweather is getting one up on Pacquiao, whose last few opponents have been retreads and has-beens. That point wasn't lost on Mayweather.

"Victor Ortiz is a young, hungry champion that bounced back from a brutal loss," Mayweather said. "Honestly I picked Victor Ortiz for that."

Mayweather wouldn't commit on exactly when he would fight Pacquiao, but at least he's on the record that he wants the fight. And Leonard Ellerbee, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions, said he doesn't see any obstacles for making the fight. Mayweather acknowledged that Pacquiao had agreed to blood and urine testing for performance-enhancing drugs, but was not on the same page with regard to the protocol that Mayweather wants to use.

Mayweather said he has never said that Pacquiao used performance-enhancing drugs. He said he just wants everyone in boxing and all sports to test for PEDs.

"They have it in baseball, they have it in football, they have it in the Olympics," Mayweather said.

Source: nydailynews.com

Mayweather multitasks -- Las Vegas Review-Journal

By Steve Carp, LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Floyd Mayweather Jr. will fight Victor Ortiz in his return to the ring, but on Tuesday he found himself looking into the future -- and a highly anticipated date with Manny Pacquiao.

As the promotion began for his Sept. 17 fight against Ortiz at the MGM Grand Garden, Mayweather (41-0, 25 knockouts) wanted to set the record straight -- at least from his perspective -- about where he stands with Pacquiao.

"I never said Manny Pacquiao is cheating," Mayweather said Tuesday from New York, where the two-city promotional tour kicked off. Mayweather and Ortiz will be in Los Angeles today.

"I never discredited Manny Pacquiao. I'm not taking anything away from him. All I said is we should take the (Olympic-style drug) tests. If you want to beat me, I want you to earn it. Just take the test.

"Do I want the Pacquiao fight? Absolutely. But it's one step at a time, and I can't overlook Victor Ortiz. He's the world champion."

Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs) has the WBC welterweight title,

Mayweather is being sued by Pacquiao for defamation after Mayweather allegedly made claims in 2009 that Pacquiao used steroids to help launch his rise to the top as boxing's best pound-for-pound fighter. Over the past two years, there have been two attempts to put the two in the ring, and both tries have failed.

Ortiz said he knows Mayweather will dominate the headlines up until fight night, whether it's talk about Pacquiao, Mayweather's return to boxing from a 16-month hiatus or his myriad troubles outside the ring.

"I'm the one with the belt," Ortiz said. "I knew when I was 9 years old that I would one day be the world welterweight champion, and I plan to be the champ for a long time. If (Neil) Armstrong can go to the moon, why can't I hold on to my belt for 15 years?"

Ortiz, 24, is coming off a sensational win over Andre Berto on April 16, when he survived a sixth-round knockdown to knock down Berto later in the round and win the WBC belt by unanimous decision. He said the win proved to him that he had a warrior's spirit, and he refused to listen to critics who said he didn't have the heart to be a champion.

"I never paid any attention to that," Ortiz said. "I always stayed true to myself."

Mayweather was ringside that night. He was impressed with Ortiz and decided he would be a worthy opponent in his return to the ring.

"This is not my last fight," said the 34-year-old Mayweather, who last fought May 1, 2010, when he beat Shane Mosley.

Mayweather opened as a minus-750 favorite over Ortiz (plus-525) at the MGM's sports book.

"I'm going to stay active, and I'd like to give you 10 more fights," Mayweather said. "But I don't know if I can do that, since I'm closer to 40 than to 21. But I'm going to go to camp and dedicate myself and push myself to the limit. I look forward to going out there and bringing the pressure.

"I deserve to be where I'm at. What other athlete has done it 15 years straight without a loss?"

HBO announced Tuesday that the first installment of the reality TV series "24/7 Mayweather/Ortiz" will debut Aug. 27, with successive installments on Sept. 3, 10 and 16.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter @stevecarprj.

Source: lvrj.com

Mayweather, Ortiz reflective, restrained -- ESPN

By Franklin McNeil, ESPN.com

NEW YORK -- There wasn't the usual braggadocio, no getting in the other guy's face or chest-bumping.

Longtime welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. and current WBC titleholder Victor Ortiz kicked off the promotional tour for their Sept. 17 showdown on Tuesday by showing each other a level of professional respect that is fairly uncommon for these functions.

Despite repeated taunts from the gathered audience questioning Ortiz's heart, and the occasional shout for Mayweather to fight Manny Pacquiao, the fighters focused most of their attention on themselves at the Hudson Theater.

The 34-year-old Mayweather, who is returning to action for the first time since defeating Shane Mosley in May 2010, used the opportunity to reflect on his career, family and personal supporters.

I'm a lot older, a lot wiser," Mayweather said.

"I've been away from the sport awhile because I wanted to choose the right opponent. But also, I wanted to grow closer to my family, my mother, my children.

"My ultimate goal is for my son and my daughter to never work again. I have to give thanks to [advisors] Leonard Ellerbe and Al Haymon, HBO and my team for putting me in position so that my family will never have to work again."

During his reflective moment, Mayweather (41-0-0, 25 knockouts) appeared to get a little emotional. He paused briefly each time he thanked family members or close friends.

Maybe he is beginning to see the end of an illustrious fighting career. But Mayweather isn't yet ready to write the final chapters.

"I want to thank you guys [the fans] for all your support over the years," Mayweather said. "[Ortiz] is not my last fight. I want to stay active in the sport of boxing; hopefully I can give you guys 10 more fights.

"I may not be able to. I'm closer to 40 than I am 21. But I look forward to going out there. I'm not going to be moving. It's going to be like the Shane Mosley fight; I'm going to bring the pressure in the middle of the squared circle."

Ortiz, 24, has no thoughts of retiring. For him, this fight -- which will be staged at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will air on HBO pay-per-view -- represents the beginning of what he believes will be a wonderful career.

But Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs) is approaching the rest of it with a new attitude. Roundly criticized in the aftermath of his TKO loss to Marcos Maidana in 2009, he was accused by many of lacking heart. It's the worst label to place on a boxer.

In the past, such comments pained Ortiz. Not anymore. He has experienced too much in life to allow such criticism to harm him anymore.

"I understand all the love-hate type stuff. It is part of the game," Ortiz said. "But tell me one thing I haven't already heard.

"My mom and dad, they left me. People who loved me, they left me. I've been through a bunch of [stuff], are you kidding me?

"For somebody to sit there and tell me how to live my life, or try to dictate how I should live my life, that makes me laugh. I don't care."

Being criticized doesn't concern Ortiz, and neither, apparently, does the Mayweather bout. It's a fight he says he has wanted since his teenage years, and when it was offered, Ortiz immediately signed on.

This was the opportunity he'd been dreaming of for too long.

Ortiz remembers one of the first times he mentioned wanting to fight Mayweather. He was 16 years old. There were doubters then, too.

"We were sitting down watching a Mayweather fight and [trainer Robert Garcia] -- he's not the nicest person toward us sometimes -- said, 'You can't be in there with him. He's way too classy. You're not in his class.'

"But no one is going to tell me how to live my life. I don't care. I'm here to fight."

Franklin McNeil covers mixed martial arts and boxing for ESPN.com. He also appears regularly on "MMA Live," which airs on ESPN2. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Franklin_McNeil.

Source: espn.go.com

Vicious Victor Ortiz declares: I'll beat Mayweather twice, then whip Pacquiao -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

Using what Don King likes to call “double shock power,” what if there were two huge boxing upsets, one on Sept. 17 and one on Nov. 12?

I guess we could then look forward to the 2012 Fight Of The Century, and certainly the most important all Mexican bout ever, between Vicious Victor Ortiz, who handed Floyd Mayweather his first ever pro loss, and Juan Manuel Marquez who, in his third try, finally whipped Pinoy Idol Manny Pacquiao.

Boxing oldtimers like to say that winning a first world title belt does wonders for a fighter’s confidence and Vicious Victor, based on his words and demeanor Tuesday at the Hudson Theater, was exuding confidence.

“I’ll be the one fighting Manny Pacquiao next year,” Ortiz said.

Some might look at his down times, the draw with Lamont Peterson and the notorious “quit job” against Marcos Maidana, and say that’s the essence of Ortiz. But Ortiz himself says we saw the content of his ring character when he bounced off the deck twice to hand cocksure Andre Berto his first defeat.

And, Ortiz promised, we’ll see more of that positive side of him when he shocks “Money” at the mGm Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Someone mentioned the opening odds—with Mayweather minus 750 and Ortiz plus 525—and Ortiz laughed.

“I don’t care about that,” the 24 year old former Kansan said. “I don’t pay attention to that. I am not one of those made champions. I didn’t get here by fighting tomato cans.

“I’m not one of those guys who were fed with a spoon like that. I have a lot of slaps in my face (from critics). This is a great chance for me.

“I plan on being a world champion for 15 years. I didn’t work so hard for this opportunity to let it a slip away,” Ortiz said.

“I am definitely going to beat Mayweather.”

Ortiz explains away his controversial finish against Argentine strongman by citing family issues and a badly injured right hand.

“I let my emotions get the best of me regarding my brother and my sister and some issues,” Ortiz said. “I also had to (secretly) see some doctors and get cortisone shots in my hand.”

Criticism of his heart and courage from that loss still burns deep for Ortiz.

Ortiz revealed that he had to accept a rematch clause to get the Mayweather bout.

“So I may have to beat him twice and then fight Pacquiao,” Ortiz said.

Like I said, in the wake of besting Berto, Ortiz’s confidence level is at an all time high.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com

Floyd Mayweather Jr. says he 'would love the [Manny] Pacquiao fight to happen' -- Los Angeles Times

By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times

For the first time since he walked off the post-fight news conference stage in May 2010, Floyd Mayweather Jr. addressed an assemblage of reporters Tuesday in New York and said what boxing fans want to hear.

"I would love the [Manny] Pacquiao fight to happen," Mayweather Jr. told The Times in a telephone interview after meeting with the New York contingent. "We take one guy at a time. Now, it's Victor Ortiz.

Pacquiao's next as long as he agrees to the testing, [U.S. Anti-Doping Agency] testing. Victor Ortiz has agreed to do it. So did [May 2010 foe] Shane Mosley. I'm also testing. I'll show I'm clean, and that boxing is clean."

The 34-year-old Mayweather (41-0, 25 knockouts) and Ventura's 24-year-old Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs) will tangle for Ortiz's World Boxing Council welterweight belt Sept. 17 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The pair will appear Wednesdayat downtown's L.A. Live at 8 p.m. for a public news conference.

Odds at Las Vegas sports books opened Tuesday with Mayweather as more than a 7-to-1 favorite over the taller southpaw. HBO pay per view will televise the bout and bring back its "24/7" series Aug. 27.

Since his last fight, Mayweather has been beset by legal challenges, including a multi-felony domestic violence episode involving the mother of his three children that has the boxer scheduled to return to Clark County (Nev.) court Oct. 20. But Mayweather said his three children live with him at his home in Las Vegas and he downplayed the severity of the alleged crimes.

"I'm in the hurt business, in a contact sport, so when something like this happens, people want to assume the worst. I'm automatically assumed guilty," Mayweather said.

"My thing is to focus on my job. Someone can go to trial, but you can't let it lose your focus on your key. I got to do what I do. Boxing is what pays my bills."

Mayweather said he's not expecting his skills to show ring rust despite a 16-plus month layoff that included a third failed negotiation to seal a Pacquiao fight, with the sides bitterly split on the drug-testing protocol.

"There's ups and downs with boxing, layoffs are part of the sport and they can either help or hurt a guy," Mayweather said. "In my case, I think it'll help. My fitness is great. I'm playing basketball, keeping my weight at 147 right now and getting my body stretched out in massages. I'm ready to go."

Mayweather said he opted to return to the ring after sitting ringside at Ortiz's thrilling decision triumph over previously unbeaten Andre Berto in April — when both fighters were knocked down twice in the bout.

"I really missed that atmosphere," he said.

Now Mayweather is focused on beating Ortiz, and then setting up the super-fight against Pacquiao that the world wants in 2012.

"How do I deal with that? Execute the game plan given to me," Mayweather said. "I can go outside, counter punch … this sport's all about being a great student and good listener. That's who I am."

lance.pugmire@latimes.com
twitter.com/latimespugmire
Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times

Source: latimes.com

Mayweather is always worth watching -- ESPN

By Michael Woods, ESPN



NEW YORK -- Floyd Mayweather is one of those entertainers who falls into the "either you love them or you hate them" category.

His fans (and there are hordes of them -- a few hundred queued up at the Hudson Theater on West 44th St. in the blazing sun on Tuesday to watch the news conference banging the drums for his Sept. 17 fight against Victor Ortiz) point to his stellar technique in the ring, the sweetly scientific skills that allow Mayweather to boast with some viability that he is an all-time, pound-for-pound great. Those who don't care for Mayweather most often cite his tendency towards boastfulness. They'll point out that he hasn't always appeared to seek out the stiffest challengers en route to piling up a 41-0 (25 KOs) record and six titles in five weight divisions.

Evidence suggests, though, that folks in both camps -- those who admire the brash hitter, and those who don't dig the antics of the man who in P Diddy-ish fashion rebranded himself "Money" after going by the "Pretty Boy Floyd" tag -- pay up to watch him fight.

Some stats to back that up: In seven pay-per-view fights, Mayweather has amassed 6.9 million buys and garnered $375 million in revenue; his 2007 fight with Oscar De La Hoya did a record 2.44 million buys and a record $137 million in revenue. Tune in to see him expertly ply his trade, or tune in to see him get his block knocked off -- either way, people tune in.

So the fight game, the fans, the haters, and the suits who share in the take when Mayweather gloves up are all happy to see the 34-year-old back in the ring after 16 months away. He will allow the 24-year-old Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs) -- a kid who came up the hard way in Kansas in a series of foster homes after being abandoned by his mother at age seven, and then by his father five years later -- a chance for a majestic signature win. Boxing fans have hungered for a couple years now to see Mayweather and the Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao face off for true bragging rights to the mythical pound-for-pound title. But a rumble with a young gun like Ortiz, coming off a stellar April win against WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto, has been met with an upbeat buzz on message boards and at water coolers.

It will be something of a relief for his backers to be able to focus on the in-the-ring element of Mayweather's life. He has been plagued by a series of brushes with the law in the past nine months. Charges are pending against the fighter for a Sept. 2010 clash with his ex-gal pal, the mother of his three kids, all of whom were up on the dais with the fighter and his posse on Tuesday. Mayweather seems to butt heads with security guards wherever he goes as well. Two months after the domestic situation, he got into a dispute with a security guard at his residence, and was charged with battery. A month after that, he was caught on tape getting into a beef with another guard at his community in Las Vegas.

On June 27, it was revealed that a man has filed a civil suit against Mayweather. The accuser says Mayweather, in May 2010, ordered his bodyguards to attack him at The Palms (Las Vegas) valet area. His woes also include a pending defamation suit lodged by Pacquiao, who maintains Mayweather and his crew accused him of taking illegal performance-enhancers; a week ago Mayweather blew off a deposition session for that case.

So, one might think that these legal entanglements hang heavy on Mayweather-s head -- that his ability to concentrate on the task of handling Ortiz, who has sent each and every one of his foes to the canvas since he turned pro -- might be compromised.

Not so, said Mayweather on Tuesday. "Absolutely not," he maintained. "You go through certain things in life. Everybody has certain obstacles put in front of them."

He said that writers play up negative aspects of his behavior, and found a silver lining in his travails, as he thanked writers who spoke ill of him for keeping him "relevant."

Mayweather wouldn't explicitly say that some or all of the accusations stem from people looking to make a buck off him. But he did note that one specific allegation of misbehavior was proven false via a tape of one incident which was leaked to the gossip website TMZ. "Things happen, you live and learn, I don't worry about anything, what's going to happen in life is going to happen, the only thing you can do is only hope for the best."

Some wonder if Mayweather should worry if he will be a free man come Sept. 17. He is facing a bevy of charges. New York attorney Keith Sullivan, who is active in the fight game, offered ESPNNewYork.com his take on Mayweather's prospects in his legal battles.

"On the home front, he has a domestic violence charge pending, for the alleged assault on his ex," Sullivan said. "This case won't hit the courts until after the Ortiz fight. However, he is looking at four felony charges. He also has two pending misdemeanor assault cases involving security guards at his housing complex. One of the two is scheduled for trial on Sept. 1. His attorneys are likely to get this matter adjourned until after the fight."

"Manny seems poised to score a knockout victory against Floyd in the federal defamation suit," Sullivan continued. "Mayweather violated the judge's order to appear for a deposition in mid-June. Disobeying any judge is never good, but particularly a federal judge. Manny's lawyer will likely seek a default judgment against Floyd. If the two ever fight, Manny may be able to walk with both purses to satisfy the judgment.

"The most serious legal problem is the felony domestic violence charges. I suspect his legal team will do everything in their power to show the court that Floyd is contrite and willing to partake in anger-management programs and community service as punishment. This case hinges almost entirely on his ex's willingness to testify against him. He can run, slip, duck, bob and weave away from fighters, but the law is said to have a long arm for a reason, it always catches up to you."

Mayweather didn't seem like a rattled man on Tuesday. He told the media and fans that he'd like to fight maybe 10 more times, and that he does want to fight Pacquiao -- if Pacquiao agrees to super-stringent performance-enhancing drug testing, which Ortiz has agreed to. He talked of wanting to be a superlative family man, and keeping his kids off the computer, lest they read inaccurate stories about their dad.

Backers will say he has matured. Detractors will say he is posturing.

But maybe people in both camps should root for Floyd to disentangle himself smoothly from the claws of the courts. As fan Anthony Ciarla, a 25-year-old from Bloomfield, N.J., who had a day off from managing the frozen food section at a supermarket put it as he waited to get inside the theater: "His character is very good for boxing. He appeals to everyone. You either love him or hate him. You pay to see him either way."

Source: sports.espn.go.com

Mayweather willing to fight Pacquiao under own terms -- USA Today

The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — It seems Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao will be forever linked, regardless of whether they ever face each other in the ring.

The two have danced around the richest fight in boxing for several years, unable to come to terms. Meanwhile, their animosity has grown to the point that Pacquiao has a pending defamation lawsuit alleging Mayweather unfairly accused him of using performance-enhancing drugs.

So it's not surprising that Mayweather spent just as much time answering questions about Pacquiao on Tuesday as he did about Victor Ortiz, the welterweight champion whom he'll face in his next fight on Sept. 17 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"I've never said that Manny Pacquiao was taking steroids, I never said he was taking enhancement drugs," said Mayweather, who failed to turn up for a court-ordered deposition in Las Vegas earlier this month involving the defamation suit.

"I want to fight the best they got out there, not just him, the best they got out there," Mayweather said, "and if he's on the list as one of the best guys, then absolutely."

Mayweather said he's willing to fight Pacquiao if there is random blood and urine testing, which is more stringent than the protocol used by most state athletic associations. Mayweather said Pacquiao's team would only agree to blood and urine testing at certain times.

"It's not just Pacquiao, it's sports, period," Mayweather said. "If you look at sports in the Olympics, they're cheating. Everyone is cheating. And I never once said Manny Pacquiao was cheating, only thing I said was this: Me and any other opponent I face must take the test."

Mayweather will be returning to the ring for the first time since defeating Shane Mosley in May 2010, though the undefeated former champion has made plenty of news since then.

Last Friday, 21-year-old Anthony Cliff filed a lawsuit accusing Mayweather of ordering his bodyguards to attack the man outside the Palms Casino Resort on March 27, 2010.

The lawsuit accuses Mayweather of assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent hiring, training, supervision and retention of employees.

Mayweather also faces felony charges stemming from a domestic argument and misdemeanor harassment and battery charges in separate cases.

"When you're young, black and rich, you go through things in life," Mayweather said. "But I'm a strong individual. I can survive through anything."

Mayweather's adviser, Leonard Ellerbe, declined to discuss the litigation.

"We focus on the business part and the boxing part," Ellerbe said. "We let the attorneys handle the legal stuff."

Mayweather and Ellerbe joined several hundred fans inside the Hudson Theater in New York City to kick off a promotional tour for the fight against Ortiz, who is coming off a career-defining victory over Andre Berto that made him the WBC welterweight champion.

Ortiz said he doesn't mind that people want to talk about Pacquiao — even if that person is Mayweather — because he's staring at the opportunity of a lifetime.

"I'm supposed to be a piece of nothing, I'm not supposed to be here, according to the statistics," said Ortiz, whose parents abandoned him when he was young, forcing him and his five siblings to live in foster care. "I'm tired of, 'You can't do this, you can't do that.'"

Early in his career, Ortiz was anointed the next Mexican-American superstar by Oscar De La Hoya, whose company promotes him. But his meteoric rise met a wall when he fought Marcos Maidana two years ago. Ortiz was losing after six rounds and essentially quit in the ring, one boxing's cardinal sins, and fans and the media were quick to write him off.

Ortiz has been spectacular on the slow road to redemption, though, and in April climbed off the canvas twice to beat Berto as the heavy underdog and win the welterweight championship.

"I realize he's a great fighter, but since I was 9 years old, I always said I'd fight Mayweather one day as champion of the world, and check it out," Ortiz said. "It's crazy."

Ortiz said he asked to fight Mayweather or Pacquiao after his most recent fight, even though he heard whispers from people — including some in his own promotional company — who said he was overmatched or out of his mind. But he wanted to fight the best in the world, and depending who you ask, he may have achieved that by landing a shot at Mayweather.

As for Mayweather's plan to fight Pacquiao next?

"There's only one problem," Ortiz said. "I'm fighting Pacquiao next."

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: usatoday.com

Floyd returns but Pacquiao fight is all that matters -- ESPN

By Steve Bunce, ESPN.co.uk

I suppose it's good that Floyd Mayweather Jr is back but I still wonder how many years he's going to hold us to ransom. Is he going to come back every 14 months, every 18 months, every two years? Is he ever going to come back and fight Manny Pacquiao? At what point do we say, 'so what Floyd?'.

Victor Ortiz, who will put his WBC welterweight title on the line when the pair clash in September, is a perfectly good fighter but he's never going to sell out a big venue in America, he's never going to create a massive buzz. Thankfully with this fight a) he gets a big pay day and b) his profile goes through the roof. It's fantastic for Ortiz, is it good for Floyd? I don't know. Is it good for boxing? I'm not sure.

Boxing doesn't need Floyd v Ortiz, it needed Floyd against Pacquiao 18 months ago. If this Ortiz fight leads to a formal announcement of a Pacquiao match-up in April then fantastic. But if this leads once again to Floyd leaving into the Las Vegas night, assuming the clash takes place there, then we're going to have another 18 months of speculation - he said, she said, I said, we said. I'm sick and tired of will he, won't he; will they, won't they.

Pacquiao's always going to be a possibility for Floyd because we know the type of money that people are talking about - we've gone from $8 or $9 million each to $35 million each. Let's just hope by the middle of November a deal has been signed for next April because if it's not then surely we've got to pull the curtains down on it.

Against Ortiz, I'm expecting an aggressive Floyd to make a statement. We saw a cautious, careful Floyd when he fought veterans Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley but I think we might see him push for a KO. At some point Mayweather, who is 10 years older than Ortiz, is going to slow down and his speed will diminish. At some stage his timing is going to suffer and Ortiz is the type of guy who could cause a slightly slower Floyd some problems. However, there are still some questions marks about Ortiz's mental toughness after he quit in a fight with Marcos Maidana in 2009 when he complained that the punches were hurting him - Monty Pythonesque, I know, and we shouldn't forget it.

If they have a tear-up I know which chin I fancy, and it's not Ortiz's. A shocking win could in theory push Pacquiao into a fight. It seems the two need to embarrass the other in order for terms to be agreed. A big victory here could do the trick.

Twelfth Round

At 34, Ryan Rhodes is hoping it's third time lucky. The Sheffield-born fighter takes his third tilt at a world title by facing off against Saul Alvarez for his WBC light-middleweight crown on Saturday in Mexico - 14 years after his first attempt.

It looks a tall order - Ryan's going to 6000ft of altitude in Guadalajara, he's fighting a guy who is 14 years younger, he's fighting a guy who's unbeaten in 37 fights (26 KO's), he's fighting a guy who is a Mexican idol and as Ryan said himself, 'I must be mad'. If you look at the basic facts he must be. However, I don't think Alvarez's as strong and as unbeatable as some people are trying to paint him.

Oscar de la Hoya, his promoter, is desperate to tell everybody that Alvarez is going to be the greatest Mexican fighter of all time. In his last fight he won the title in a 12-round points decision against Matthew Hatton, who is a welterweight. No disrespect to Hatton but the so-called best Mexican fighter ever would not take 12 rounds to beat him, especially when Hatton's fighting above his usual weight. Ryan's got the power, he's got the strength.


Enlarge That said, I am worried about the altitude factor - it's a sickener. I don't care how Ryan says he feels. You can adjust to normal, everyday things like walking and shopping but in two weeks I'm not sure you can adjust properly. Alvarez goes to Big Bear in California and trains at altitude, where he's been for six weeks. Rhodes has been training in the steel city of Sheffield and Rotherham. There's aptitude in Yorkshire not altitude!

There's no problem with belief but he may be found wanting in this stage of his career. He is much older and he will be fighting in a very foreign land. It's remote, it's at high altitude and the Mexican crowds are savage. Ryan can prepare himself for that in his head but it's another thing on the night when 15,000 people are trying to basically abuse you. That said, he understands the enormity of the task and he can do it. I don't think Alvarez is even half as good as we're being told he is. My gut feeling tells me the altitude and Rhodes' legs, coupled with Alvarez's youth, will mean Rhodes will get stopped on his feet at some point in the last few rounds.

Fireworks can wait for Haye

Watching Wladimir Klitschko's media days last week, I'm amazed that people are surprised he's preparing well. What did people expect, for him to prepare in a nightclub?! Wladimir is a very intelligent, smart guy. This is what he does - he's cold, calculated and scientific. He won't cut a corner, he's a brilliant tactician and technician and he'll be sparring with guys who are the same height, same weight and fight at the same pace as David Haye.

I expect no stunts when David goes in front of the cameras this week, because he's got his man exactly where he wants him. David's been selling this fight since 2008, he's got the bout he wants and all he wants is to get Klitschko out of his hair now.

He's done all the selling, he's got the fight and he'll be itching to get in the ring. It will shut his critics up because most still believe Haye still doesn't want the fight. That's rubbish, he always wanted the fight, he just wanted it on his terms - which he has now got. Fantastic, let's get it on.

Source: espn.co.uk

Ortiz hits pay dirt with fight against Mayweather -- Miami Herald

By SANTOS A. PEREZ, Miami Herald

Elite fighters often encounter their “aged-in-one-fight” moment. A fighter’s seemingly invincible reputation is shattered with one subpar performance, and the result is an onset of declining skills.

The inverse scenario is the young fighter eager for a break-out opportunity. Victor Ortiz had his “coming-of-age” match with his hard-fought victory over Miami native Andre Berto on April 16.

Not only was he involved in one in one of the best fights of the year, but also Ortiz won a sanctioning-body welterweight title, ending Berto’s reign after five fights.

And the reward for Ortiz’s performance just got sweeter. Ortiz, 24, will cross the threshold into pay-per-view matches after last week’s announcement that he will fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Sept. 17 in Las Vegas.

The fight, for Ortiz’s World Boxing Council welterweight crown, will be Mayweather’s first since his lopsided decision over in May 2010.

“I’m a strong fighter, and I have worked really hard to silence my critics,” Ortiz said in a statement. “I’m a world champion for a reason, and I am not going to let go of my title any time soon.”

Ortiz hit an early career setback with his sixth-round technical knockout loss to junior-welterweight contender Marcos Maidana in June 2009. The critics surfaced when they considered Ortiz indifferent when he reflected on his performance against Maidana during a postfight interview.

Ortiz overcame the loss to Maidana with four consecutive wins in 2009 and 2010. Two of Ortiz’s victories were over former world champions Nate Campbell and Vivian Harris.

Although a draw against Lamont Peterson in December might have set him back in the title-fight chase, Ortiz nonetheless earned a shot against Berto and more than capitalized on his opportunity.

The fight public continues to clamor for a Mayweather- Manny Pacquiao bout. But with two failed attempts at making the fight, Mayweather and Pacquiao have used their pay-per-view dates on opponents such as Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez, Antonio Margarito and Joshua Clottey.

Now it is Ortiz’s turn. Thanks to his victory over Berto, Ortiz has cashed a significant chip that involves him in the marquee matchup with Mayweather.

Hall of Fame

The International Boxing Hall of Fame welcomed one of its most high-profile classes in years with Sunday’s induction of former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, three-division world champion Julio Cesar Chavez and junior-welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu.

Tyson’s knockout power made him the sport’s youngest heavyweight world champion with his two-round flattening of Trevor Berbick in 1986.

His continued dominance through the late 1980s, and his combustive personality later in his career made Tyson one of the most recognizable athletes of the past 25 years.

Chavez now is considered as arguably the best fighter born in Mexico. His 115-fight career was highlighted by world titles in the super-featherweight, lightweight and super-lightweight divisions.

Russia-born Tszyu became the first fighter from the former Soviet bloc of Eastern European nations to reach professional boxing superstardom. Tszyu enjoyed a five-year run as junior-welterweight champion in the late 1990s to early 2000s.

Tyson, Chavez and Tszyu were inducted in their first years of eligibility.

Other inductees in the 2011 class include trainer Ignacio Beristain, referee Joe Cortez and actor-screenwriter Sylvester Stallone, whose six Rocky movies the past 35 years have kept boxing a popular sports theme in film.

Obituary

Genaro Hernandez, a two-time super-featherweight world champion in the 1990s, died Tuesday in Los Angeles after a two-year battle with cancer. Hernandez was 45.

Recognized as one of boxing’s good guys, Hernandez retired in 1998 after losing his title against Mayweather. Hernandez, who finished his career with a 38-2-1 record and 17 knockouts, worked as a TV analyst and for promoter Bob Arum after he retired as a fighter.

sperez@MiamiHerald.com

Source: miamiherald.com

Mayweather to return against Ortiz in September -- Forbes

Associated Press

LAS VEGAS -- Floyd Mayweather Jr. is returning to the ring.

The undefeated six-time world champion announced on his Twitter feed Tuesday he will end a 16-month hiatus when he faces WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz on September 17.

Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) hasn't fought since a unanimous decision over Shane Mosley on May 1, 2010, and has repeatedly declined to accept a bout against WBO welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao - a dream ticket many boxing fans are eager to witness.

Instead, it was Mosley who squared off with Pacquiao in May, losing to the Filipino star in a lopsided 12-round decision.

Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs) is riding a six-match win streak, most recently defeating Andre Berto in April to claim the WBC crown in a fight many consider the year's best.

"I am ready to return to the ring and give my fans a fantastic night of boxing by fighting the best out there for me; that is Victor Ortiz," Mayweather said in a statement. "At this stage of my career, these are the challenges I look for, a young, strong, rising star looking to make his mark in boxing by beating me.

"Trust me, I will be ready."

The 24-year-old Mexican-American is one of the sport's strongest young fighters.

"I respect Mayweather because he has been a champion for many years and I know he will be ready, but so will I," said Ortiz. "I'm a world champion for a reason and I am not going to let go of my title any time soon. This is going to be a great fight, but I will remain a world champion for many years to come."

The 34-year-old Mayweather's time away from the ring has been riddled with legal troubles.

He faces felony charges in a domestic argument with his ex-girlfriend and two of their children last year.

And he faces misdemeanor harassment charges accusing him of threatening two homeowner association security guards outside his Las Vegas home. The charges stem from an October dispute over parking with guards in the gated community where the prizefighter lives.

Mayweather also faces a September trial on a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from allegations he poked a 21-year-old guard in the face during a separate argument over parking tickets in November.

The venue for the September fight has yet to be determined.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: forbes.com

Floyd Mayweather to make return against Victor Ortiz -- BBC Sport

BBC Sport

United States boxing legend Floyd Mayweather has announced he will end his latest spell in retirement by challenging Victor Ortiz for the WBC welterweight title on 17 September.

Mayweather has not fought since outpointing Shane Mosley in May 2010.

"My fans have been waiting long enough," said 34-year-old Mayweather.

The return of unbeaten Mayweather, a five-time world champion, will raise hopes of an ultimate showdown with Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao.

But first he must negotiate his way past Ortiz.

"At this stage of my career, these are the challenges I look for, a young, strong, rising star looking to make his mark in boxing by beating me," added Mayweather.

"Trust me, I will be ready."

American Ortiz, 24, won his title from defending champion Andre Berto in Connecticut in April. He was knocked down twice en route to winning a unanimous decision.

"I respect Mayweather because he has been a champion for many years and I know he will be ready, but so will I," said Ortiz, who has lost twice in 33 fights.

"I'm a world champion for a reason and I am not going to let go of my title any time soon. This is going to be a great fight, but I will remain a world champion for many years to come."

Mayweather's time away from the ring has been far from without incident.

Unbeaten in 41 fights, Mayweather faces felony charges in a domestic argument with his ex-girlfriend and two of their children last year.

And he faces misdemeanour harassment charges accusing him of threatening two homeowner association security guards outside his Las Vegas home.

The charges stem from an October dispute over parking with guards in the gated community where Mayweather lives.

Mayweather also faces a September trial on a misdemeanour battery charge stemming from allegations he poked a 21-year-old guard in the face during a separate argument over parking tickets in November.

The venue for the September fight has yet to be determined.

Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Floyd Mayweather Jnr announces Ortiz fight -- ESPN

ESPN.co.uk

Floyd Mayweather Jnr has revealed on Twitter that his long-awaited return to the ring will come against Victor Ortiz on September 17.

Ortiz will put his WBC welterweight title on the line when he faces the American, who has been out of action since outpointing Shane Mosley in May 2010.

Announcing the fight on his Twitter account, Mayweather said: "My fans have been waiting long enough."

While Ortiz is not at Manny Pacquiao's level, the announcement does at least fuel hopes that the sport's pound-for-pound kings may face-off in future, with rumours of Mayweather's retirement now scotched.

Ortiz, who brings a 29-2-2 record with 22 KOs, sent shockwaves through boxing by defeating the previously unbeaten Andre Berto on a unanimous decision in his last fight - despite hitting the canvas twice - to win the WBC belt.

Whether he can trouble the unbeaten Mayweather is debatable - the American can boast some prize scalps, having defeated celebrated names such as Juan Manuel Marquez, Mosley, Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya, as well as Amir Khan's next opponent, Zab Judah.

Source: espn.co.uk

Berto's low blow: implies Ortiz used PEDs -- ESPN

By Dan Rafael, ESPN

When Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto threw down on April 16 in one of the best fights of the year, it excited so many fans. Both went down twice and combined to produce a sixth round for the ages.

Ortiz, who won the decision, earned redemption in the eyes of many who believed he lacked heart after he quit against Marcos Maidana in 2009. Berto, although he lost his welterweight belt, earned more respect in defeat than he had ever garnered in victory because, after years of taking fat HBO checks to fight second-tier opponents, he finally faced a serious one in his prime.

They both proved their mettle, thrilled fans and made us all look forward to their future fights -- including, hopefully, a rematch.

Now, six weeks later, Berto has ruined the glow with a serious case of sour grapes by spouting the popular insult of the day: the insinuation/accusation that there is no way a fighter can be as good as he seemed in the ring, so he must be using performance-enhancing drugs.

That's what Berto shamefully did Wednesday, taking to his Twitter page for a series of remarks about Ortiz and voicing his belief that his performance came by way of less-than-natural means:

• "Let me clear the air now!! You're right there is a reason why Ortiz had so much energy, a reason he could take my heavy shots and keep ticking."

• "[And] there is a reason why he came into the ring 165 pounds. I know people close to him and his camp and I know exactly [what] he was taking."

• "It wasn't Flintstone vitamins!! But it is what it is. I should [have] beat him anyways, but it wasn't me that night. Ortiz wasn't him either, lol."

Want to demean your opponent's performance or deflect from your own? Just toss out the PED notion, facts or proof be damned.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and those around him have been doing it to pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao for the past couple of years without a shred of evidence. Pacquiao has an ongoing lawsuit against them regarding the accusations.

Golden Boy Promotions executives Richard Schaefer and Oscar De La Hoya just settled the same lawsuit with Pacquiao on Tuesday -- the day before Berto dumped all over Ortiz.

While promoting his May 21 rematch with Bernard Hopkins, Jean Pascal heavily insinuated that Hopkins must have been on something when they fought for the first time in December because there was no way a 45-year-old could perform so well against a man who was 29 and in his prime. In a show of childlike emotion, Pascal hollered, "Take the test!" at Hopkins over and over during a media appearance, a reference to taking blood tests to prove he was clean.

Hopkins, who, at age 46, beat Pascal in the rematch, has been considering a lawsuit against him.

And now you have Berto playing the PED card.

Not long after his comments denigrating Ortiz, Berto tweeted, "Never bitter, never sour. Ortiz fought a good fight and got the W. I take my L like a man [and] come back better. I am looking forward [to] the rematch."

Sorry to say that accusing your opponent of using PEDs with no evidence is not taking your loss like a man. It's pathetic.

Ortiz appeared to take the accusations in stride, tweeting, "Berto needs to stop. I'll have to hurt him again. Me, I guess [I'm] not too bad for not having a heart or courage. ;)"

A few hours later, Ortiz added, "Bottom line, I'll take any blood tests necessary and body tissue test to silence anyone."

Berto, inundated with remarks ripping him for his comments, tried to back off with another tweet: "Wow, why does everyone's mind go straight to PEDs. Calm down everyone, I was just talking about Ortiz eating his spinach like Popeye, lol."

Yeah, right. I bet the dog ate his homework, too. Although Ortiz's comments showed he was rolling with Berto's low blows, his manager, Rolando Arellano, was not so easygoing.

"Victor has never in the past or present, and will never in the future, use any performance-enhancement drugs," Arellano told me. "We will take any and all anti-doping tests, if necessary. Victor beat him at 70 percent of his full capacity as a fighter. Andre should focus on his performance and not look for meritless excuses. Out of courtesy, I am asking him to cease and desist [these] intentional, malicious, false and wrongful statements. They are tainting Victor's flawless reputation in the public eye. Failure to do so will result in legal action."

Instead of continuing to make a fool of himself, Berto might want to pay close attention to Arellano's last comment, then think about what just happened with Schaefer and De La Hoya over the Pacquiao accusations.

Source: espn.go.com

Arum Says Manny Pacquiao vs Victor Ortiz Now Possible -- Bad Left Hook

By Scott Christ, Bad Left Hook

Following yesterday's formal, public apology from Golden Boy Promotions regarding Manny Pacquiao and past accusations of the Filipino superstar using performance-enhancing drugs, Top Rank chief Bob Arum tells Lem Satterfield that Golden Boy fighters are now back in the discussion to face Pacquiao in the future.

While Pacquiao is already lined up to fight Juan Manuel Marquez on November 12, he'll need opponents in 2012 and options are somewhat limited. This year, Top Rank has had to pick up aged fighters willing to leave Golden Boy for the chance to fight Manny.

One young Golden Boy fighter who has broken through this year in the welterweight division is Victor Ortiz, and Arum mentioned him specifically:

"Well, you know, looking at Manny Pacquiao, Golden Boy has at least one fighter who, down the road, could factor into a fight with Manny Pacquiao, and that's Victor Ortiz. The statement of settlement frees that up and enables that to happen, with all other things being equal."

Pacquiao vs Ortiz would satisfy a lot of complaints about Pacquiao's opponent choices, at least if neither lose a step by then. Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KO) shot up to the upper ranks of the welterweight division by beating Andre Berto in April, and at this point is more or less the default No. 2 fighter in the division with Floyd Mayweather Jr inactive. It's the biggest fight that Golden Boy and Top Rank could make together, and it's good to just hear that it's even possible for the future.

Source: badlefthook.com