WATCH OUT 140 POUNDERS, THERE?S A NEW BOY IN TOWN
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 08 Mar 2009
Los Angeles, CA:- One of boxing?s present premier division, the junior welterweight just became more exciting.
Oxnard, California?s Victor Ortiz, the young man called ?Vicious Victor? with his devastating Saturday night victory at the HP Pavilion in San Jose over the highly rated Mighty Mike Arnauotis (21-3-1 10KO) just served notice that there is a new boy in town really worth a second look.
Thus division stars like Ricky Hatton (IBO), Juan Urango (IBF), Kendall Holt (WBO) and Tim Bradley (WBC) and even perhaps our very own Manny Pacquiao has someone new to reckon with.
With his victory, Ortiz improved his record to 24-1-1 (19KO) and kept his WBO NABO Light welterweight title as well as a minor title, the USBA light welterweight diadem.
Ortiz who is ranked 21st by the WBC, 4th by the WBO, 11th by the IBF, 5th by the WBA, and 18th by the IBO has a string of 8 stoppage dating back from April of 2007.
Most recently, at two successive fights at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, he scored a 5th round TKO over Robert Arrieta last September and a 2nd round TKO of Jeffrey Resto last December on the De la Hoya-Pacquiao undercard.
But what really served notice that he is now ready to play with the big boys was his victory over Arnauotis.
Ortiz started out measuring his foe on the first round. Then at 1:27 of the second round, he landed a clean straight left that visibly rocked Arnauotis and sent him to a corner. Sensing that his foe was hurt, Ortiz followed with a deluge of punches highlighted by a couple of upper cuts.
With Arnauotis unable to return punches much less defend himself, the referee wisely stopped the fight.
Ortiz recently signed with the Golden Boy Promotions. With that, it would not be much of a surprise if the GBP will land him a title fight before the year ends.
Too bad, Pacquiao will soon end his glorious career and he would not have a chance to face the up and coming young warrior from Oxnard.
Not that Ortiz can upset Pacquiao. But surely, with his youthful strength and excellent fighting style, he can give the Pacman a really exhilarating fight. After all, Ortiz was rumored to have given Oscar de la Hoya a black eye when they sparred at the Big Bear camp of the Golden Boy as he prepared for his dream fight with Pacquiao.
But to the rest of the alphabet champions I say:- Watch your backs guys, there is a new boy in your division who can give you a hard run for your money.
His name is Victor Ortiz. Believe me, he is vicious!
Top photo: NABO and USBA Junior Welterweight Champion Victor Ortiz celebrates following his second round knockout victory over former USBA Junior Welterweight Champion Mike Arnaoutis on March 7, 2009 at The HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. Photo by Tom Hogan - Hoganphotos / Golden Boy.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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