Floyd is back! Not against Pacquiao but Victor Ortiz
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 08 Jun 2011
The rumors that has been going on in the boxing world has just been confirmed. One that surfaced when he dropped in to watch Andre Berto versus Victor Ortiz in Connecticut last April 16, 2011. He was supposedly there to scout the then undefeated and highly favored Berto score a win against the questionable Ortiz. But Ortiz had some other plans. Ortiz edged Berto in his best performance yet and claimed the WBC welterweight belt from the Haitian Olympian. It was then that rumors of Floyd Mayweather?s possible return circulated throughout the internet. This time against the young Mexican-American Ortiz. And today at around noontime (EST) Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced this via his Twitter account (@FloydMayweather) : My fans have been waiting long enough. Floyd Mayweather vs. Victor Ortiz. Sept-17 2011 for the WBC World Championship.
If that happens, this return will end his almost a year and a half absence in the ring. He fought his last fight last May 1, 2010 against Shane Mosley in which he won a UD victory in Las Vegas, NV. Fans have been clamoring for him to fight WBO welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao for two years now but negotiations for the proposed mega bout have fallen and stalled for numerous times. This lead to an extended hiatus for Mayweather who seemed to be eyeing fellow Al Haymon co - promoted Andre Berto until his loss to Ortiz. Ortiz also confirmed the fight via his Twitter account (@VICIOUSortiz) : I?m on road to another great fight with pound for pound Floyd Mayweather! I am blessed.
Victor Ortiz has expressed since his win last April that he is ready for any big fights. Be it against Mayweather or Pacquiao. ?I wanna shoot for the big names now man. I don?t make a whole lot, I wish I did. So, why not shoot for the big ones? You know, Why not! ? he said in the post fight press conference after he defeated Berto. And he now has a shot at one of the biggest catch in boxing. A fight against Mayweather will guarantee him of the biggest payday in his young career. More so, a win over Mayweather or an upset win over him will guarantee his legacy as a boxer. He can be the one to give the undefeated Mayweather his first loss in the ring. If that happens, that will line him up against another big fish in Manny Pacquiao.
The fight is scheduled during the week of the celebration of Mexican Independence day. The same weekend when Mayweather fought another Mexican fighter in Juan Manuel Marquez who has a November 12, 2011 match with Pacquiao. The possible venues that are being discussed are either the Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington, Texas or the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
For Mayweather, this fight will be another statement fight for him. It is not against Pacquiao, but he will fight a strong, young champion in Ortiz. If he wins, he validates his ranking as one of the pound for pound best in boxing. One that was stripped of him because of his long absence from the ring. More so, a win will give him back the same championship belt which he relinquished after defending it against Ricky Hatton in 2008. But even more is the hope of everyone that if Pacquiao also wins his November 12,2011 match against Juan Manuel Marquez then maybe, just maybe, the mega bout between Mayweather and Pacquiao can once again be explored and this time ... HAPPEN.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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