MAYWEATHER AT NYC PRESSER: ?DO I WANT TO FIGHT PACQUIAO? ABSOLUTELY!?
By Oliver Iglesias
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 29 Jun 2011
Floyd ?Money? Mayweather and Victor ?Vicious? Ortiz held a press conference today, June 28, at the Hudson Theater (Milennium Broadway) along 145 West 44th Street for their September 17 WBC welterweight title fight, with the promotions dubbed as ?Star Power?.
With throngs of fans lining up as early as 10am at a venue usually reserved for Broadway shows, the first of two pressers for the match-up (the other is in LA) started at almost 1 PM with chants from both Ortiz and Mayweather fans as soon as both fighters arrived at the venue. The mood was at times tense that Golden Boy Promotions? Richard Schaefer asked the crowd several times to quiet down, to no avail.
Vic Ortiz was the first to be introduced after a lengthy video on the promotion was shown and with a rock star dapper, walked his way onto the stage and shook hands with some media. Soon thereafter, the fans stood and called on Mayweather?s name.
With some bodyguards on his side, Floyd made his entrance and with a bravura of a champion, walked onto the front stage and seemed like someone not affected by a litany of legal suits against him. Sure, Ortiz may provide the ?Power? but the Las Vegas resident provided the ?Star? element of the promotion.
While Ortiz was glad at the opportunity afforded him by Mayweather for a fight-of-a-lifetime shot, the Mexican-American and Kansas native reminded everyone of a date: July 7, 1985. Everyone started wondering about the significance of the date and Ortiz uttered ?There will be a repetition on September 17. That was the fight between Roger Mayweather and Julio Cesar Chavez!? before going straight to his seat to a deafening applause, and of course the ?boos? from the Mayweather fans. (Writer?s Note: On that fight, Mayweather got the nod of the judges on the opening round before Chavez knocked him down twice in the next round and eventually won by TKO.)
When Floyd was introduced by his long-time adviser Leonard Ellerbe, he took the podium and started by saying ?First off, I thank God for giving me all I got and HBO for a great relationship from the beginning. I thank Victor Ortiz for stepping up to the plate and for taking the test. It?s not easy to bounce back from a crucial loss in the beginning of his career and I take my hat off to him.?
?I want to thank Fight Hype for putting out my story like I give it to them. I like fans, especially those watching live, to know that I do not duck nor dodge anyone!?
?When I mean fans, that goes to the Pacquiao fans too. Do I want a Pacquiao fight?Absolutely!? This statement alone elicited cheers from the crowd for several seconds.
?But it will take one step at a time. I can?t overlook Victor Ortiz. He is tough and he earned the right.?
?To the media, everybody?s entitled to your opinion but you see, I already have kids reading stuff on computer and they see negative things some of you write just because you can?t write stories about me?It?s not right making up stories just so you could write. Like the Pacquiao situation. No, it?s not just Pacquiao. It?s the sport, period. I never one said Manny Pacquiao was cheating! Only thing I said is this, ?Me and any other opponent I face must take the test. Not just for boxing but for the sport itself. I ask the HBO, you guys could, or could have, made the fight happen, must step up and say ?Both of you guys take the test and let?s make it happen!?
?My focus now, however, is on Victor Ortiz and you must watch 24/7. This series will be amazing.?
After the presser, I asked Ortiz during a table discussion (for writers only) if he had carefully thought about defending his new WBC belt against the great Mayweather. To my surprise, his reply was ?You know what, right after the Andre Berto fight, they approached me and made a verbal offer right there and then I said ?Yes!?
I countered ?Mayweather for your first defense??, to which Ortiz graciously responded ?Anything?s possible, man. And there?s a rematch clause if I beat him!?
As an observer, this match up will feature a youthful, courageous, reigning and defending champion against a guy who has accumulated a lot of ring experience for the last 16 years and generally regarded as the rival of Manny Pacquiao for the mythical ?Pound-for pound # 1? title.
This is a start of a journey which everyone obviously wants to see down the road, an inevitable Mayweather-Pacquiao face-off in 2012.
Oliver Iglesias lives in NJ with his family but works at Manhattan, NYC. He is a former contributor for Digitaljournal.com. You could view his previous articles at http://www.digitaljournal.com/user/182731/news
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Oliver Iglesias.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Filipinos Vitor and Tapales Take on Russians for IBF Asia Titles in Moscow Today
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 13 Feb 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. with a Pair of World Championship Bouts
Fri, 13 Feb 2026IOAN CROFT AND GARAN CROFT SIGN FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AS EDDIE HEARN LOOKS AHEAD TO BRIGHT FUTURE FOR EXCITING WELSH TWINS
Fri, 13 Feb 20263 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
Fri, 13 Feb 2026Day One Concludes at 2026 USA Boxing International Open
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Female Boxing GOAT Katie Taylor to be Special guest at All-N.E. Golden Gloves Thursday, Feb. 12, in Lowell, MA
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Brandon McCarthy Signs with Wise Owl Boxing, Set to Make Noise at 135 lbs
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Malaya Vibrations to play gig at 5th MFPI Mindanao Summit
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Fight of the Night in Thailand: Ador Torres and Sairike Tuolewutayi Battle to a Thrilling Draw
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Young Australian Benji Birchell Claims Title Win in Thailand
Wed, 11 Feb 2026Tickets for the Inaugural “Mike Tyson Invitational” Amateur Fight Night on Saturday, March 14, in Las Vegas Are on Sale Now
Wed, 11 Feb 20262026 USA Boxing Men's Elite High Performance Team and Squad Rosters Announced
Wed, 11 Feb 2026IIEE, SAEP shared lead, PIChE won 3rd in a row in the PTC WED NEMO Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 11 Feb 2026