Expect Any Different?
Like pretty much the whole boxing world, I too watched the first episode of HBO’s 24/7 featuring Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Victor Ortiz who will face each other on September 17th from Las Vegas for Ortiz’s new acquired WBC welterweight title on HBO PPV. Like many of us, I was appalled at the verbal tussle that went on between Mayweather Jr. and his father, Floyd Sr. Truthfully, I didn’t expect any different, Mayweather Jr.’s role on the show is pretty much carved out where he really comes off as the “black hat” in equation, making sure nobody sane really likes his personality. From the arrogance to the overt displays of “bling”, in my eyes, Mayweather Jr. is a very unlikable character.
In my opinion, Ortiz doesn’t come across any better.
To me, Ortiz seems like an immature young man trying to convince himself of being able to beat the greatest fighter of our time. I don’t really believe he believes he can do it and he has to keep trying to convince himself that he somehow can.
I am not asking for him to say that he is only there for the paycheck which should be the biggest of his career but I think he is coming across as extra confident, thinking that Mayweather is in the same caliber as his latest opponents, Berto, Peterson, Maidana. I think he is going to get a rude awakening come September 17th.
For the first time in a long time, I am not sure I will be rooting against Mayweather….
Ceiling Fans Are Dangerous but Scales Are More…
A lot of people are up in arms over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.’s recent cancellation of his next fight scheduled for September 17th in Culiacan, Mexico. Chavez Jr. was supposed to face the son of another boxing great, Ronald Hearns, son of the “Motor City Cobra” Tommy Hearns. Amidst rumors that Chavez Jr. was tipping the scales pretty heavy, a story was circulated that Chavez Jr. cut his hand on a ceiling fan after stretching. If this is true, then the cancellation is more than understandable. A cut can get infected pretty quickly in a boxing environment. With used hand wraps and sweaty gloves used daily, I am sure that can’t be good for an open wound.
More than likely, the cut was not enough to cancel the fight and the weight issue is the real culprit in Chavez Jr. not going head to head in the ratings versus “Canelo” Alvarez who defends his WBC 154 lbs. title the same night versus Alfonso Gomez. It’s not the first time that Chavez Jr. balks at a fight. Last December, Chavez Jr. was slated to face Gomez but pulled out last minute, claiming a flu but boxing insiders rumored that it was a money issue with his Mexican promoter Zanfer. Basing it on Zanfer’s track record regarding money, it is believable that was the case.
According to Top Rank’s Bob Arum, who was always against the Hearns fight, he has secured a date with HBO mid-November for Chavez Jr. What are the odds he fights then?
Give Me a Louisville Slugger
Never have been too impressed by Andre Berto. Not really looking forward to seeing him perform against a virtual unknown in (), the IBF welterweight champion. According to Steve Kim of MaxBoxing.com, this bout had been talked about before as an unification fight when Berto held the WBC strap but was declined by HBO because of () anonymity. Now that Berto is belt less and the powerful Al Heymon controls the strings, we have it on HBO. I have never thought Berto deserved to be on the network and much less be a champion.
I look forward to his fights like I look forward to a baseball bat to the face.
Good Luck To “Morita”
Later on tonight, August 30th, Tijuana’s David “Morita” de la Mora will challenge hometown favorite Koki Kameda for the WBA bantamweight strap in Tokyo, Japan. De La Mora is an aggressive come forward Mexican spark plug in his first challenge for a world title. The order is a tall one because Kameda is a talented fighter in his hometown but here is hoping that the Tijuana native who enjoys one of the biggest followings in the border city can pull it off.
Top Rank’s Top Secret
In more border boxing news, it was confirmed to me that world ranked Christopher Martin has signed with Top Rank Promotions. The undefeated bantamweight was previously signed to Don Chargin/Jorge Marron Productions but now has signed to the biggest promoter in the planet. Looks like he might be debuting under the Top Rank banner on the undercard of Margarito-Cotto II in December. For some reason, Top Rank has not made an official announcement or confirmed the signing, even going as far as calling Fightnews.com, where I first broke the story last Friday, and denying the signing.
I guess they want to be the first with the news…
I agree with Donald Stover!
Mayweather jumped at the opportunity to fight Ortiz. The Ortiz people would have been foolish to let such a pay-day get away. So everybody is happy, the fans get to cheer for a young talented slugger hoping desperately that he can land that one shot that will take that smug arrogant smile off Mayweather’s face. Ortiz get’s a chance to pull-off a fantastic upset and propel himself into an instant superstar. And Floyd get’s another huge payday with a fight he knows he just can’t possibly lose. Floyd will win the fight easily, and keep everyone wondering if he will indeed finally fight Manny, Ortiz will go-on to more big money fights because after-all it was Mayweather that he lost to, and the fan’s? Well they’ll just keep falling for all the hype that they never seem to get enough of. But isn’t it great.
Like him or not, Mayweather has proven to be the best of our era. He has fought an beat every world champion placed in front of him, from the great Genaro Hernandez, to a then unbeaten puncher in Diego Corrales, to Jesus Chavez, and J.L.Castillo 2x all with hurt hands, as well as Gatti easily, Judah easily, an unbeaten Hatton easily, De La Hoya easily, Marquez easily, Mosley easily . Yeah his chin was tested on Mosley (rd2), Judah looked good in 1st 3rds, and DLH was majority dec, but in all his fights, Floyd proved to be able to adjust early and dominate in the end. So what if he hasn’t fought as frequently as Pacquiao, Mayweather is still active, fighting a young world champion hot off of a big win, and I dont see this fight vs Ortiz being any different.
Mayweather’s chin may get tested again, or it may not, but whatever happens, I expect Floyd to adjust and dominate once again in the end like he has everytime thus far.
The facts are what they are, and that is Floyd Mayweather is a strong willed, highly intelligent boxing scientist, still hungry to proving people wrong.
I got to disagree with the greatest of time thing. You have to beat the greatest to be that and in my opinion floyd comes up short, Not only that but you need to be active. Floyds not the greatest anything to me, except maybe the greatest ego in the game.
I dont think Ortiz is trying to put himself in the same catagory as Floyd, but he knows he possibly has a punchers chance and he cant go into a fight thinking hes going to lose. I just think hes trying to stay positive and focus more on the things he can do instead of focusing on the fact that hes the underdog and that the odds are against him. I would say hes doing the right thing to believe in himself and give it all hes got. Part of the beauty of boxing is that one punch can change everything, Thats why we call it a punchers chance. Plus the truth is anyone that fights Floyd is at a disadvantage from get go if it goes 12 rounds. I say that cuz even tho floyd isnt champion he will be favored if it came to a decision because of two facts 1. that hes undefeated and 2. that hes HBOs money man, which means that either you have to beat him up more than convincingly or knock him out. So your an underdog in more ways than one which of coures also makes the fight unfair to begin with. Ortiz and every fighter that fights floyd has two fights to win, the first is against floyd and the other is against the judges by trying to take away any benefit of a doubt. When fighting floyd you have to go in with the intention to simply destroy him. I think the kid has the right mind set.
I have to agree with Felipe!
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