Mayweather vs Ortiz

Floyd Mayweather Jr: An Unsolved Mystery

2011-08-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

“I’m seeing something that was always hidden. I’m in the middle of a mystery and it’s all secret.”

Kyle MacLachlan’s character, Jeffrey Beaumont, expressed that line in David Lynch’s 1986 classic Blue Velvet.

Like a David Lynch plot, the way to beat Floyd Mayweather inside the squared circle is a complete and utter mystery. Nobody has been able to figure Floyd out; from his “Pretty Boy” days to the present day “Money,” Floyd remains a mystery within the ropes.

Sure, he’s been buzzed a few times. Demarcus “Chop Chop” Corley, Zab Judah, and Shane Mosley all saw moderate successes in big moments, albeit with minor results in the major outcome. Each one of them (and countless others) continually found themselves in the middle of that mystery, and even once inside of it, the secret remained.

The code has yet to be cracked.

Where a David Lynch film is sweeping with a dreamy bizarreness that could seem incomprehensible to the unimaginative, Floyd Mayweather’s focus is a very real one. To some, viewing it is as incomprehensible as it is under-appreciated.

The left arm is held low, daring you to try to land a punch.

The chin tucks, the shoulder rolls…the right hand counters. Swift footwork gives way to a new angle to hit-and-not-get-hit. An explosive 7-punch combination ends the stanza.

We’ve seen this again, and again, and again. This is just the most elementary that which is happening when Floyd Mayweather boxes.

This finds fighters demoralized.

This is Floyd Mayweather.

This is the best fighter in the world.

Still, questions remain.

The glaring suspicion is that a left-handed fighter with devastating power might be able to unlock the combination that is Floyd Mayweather. Said Larry Merchant during HBO’s telecast moments before Floyd was to fight lefty Demarcus “Chop Chop” Corley in 2004: “After Mayweather’s only experience with a southpaw, actually a conventional fighter who turned southpaw; his father Floyd Mayweather Sr. called from prison to tell his handlers ‘don’t ever put him in with a southpaw again!’ This is the first time since that time he has faced a southpaw.”

In that particular fight, Floyd was able to nullify any issues with Corley’s style until roughly 2:50 of round 4. Squared up with his right foot just outside of Floyd’s left foot, Corley dipped under a left from Mayweather and looped a powerful right hand that landed flush on Floyd, snapping his head back as he pushed him to the ropes with straight lefts immediately thereafter. Even though the punch from “Chop Chop” was wide, it’s a punch that was able to land due to the trajectory of it’s angle—if a similar punch came from an orthodox fighter (which obviously isn’t possible) Floyd would have been able to dismiss it with his usual defensive mastery.

What happened next though, is the reason Floyd Mayweather is 41-0. He can adjust better than any fighter in the world today. Moments after the staggering sequence, Floyd came back. While laying on the ropes and taking a plethora of Corley punches, Floyd seemed to reboot like a computer program with swagger. At one point, you got the feeling that Floyd was thinking ‘oh,…so this is what you’re doing? OK!’ As the seconds moved forward, Floyd had Corley swinging for the fences, playing matador to the bull who was by now seeing little success. Mayweather continued to rally as he peppered Corley with shots that turned the momentum of the round right back to his favor. Fittingly, the last punch Corley threw in that round was right hand…that missed.

The fight was over from that moment on.

Floyd went back to his corner invigorated, pumping his fist to the roaring crowd in Atlantic City; a contrasting image to the defeated frustration seen in Corley’s body language as he slumped back to his corner. Floyd went on to win a dominating 12 round decision, dropping Corley in the 8th and 10th for good measure.

Almost 2 years later, Floyd met Zab Judah in what would be another grueling test against a talented southpaw. Though having just fought a lefty in Sharmba Mitchell 5 months prior, Judah presented Floyd with hand speed and power that was on par with his own. In the 2nd round, Judah scored a flash knockdown which wasn’t ruled in the fight. In that sequence, Judah let Floyd come at him with a one-two, Floyd’s right hand attempting to score to Judah’s body. With the southpaw stance, Zab was able to make Floyd reach in a way he wouldn’t have had to against an orthodox fighter, thus countering Floyd with a right hook that sent his momentum wayward.That Floyd’s glove touched the canvas had more to do with his balance rather than the actual impact of the shot—but the punch was effective nonetheless. The way in which an orthodox fighter sometimes “pushes” his right hand to reach the southpaw affects balance, something Zab capitalized on with that simple check hook.

Just as he did against Corley though, Floyd adjusted. As the fight wore on, Floyd anticipated everything Zab did, frustrating his foe to the point of utter meltdown. Zab’s low blows and the ring run-in by just about everyone in Vegas that night overshadowed what should be considered one of Floyd’s most clinical boxing lessons. Just when Zab Judah thought he had found a clue to the mystery, he found himself even more lost than before.

Here’s the thing: There will usually be a moment in a fight against Floyd Mayweather where you have a shot. It’s just that the chances Floyd gives are very minimal, going as quickly as they come.

Just ask Shane Mosley, Ricky Hatton, and Oscar De La Hoya. The opportunities are there…but not for long.

The mystery remains.

Can Victor Ortiz, a fighter who has the power along with speed and youthful exuberance take advantage of one of those moments? Can he solve the puzzle that no one else has been able to?

Or will he find himself in a labyrinth of mystery forever, just like all the rest?

On September 17th, we’ll find out.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is #5 on 30 Athletes We Wish Were Tougher

2011-08-15T12:10:00.000-07:00

Well Floyd's is expecting a boxing super fight this coming September 17, 2011 against Victor Ortiz. But his website isn't happy and to rate his this way. Hoping the Mayweather vs Ortiz fight will be as exciting as they expected it to be.

Mayweather-Ortiz 24/7 on CNN; A Family Affair Fight

2011-08-11T14:19:00.000-07:00

HBO’s Emmy-Award®-winning reality series ‘24/7’ is coming to CNN, which will air replays of the all-new four-part series 24/7 MAYWEATHER vs ORTIZ live, beginning Saturday, August 27 at midnight ET/PT.

In the lead-up to the blockbuster HBO Pay-Per-View® telecast on September 17 in Las Vegas when Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz battle for Ortiz’s world welterweight title, CNN will present all four episodes of 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ, the all-access, behind-the-scenes pass that allows viewers to step into the lives of the fighters before they step into the ring. Mayweather lives and trains in Las Vegas, NV, while Ortiz is based in his hometown of Ventura, CA.

34-year-old Floyd Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) is a celebrated superstar making his fifth appearance on the ‘24/7’ series. Ortiz, 24, (29-2-2, 22 KOs) exploded into the forefront of boxing last April when he captured a world welterweight title. This is his first appearance on ‘24/7.’

Episode one will air on CNN on Saturday, August 27 at midnight ET/PT, following the HBO premiere at 10p ET/PT. Episode two will air on CNN on Saturday, September 3 at 12 midnight ET/PT. Finally, episodes three and four will air back-to-back on CNN on Friday, September 16 at 12 midnight ET/PT, less than 24 hours before the mega-fight in Las Vegas.

In the past four years, HBO’s 24/7 franchise has earned 14 Sports Emmys® for production excellence, making it the most honored sports series on television since its inception. Narrated by Liev Schreiber, the fast-moving, documentary-styled production focuses on the training, commitment and sacrifices that prizefighters make in order to realize their dreams. The turnaround time is among the quickest in television as the series follows the fighters and their teams both at camp and at home as excitement and anxiety builds for the big fight.

STAR POWER: MAYWEATHER VS. ORTIZ IS A FAMILY AFFAIR

LOS ANGELES - The sport of boxing has a rich history of families achieving pugilistic success as a group, be it fathers and sons, brothers (and occasionally sisters), uncles and nephews, or all of the above. Bloodlines run deep and this theme plays out in "STAR POWER: Mayweather vs. Ortiz", the September 17 mega-event which will be presented live by HBO Pay-Per-View®. The boxing extravaganza is loaded with these "fighting families," as five of the eight headlining boxers have made fighting a family affair in one way or another.

The most prominent among them is the Mayweather ménage, with Floyd "Money" Mayweather front and center. Floyd's uncle, Roger, is his trainer, but Roger was also an excellent boxer in his day, winning titles at 130 and 140 pounds in the '80s, facing the legendary likes of Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker and Kostya Tszyu. Floyd's father, Floyd Sr., was also in "Little Floyd's" corner for several years and was a solid welterweight contender in the '70s and '80s, notably facing Sugar Ray Leonard in 1978. Then there's Floyd's uncle Jeff, who was less accomplished than his two brothers but did face an up-and-coming Oscar de la Hoya in 1993 and has gone on to become a respected trainer himself.

The co-feature brings Erik Morales into focus. Like Floyd Mayweather Jr., Morales is a sure-shot for the Hall of Fame when he retires. Also like Mayweather, he comes from a family that has produced four professional fighters. "El Terrible's" father, Jose, had a brief career as a flyweight in the '70s and Erik has two brothers who entered the squared circle as professionals: Diego, who briefly held a super flyweight belt, and little brother Ivan, a currently undefeated bantamweight prospect.

Morales' opponent, Lucas Matthysse, also comes from a fighting family. The Argentine knockout artist's older brother, Walter, was a feared welterweight contender who was only taken the distance by one opponent in his 32 pro fights and fought twice on HBO, against Paul Williams in 2006 and Kermit Cintron in 2007.

The featured fight on the STAPLES Center segment of the event also involves two men with familial pride at stake, in Canelo Alvarez and Alfonso Gomez. Canelo has six brothers, but only three currently are competing as professionals, though none are threatening Canelo's alpha-dog status in the family as Rigoberto, Ricardo and Ramon Alvarez are all older than Canelo and, unlike their younger brother, have tasted defeat. On June 28, 2008, when Canelo defeated Miguel Vazquez, all seven Alvarez brothers fought on the same fight card, calling the historic night "The Alvarez Seven." If that wasn't enough to convince you Canelo stands apart from his brothers, then the fact that the other Alvarezes all have dark hair should tell you there's something special indeed about the carrot-topped, freckled face junior middleweight world champion who will get tested on the upcoming show by the veteran Gomez. Gomez, meanwhile, has no boxing brothers, but when he returns to the corner between rounds, the voice he hears is that of his father, Alfonso Gomez Sr.

Of course, it's the Mayweathers who take center stage anytime boxing families are discussed, both because they've accomplished so much as a group and because their personalities are impossible to ignore. Family legend has it that Floyd Jr. learned to box at the same age he learned to walk. The gym was his second home as far back as he can remember and even in his first home, he was notorious for punching any inanimate object in sight, whether it was meant to be treated like a speedbag or not.

Floyd's professional success has thrust the Mayweathers into the forefront of any discussion about the greatest families in boxing history. With all due respect to the Hiltons, the Chavezes, the Peñalosas, the Byrds, and any others among the 27 families that have produced multiple world titleholders, the top of the list has to boil down to the Mayweather clan and the Spinks family. Brothers Michael and Leon Spinks were both heavyweight champion of the world and Leon's son Cory was world welterweight champ. Plus Cory's brother, Darrell, was a decent club-fighter in St. Louis in the '90s.

So which is the greatest multi-generational fighting family of all-time? The Mayweather crew or the Spinks clan? It's hard to say until both legacies are complete, and the Mayweathers certainly have a chance to add to theirs when Floyd takes on Victor Ortiz on September 17.

In fact, five fighting families have a chance to add to their reputations on that night and it's no accident that the combatants on this card each stand out as the finest fighters their respective families have produced.

Mayweather vs Ortiz: Victor could be a better test than Pacquiao

2011-08-10T12:40:00.000-07:00

WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KO’s) isn’t being given much of a chance at beating Floyd Mayweather Jr (41-0, 25 KO’s) next month on September 17th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, I think Ortiz stands a much better chance at winning than Manny Pacquiao does.

I’m not giving Ortiz much of a chance, because Mayweather is clearly far more talented a fighter than Ortiz can ever hope to be. But Ortiz is a bigger, stronger, younger, and more rugged fighter than Pacquiao at this point. I can see Ortiz giving Mayweather much more of a test than Pacquiao at this stage in his career, especially with Pacquiao’s wheels not working like they used to.

Ortiz is going to take the fight to Mayweather and really test what he’s got left in the tank. At 34, I think Mayweather has lost a little through age and inactivity. However, he hasn’t lost enough to where a guy like Ortiz is going to beat him. That’s not going to happen. Mayweather will pick him apart as he’s coming forward and likely score a knockout.

We saw in Ortiz’s last fight against Andre Berto last April that Ortiz had problems with Berto’s fast hands and his pinpoint counter punches. But what Ortiz experienced in that fight is nothing compared to the shots he’s going to be getting hit with by Mayweather. Ortiz is going to be getting lit up. The only way he won’t get stopped in the first four rounds is because of his excellent chin.

If not for Ortiz’s ability to take huge shots, Mayweather would likely knock him cold very quickly. Ortiz got up off the deck twice in his fight with Berto, and was knocked down twice in his loss to Marcos Maidana. He gets up after being knocked down. He’s not a quitter, but his trainer might want to do him a huge favor by throwing in the towel when things get rough for him next month against Mayweather.

Mayweather vs Ortiz HBO 24/7 Trailer

2011-08-04T01:09:00.000-07:00

Here's the trailer for the HBO "24/7" series, back again to cover their next major boxing event on September 17, when Floyd Mayweather Jr meets Victor Ortiz.

This is likely going to be a real test of endurance for boxing fans who already know the stories and habits of the two fighters, because they're just so corny, both of them. But I did find that the last couple of "24/7" looks at Mayweather were a little bit different than his first appearances, which made him the media star that he is today. He's not exaggerating when he says that he made "24/7" what it is, really -- he was the key to making the show the hit that it was when it debuted in 2007 for his fight with Oscar de la Hoya, and has been the one fighter who I think became a bigger star largely due to his appearances on the series. It has helped make him, and he has made the show, too.

But for casual fans, the show will probably work again. They haven't heard Victor Ortiz's story a million times, and Mayweather's shtick still seems to play well to most of the people who don't follow his exploits daily even when he's not fighting.

You know what I'd love to see, actually? A "24/7" that also features time for the guys on the undercard. Each episode could devote 5-to-8 minutes to the undercard guys and their stories. You'd still be focused on the guys selling the event, but maybe the guys underneath get someone excited, too, and maybe their fights mean more. I do realize that sending out extra camera crews and all that would cost money, too. I'm just dreamin', that's all.

Mayweather vs. Ortiz: A legacy of a fighter

2011-07-29T11:15:00.000-07:00

I’ve been a Mayweather fan for many years now, as the heir apparent to Roy Jones, Floyd has everything that Roy had plus better boxing fundamentals and technique, also Floyd thinks quicker and better on his feet than Roy did.

To me Floyd beating Ortiz, and Pacquiao doesn’t make him exclusive. Don’t get me wrong these two on Floyd’s record is a GREAT thing but Floyd will still only look ordinary to MOST of his naysayers, haters, and uninformed fight fans. If Sergio Martinez continues to win, and I have no doubt he will, that’s the fight that Floyd should go out on at…..160lbs – not 154lbs and by winning that fight Floyd can be considered up there with the greatest fighters of all time.

Floyd Sr. has said that “lil’ Floyd has nothing to prove” and I rebut that with “when a fighter has ‘nothing to prove’ it’s time to hang em up”. A fighter ALWAYS has something to prove! That mentality keeps a fighter focused and able to protect himself at all times. I unlike many others don’t hold ‘who Floyd hasn’t fought’ against him because other fighters who have fought the same guys Floyd fought gained a lot of fame, money and approval for doing so. As for the fighting for money rather than legacy argument that always comes up regarding Floyd, here’s my take – I work for a living and I’m not trying to make minimum wage doing so and NOBODY condemns me for trying to make TOP DOLLAR. Are fighters any different??

The legacy of a fighter is in PROGRESS while that fighter is fighting and is MADE once the fighter hangs them up for good and all of the beans are counted. Does Floyd’s legacy need Ortiz? Pacquiao? Martinez?

Ortiz is on the schedule for September 17th, this year, expect Floyd to put on his best performance adding to his legacy.
To me Pacquiao who is really a natural lightweight does little for Floyd’s legacy as will surely be the case after Mayweather beats him and the ease he will do it with. Afterwards a Martinez battle will be expected.

Look Ahead to Floyd Mayweather Jr. VS Victor Ortiz Fight

2011-07-26T15:20:00.000-07:00

The most anticipated matchup of the year features former welterweight and lightweight champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and current WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz.

Before the bout goes down on Sept. 17 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, there will be a lot of build-up for the bout, including the return of the HBO 24/7 four-part series, which debuts Aug. 27.

HBO commentators Max Kellerman, Emanuel Steward and Jim Lampley discussed the megafight after Saturday's event featuring a light welterweight title unification bout between Amir Khan and Zab Judah.

"I think it's an exciting matchup," said Steward, who is training Chad Dawson for his upcoming bout with Bernard Hopkins. "In fact, I was very surprised that Floyd took the fight. He has so much to lose and not that much to gain because Ortiz is not that big of a name."

"It's a new type of a fighter that he has not fought in, to me, maybe 10 years," he continued. "Victor Ortiz is a young, aggressive fighter, and if he fights like he fought when he fought Berto, it's a new energy that Floyd is not use to."

Mayweather is undefeated at 41-0 with 25 knockouts while Ortiz is 29-2-2 with 22 knockouts. Since his return in 2009, Mayweather has defeated Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Watch Mayweather vs Ortiz HBO 24/7 Teaser Video

Ortiz has gone 5-0-1 since losing to Marcos Maidana in 2009. His most recent victory came against Andre Berto earlier this year.

"Floyd was hurt with a right hand against Shane Mosley," Kellerman said." Ortiz is a southpaw, leads with the right hand and the right hook. Floyd has had problems with southpaws."

"He (Ortiz) is a big, young, hungry, in-his-prime, strong welterweight," Kellerman continued. "Just the kind of guy you'd figure Mayweather would not risk a Pacquiao fight against unless he was truly preparing himself for a Pacquiao fight."

Kellerman also pointed out that Ortiz was a 7-to-1 betting underdog since the lines opened up and that they haven't changed since then. This is a sign that fans know and respect the skill of Mayweather.

The fans only can imagine one fighter giving him problems at this point in his career, and his name is Manny Pacquiao.

Pacquiao is currently scheduled to face Marquez in November.

Mayweather vs. Ortiz: Victor will have to be perfect to win

2011-07-20T12:31:00.000-07:00

I’m not trying to take anything away from Manny Pacquiao, but I think the September 17th fight between World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KO’s) and unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr (41-0, 25 KO’s) will be a fight between the two best fighters in the welterweight division bar none.

Like I said, I think Pacquiao is still good fighter in his own right but I don’t see Pacquiao in the same class as Ortiz and Mayweather. These are bigger fighters that know how to fight and would be trouble for Pacquiao if/when he was to ever fight one of them. Mayweather is another level with his boxing ability right now, and he’s going to need to age another five or six years for a guy like Pacquiao to beat him. And Ortiz is simply too powerful for the little 5’6″ Pacquiao to beat him.

Ortiz has got a lot of problems on his hands with Mayweather. Ortiz is going to have to try and find a way to land his shots without being picked apart with check left hooks and straight right hands. It’s all well good that Ortiz has a good chin, but he’s going to need to have a great chin on September 17th to come out with the win. He’s also going to need a good set of wheels in order to cut off the ring on Mayweather, because that’s what it’s going to take to may Floyd fight him.

Ortiz can’t depend on Mayweather positioning himself against the ropes the way that WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto foolishly did in Ortiz’s recent 12 round decision win last April. Mayweather isn’t stupid and doesn’t have stamina problems like Berto. What Ortiz needs is to be able to get close to work on the inside so that he mug Mayweather in a Marcos Maidana type of way.

It’s going to require a referee that doesn’t interrupt the action in close the way that Joe Cortez did when he continually separated Ricky Hatton and Mayweather when Hatton was trying to work on the inside in their fight in 2007. Ortiz really can’t beat Mayweather on the outside. He has to get in close on him and that’s not going to be easy to do.

HBO Sports Sets 24/7 Series Behind Mayweather vs Ortiz PPV Bout

2011-07-16T11:41:00.000-07:00

HBO Sports will throw the first punch in late August on the latest installment of its 24/7 reality franchise, this time in support of the pay-per-view match between Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz.

Debuting on Aug. 27 at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), 24/7 Mayweather/Ortiz will comprise four episodes with multiple replays on the linear network; it will also be accessible on HBO On Demand and HBO GO.

24/7 Mayweather/Otiz will provide exclusive behind-the-scenes access, along with in-depth interviews, as the fighters prepare for their 147-pound world title fight. The two will square off on Sept. 17 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The second and third installments will debut on subsequent Saturdays , Sept. 3 and 10, while the finale debuts Friday, Sept. 16 at 9 p.m., the night before the welterweight bout.

" 24/7 excels when there are great characters and compelling drama, and this fight has both," said HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg in announcing the series. "The return of Floyd Mayweather, with his larger-than-life personality, and the odyssey of Victor Ortiz, with his inspiring tale of perseverance and achievement, provide the perfect backdrop for this new edition of 24/7. "

Roach: Mayweather can KO Ortiz

2011-07-11T14:19:00.000-07:00

Manny Pacquiao’s trainer, Coach Freddie Roach, believes that Floyd Mayweather Jr. is capable of knocking out his September 17 opponent, Victor Ortiz.

Despite being highly favored, very few experts believe that Mayweather will be able to knockout Ortiz.

According to BoxingScene.com, however, the 4-time Trainer of the Year believes that Mayweather can KO Ortiz.

“Can Mayweather knock him out? If he makes Vic get a little too aggressive and walks him into a counter shot. That’s the kind of power he usually has,” Roach said.

Roach, however, said Ortiz has become a much better and stronger fighter since moving up in weight.

“Ortiz is strong at the (welterweight),” Roach said.

Roach added that he has told Ortiz “for years” to move up in weight.

“He walks around at 165 (pounds) and he was fighting at 140. He was killing himself,” he added.

Roach said that some of the best sparring sessions he had seen featured Ortiz against Pacquiao.

“But then when he gets down close to weight, I've seen him get knocked down twice in my gym, by mediocre guys,” Roach added.

He said that Ortiz would weaken himself too much trying to make the weight.

“I think the weight makes a big difference,” Roach said.

Ortiz has what it takes to derail Pacquiao-Mayweather fight

2011-07-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

A MEGAFIGHT between world champion Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. may be derailed if Victor Ortiz, who faces the undefeated American in September, manages to come up with an upset win.

Ortiz was relegated to the sidelines when he and Mayweather hyped their coming fight last week in New York and the Mexican-American, obviously peeved, has vowed to "smack" Floyd come fight time.

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, in a statement to BoxingScene.com, is one of those convinced Ortiz, who has a record of 29-2-2 (22 KOs), has what it takes to beat Mayweather and prevent a megafight from happening.

"Victor is in an amazing position. He is able to face the best fighter in the world," Schaefer told Luis Sandoval of BoxingScene.com. "A fighter (Mayweather) who hasn’t fought in 16 months and has had a lot of distractions outside of the ring that he’s had to deal with.

"Let’s face it, he can’t hurt Victor Ortiz, but Victor can hurt him," Schaefer added. "I don’t think the (Mayweather-Pacquiao) fight is going to happen. And I don’t think that it’s not going to happen because Mayweather doesn’t want to do it or Pacquiao doesn’t want to do it.... or the split or the drug testing. I’ll tell you what’s going to be the reason on why the fight is not going to happen. The reason is, Victor Ortiz is going to beat Floyd Mayweather."

During the recent media tour, Mayweather, who is using the Ortiz bout as his comeback fight, said he intends to fight Pacquiao, a lefty like Ortiz. Pacquiao, in turn, said he will always be ready for Mayweather but like Schaefer expressed doubts whether the fight could be set.

Negotiations for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight in the past fell through, mainly due to the insistence of the American for drug testing close to the bout.

Mayweather, 33, also faces a defamation suit lodged by Pacquiao over the American camp’s claim the Filipino boxing star is using performance enhancing drugs.

Ortiz, 24, who holds the WBC welterweight crown, said during the media tour he is eager to prove he is boxing’s next star, adding he would beat Pacquiao after he disposes of Mayweather.

Ortiz didn’t hide his frustration during the question-and-answer portion of the media tour when most of the queries thrown at Mayweather centered on his plans regarding Pacquiao.

The Importance of Being Floyd Mayweather

2011-07-05T15:06:00.000-07:00

Floyd Mayweather is back. Love him or hate him, you can’t ignore him. On September 17th, the eyes of the world will be upon the MGM Grand in Las Vegas; over 16 months since the last time we saw “Money” in action.

“I am excited to get back in the ring because Victor Ortiz is a great challenge for me,” said Floyd at Tuesday’s presser in New York. “Ortiz is young, fast, and a very strong champion so this is not going to be easy…but I will prepare myself with the same dedication I have always had for my fights and show fans around the world that I am the best boxer in the world today.”

Mayweather vs Ortiz Live

You could make the argument that Floyd is the best boxer of his generation; a defensive mastermind with boundless ability underrated power—-his precision and accuracy unmatched.

His resume? Not too bad either.

Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez, Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya, Carlos Baldomir, Zab Judah, Arturo Gatti, Jose Luis Castillo, Jesus Chavez, Diego Corrales, Genaro Hernandez…

To say he hasn’t fought the best out there is grossly overstated.

At Wednesday’s presser in Los Angeles, Floyd alluded to wanting to face Pacquiao in the future. “I don’t duck or dodge anyone. This is for the fans. This is for the Pacquiao fans too. Do I want the Pacquiao fight? Absolutely, if that is what the fans want. I want to give the fans what they want, but I have to take it one step at a time. I cannot overlook Victor Ortiz.”

Should he fight Manny Pacquiao?

Yes.

Should he have fought the likes of Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto few years ago?

I would have loved to have seen that.

Then again, who cares? There are dozens of fights I would have loved to have seen at one time or another that never got made for a multitude of reasons.

Boxing is far from perfect. You learn to take what you get. For now, what we’re getting is a heck of a matchup between Floyd and WBC Welterweight Champion Victor Ortiz.

Have I gone back and forth on my opinions of Floyd Mayweather and his overall legacy? Absolutely! But I’ve also done that with a plethora of fighters I admire. Fight fans like to dream a little dream every night, contemplating various fights and scenarios…who we want to see fight who, who’s better than who, and who was better than who in that person’s respective era.

There comes a certain point where you have to accept reality. Certain things are the way they are.

From his earliest days as a pro dating back to October of 1996, Floyd has refused to compromise himself inside or outside of the ring. Consequently, Floyd Mayweather is one of the few fighters in boxing today who can be compared to the greats of the past in near-equal terms.

The people who complain about who Floyd Mayweather fights or doesn’t fight are the same kind of people who are never satisfied with anything in life. They’re the same people who buy a record and complain about “the rest of the record not being as good as the single,” or a movie that doesn’t live up to it’s theatrical trailer’s promise. That’s not to say having a strong opinion is a poor thing, it’s just tired.

Golden Boy’s Richard Shaefer was at the podium during Tuesday’s press conference and made a few interesting statements regarding Floyd’s popularity. “Floyd has sold almost half a billion PPV’s in his last four fights.” Startling to say the least. Shaefer continued. “He has 1.3 million Twitter followers, he is a marketing machine and he gets it.”

That’s the thing. Fans, writers, other fighters…everyone can complain about who Floyd fights, but if you continue complain…why even order the fight? Why buy a ticket to the fight? There is nothing to suggest that Floyd’s popularity has dwindled one bit in recent years. If anything, his absence from boxing has only heightened his popularity.

People tend to want what they can’t have. Mick Jagger famously sang “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try, you might find sometimes you get what you need.”

Floyd Mayweather is the most important fighter in boxing.

On September 17th, we’ll again get what we need.

Mayweather vs Ortiz Undercard: Erik Morales to Face Anthony Crolla

2011-07-03T14:50:00.000-07:00

Erik Morales has announced his next fight, and it will be part of the undercard of the September 17 HBO pay-per-view card, main evented by Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Victor Ortiz.

Morales (51-7, 35 KO) will face UK lightweight Anthony Crolla (21-2, 9 KO), likely at 140 pounds. Morales is coming off of an incredibly brave performance in an April loss to Marcos Maidana, while Crolla, 24, won the vacant British lightweight in February.

It's an odd fight, but the 34-year-old Morales would in theory help draw in the faithful and big-spending Mexican audience for the pay-per-view. Saul Alvarez is also likely to be part of the telecast, though his fight won't take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where Mayweather and Ortiz will fight. Last reports were favoring Alvarez headlining in Los Angeles at the Staples Center, and the pay-per-view being a split site affair. Alvarez appears headed for a fight with either Alfonso Gomez or Ricardo Mayorga, with Gomez leading the race at this time.

It looks like Golden Boy is just hoping to set a 2011 PPV high mark with the return of Mayweather, plus a stab at bringing in the Mexican audience. It may well work, but whether or not the undercard is actually "good" will be another story.

A Floyd Mayweather Loss to Ortiz Could Lead to Pacquiao vs. Ortiz Showdown

2011-07-02T14:06:00.000-07:00

On Sept. 17, unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. will face WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. At stake is Oritz's WBC welterweight belt which he snatched from then unbeaten Andre Berto last April.

Mayweather is a heavy favorite to win over the young Ortiz, who is a southpaw. The unbeaten champion is known to have had difficulty with southpaws in his last fights.

But there is always a possibility of an upset. Aside from his southpaw stance, Ortiz is a strong puncher and is ready to go toe-to-toe with Mayweather as he did in his last fight with Berto.

In the event of an upset victory over Mayweather, there is a great possibly of a Pacquiao vs. Ortiz fight to happen possibly in May next year.

Pacquiao and Ortiz have been sparring partners at Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym. One of Pacquiao's regular sparring partners, Dave Rodela said he has witnessed on some occasions how Pacquiao and Ortiz sparred at the gym.

Mayweather vs Ortiz Live

“Freddie Roach told me the best sparring he’s ever seen is victor Ortiz versus Pacquiao. They were going toe to toe. I've seen it I still couldn't believe it,” said Rodela

Although Ortiz had earlier voiced his opinion about facing Pacquiao whom he considers a friend and mentor as he expressed his appreciation for Pacquiao's advises before he fought Berto, he nonetheless feel now that the fight maybe possible.

"He and that whole camp are great friends to me, and I'm sure we can work something out," Ortiz said

Still, a win by Mayweather will reassure boxing fans that the long-overdue fight will definite happen next year. The unbeaten boxer has been consistent in his call for a Pacquiao showdown right after his first press tour with Ortiz in New York early this week.

"We only want to fight the biggest and the best out there, and Manny Pacquiao, yes, you're next," Mayweather said.

"My ultimate goal is to take the title from Victor Ortiz. Next, we move on to Manny Pacquiao," he said.

With these statements coming directly from Mayweather and not from any member of his team, it is indeed reassuring that the world's most wanted fight will soon happen for all boxing fans to see and enjoy.

Ortiz Ready for Mayweather

2011-07-01T11:17:00.000-07:00

Hundreds of Angelenos were on hand Wednesday night for the Floyd “Money” Mayweather (41-0, 25KOs) vs. “Vicious” Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22KOs) LA press conference at Nokia Plaza at LA LIVE in Downtown Los Angeles. It marked the second day of a press conference tour which began Tuesday in New York City to promote their September 17 showdown in Las Vegas.

Ortiz displayed some character at last night’s press conference as Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer welcomed the media and fans in attendance, and made introductions to the September 17 pay per view card billed as “Star Power.”

“I am the star and the power,” Ortiz responded as he interrupted Schaefer.

Shortly after, Schaefer introduced Mayweather’s advisor Leonard Ellerbe. “I want to thank Victor Ortiz for taking the challenge to fight Floyd Mayweather” Ellerbe said

“It’s not a challenge when you are the champ” Ortiz commented on Ellerbe’s opening statement.

For Victor Ortiz from nearby Oxnard California, this will be his first defense of the WBC Welterweight on a big stage against one the best pound for pound boxers today in Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“I am going to show you all how I roll,” said Ortiz. “I am going knock this dude out or if he wants to box I am going to box him if he wants to dance we will dance and at the same time I am getting sick and tired of everyone saying he is going to fight Pacquiao next. No he is fighting me ‘Vicious’ Victor Ortiz.”

In his last fight Ortiz won the WBC welterweight title over Andre Berto by unanimous decision, a fight in which he was a 4-1 underdog and many experts picked Berto to win. That fight Ortiz came out strong the first round knocking down and overpowering the champion Berto, the fifth round was an explosive one with Berto beginning to take control knockdown Ortiz, however Ortiz was not done as he closed that round knocking down the champ as Ortiz won a tough and competitive bout. Floyd Mayweather was at ringside more likely scouting his next opponent. Prior to the Andre Berto fight, Ortiz had been criticized for his performance in a draw against Lamont Peterson, as many began to wonder he had lost his killer instinct after his 2009 TKO loss to Marcos Maidana. Ortiz proved many wrong as he defeated previously undefeated Andre Berto and now sets his sights on Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Both Mayweather and Ortiz have agreed to drug testing under the U.S. Anti Doping Agency (USADA) protocol for this bout.

“On September 17 the same thing will occur what happened September 17, 1985, when Julio Cesar Chavez knocked out Roger Mayweather, this one is for Mexican fans” Stated an enthusiastic Victor Ortiz.

The fight will be one day after Mexican Independence Day. Ortiz begins training camp July 6 and opens up as a 7-1 underdog

STAR POWER, Floyd “Money” Mayweather vs. “Vicious” Victor Ortiz will take place Saturday September 17, 2011 at the MGM Grand Las Vegas and will be shown live on HBO PPV at 9pmET/6pm PT. Promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions.

Victor Ortiz Speaks After Last Night's Press Conference (Video)

2011-06-30T11:47:00.000-07:00

Here's some video of "Vicious" Victor Ortiz following last night's press conference in Los Angeles, as he speaks with the media after speaking to the media:

Ortiz: "I love Golden Boy, man. I have nothing at all negative or bad to say about them. They believed in me when I fell. Completely. Fell off the surface of the earth. Everybody acted like they couldn't even talk to me. I rebuilt myself, and I became this person, and then comes that fight where it was a draw -- are you kidding me? I wonder how much they paid those judges. ... I go five fights whippin' everybody, knockin' 'em out even, and I don't get any kind of credit, any kind of nothing, just another slap in the face. So I finally say, 'You know what? Everybody at 140 is fearing me at this point in time. No one wants a piece.' Maidana, I was mandatory to Maidana, and I was 'scared' of Maidana, and that didn't happen. Why? Don't ask me. Ask him."

Ortiz's claim of "mandatory" confused me at first, but then I remembered what he was talking about. It was the situation after Amir Khan became "super champion" of the WBA, and Ortiz and Maidana were the 1-2 contenders and could have fought for the "regular" title of the WBA in a rematch. Ortiz alleges Maidana turned it down. I'm not sure if it helped that Ortiz drew Peterson on the night Khan beat Maidana, but that's a whole other story.

There's a lot more after that, but this is something we'll talk about on the one-day late podcast later on Thursday. That is going to be, I warn you, probably something of a super-sized edition of the show. I've got a lot to say about Victor Ortiz (good and bad), thoughts on Mayweather the last couple of days, plenty to say about Klitschko vs Haye, and some things to say about the Sturm vs Macklin and Alexander vs Matthysse fights, so this one could get really long.

Mayweather vs Ortiz 24/7 Debuts on HBO, August 27

2011-06-29T12:36:00.000-07:00

HBO Sports’ groundbreaking “24/7” reality franchise, which has captured 14 Sports Emmy® Awards, returns in August for its tenth boxing installment with 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ, an all-new four-episode, all-access series, it was announced today by Ross Greenburg, president, HBO Sports. Debuting SATURDAY, AUG. 27 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT), the series will follow two elite fighters in one of boxing’s most competitive divisions as they prepare for their intriguing pay-per-view showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sept. 17.

“ ‘24/7’ excels when there are great characters and compelling drama, and this fight has both,” noted Greenburg. “The return of Floyd Mayweather, with his larger-than-life personality, and the odyssey of Victor Ortiz, with his inspiring tale of perseverance and achievement, provide the perfect backdrop for this new edition of ‘24/7.’ ”

Episodes two and three of 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ debut on subsequent Saturdays – Sept. 3 (10:00-10:30 p.m.) and 10 (10:00-10:30 p.m.) – while the finale debuts Friday, Sept. 16 (9:00-9:30 p.m.), the night before the high-stakes welterweight bout. All four episodes will have multiple replay dates on HBO, and the series will also be available on HBO On Demand® and HBO GO.

24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ will provide exclusive behind-the-scenes access, along with in-depth interviews, as the fighters prepare for their 147-pound world title fight. A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., the talented and opinionated Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) has evolved into a celebrated superstar, and now resides in Las Vegas. Kansas native Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs) survived a turbulent upbringing and currently lives in Oxnard, Cal. He shocked the boxing world with a win over the previously undefeated Andre Berto on HBO last April, claiming a 147-pound title.

This fast-paced series will capture the interactions and rigors both men experience in preparing for their contest. Making his fifth “24/7” appearance, Mayweather is expected to surround himself with a familiar contingent of family and friends as he trains with trusted longtime trainer and uncle Roger Mayweather. Ortiz is making his “24/7” debut.

24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ is the latest installment of the acclaimed “24/7” franchise that began in 2007. At the 2011 Sports Emmy® Awards, “24/7” was recognized with two Emmys® for production excellence and is the most honored sports series on television over the past four years, earning 14 Sports Emmys®.

The St. Petersburg Times has noted, “The best sports reality show on television is HBO’s ‘24/7.’ ”

On Saturday, Sept. 17 at 9:00 p.m. (ET)/6:00 p.m. (PT), HBO Pay-Per-View presents “Mayweather vs. Ortiz,” live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The executive producers of 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; senior producer, Dave Harmon; coordinating producers, Scott Boggins and Bentley Weiner; producer, Abtin Motia; writer, Aaron Cohen. Liev Schreiber narrates.

Mayweather vs Ortiz Will Receive Enormous Promotional Push

2011-06-28T09:22:00.000-07:00

Richard Schaefer tells Lem Satterfield that the September 17 HBO pay-per-view fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Victor Ortiz will receive a positively huge promotional push, and has given a few details about what's already set:

"In the coming weeks, there are going to be a lot of these promotional elements in play that are going to be announced. The promotion is going to be running from pretty much now until the night of the fight. .... You're going to have announcements of different promotional tools being used, many of them new to the sport of boxing. It's going to be interesting for fight fans, sports fans and the general public to really be part of that experience going into the fight."

In April and May, Top Rank partnered with Showtime and CBS for new levels of promotional hype for the Manny Pacquiao vs Shane Mosley fight, which turned out to be Pacquiao's most-bought PPV ever, against an opponent who was a huge underdog and most knowledgeable boxing fans saw as a faded non-challenge to Pacquiao. Golden Boy is banking on HBO and Time Warner putting in that sort of push for Mayweather vs Ortiz, with this being easily marketable on a number of levels. For one thing, Mayweather hasn't fought since May 2010, so this can be billed as a "return" event for him, and you also have Ortiz, who is media-friendly and charismatic, plus a young, strong fighter that no one can accuse of being another washed-up opponent for one of boxing's Big Two.

The push begins Tuesday in New York with the first of just two media events on a mini-tour to hype the fight. The second date will be in Los Angeles, but otherwise it looks like the press tour is being scrapped in large part to focus on other forms of promotion. This is in stark contrast to Top Rank's plans of a worldwide press tour for Pacquiao vs Marquez III on November 12.

Get ready for the big push for this fight, because it looks like it's starting soon and going to roll in fast, like a summer storm about to drop heavy rain all over People magazine. HBO doesn't have network TV to offer, but they do have a lot of creative turns to take in hyping a fight that haven't been taken advantage of to date. Will any of it make a serious difference? I don't know, but I do know that it makes promoters giddy to see their fight talked about anywhere other than the usual places.

Mayweather vs Ortiz Will Be Most Promoted Ever

2011-06-27T14:38:00.000-07:00

Forgive Golden Boy Promotions' CEO Richard Schaefer if he sounds out of breath, for he's been an extremely busy man. Not only are the fighters in his company winning at an alarming rate, but Schaefer has been landing one big deal after another, and, it seems, traveling from one side of the country or even out of the country for big match ups.

On Tuesday, Schaefor announced "Star Power," the promotional name bestowed upon the Sept. 17 return to the ring of 34-year-old six-time champion Floyd Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) against 24-year-old WBC welterweight king Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs).

"We just finalized [on Wednesday] the HBO deal for Mayweather vs Ortiz Live, " said Schaefer, referring to story initially reported by ESPN that Golden Boy had reached an agreement with HBO pay per view network to broadcast Mayweather-Ortiz.

"I'm very happy with what we ended up with. HBO and Time Warner are going to put all of their different platforms and packages into play," said Schaefer. "It's going to be without a doubt the most heavily promoted event of all time. There is no question in my mind."

Schaefer said that the promotion will include features from HBO's parent company Time Warner, as well as assets from Turner Broadcasting and Time Magazine. Time Warner also governs online publications such as Sports Illustrated, People and Entertainment Weekly.

"In the coming weeks, there are going to be a lot of these promotional elements in play that are going to be announced," said Schaefer. "The promotion is going to be running from pretty much now until the night of the fight."

HBO's 24/7 series previews every pay per view fight, and will do the same for Mayweather-Ortiz through a wider range of exposure on the Turner's various networks, Schaefer said.

"You're going to have announcements of different promotional tools being used, many of them new to the sport of boxing," said Schaefer. "It's going to be interesting for fight fans, sports fans and the general public to really be part of that experience going into the fight."

The Mayweather-Ortiz touring festivities begin on Tuesday in New York, with an almost unheard of next-day stop in Los Angeles.

"I'm very, very busy and I'm going to be on tour in New York on Tuesday. We're all flying in on Sunday, and we have a lot of promotional activities on Monday. On Tuesday, we're going to do the press conference and fly back to Los Angeles on Tuesday night," said Schaefer.

"And then, on Wednesday, we'll have other promotional things lined up. On this Wednesday night, I think we will have one of the most exciting press conference we've ever had outdoors at LA Live," said Schaefer. "And then the following week, I'm going to be in England for David Haye versus Wladimir Klitschko. That means that I'm going to be gone for a week and a half."

The action follows what already has been a big year for Golden Boy Promotions, starting in March.

That's when Golden Boy's 20-year-old WBC junior middleweight belt-holder Saul Alvarez (37-0-1, 26 KOs) earned his crown with a unanimous decision over England's Matthew Hatton (41-5-2, 16 KOs).

In April, Ortiz rose from two knockdowns and scored two of his own during a unanimous decision that dethroned previously unbeaten WBC king Andre Berto (27-1, 21KOs).

In May, 46-year-old Bernard Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KOs) became the oldest fighter in the history of the sport to win a significant world title, dethroning Canada's 28-year-old Jean Pascal (26-2-1, 16 KOs) as WBC light heavyweight champion.

Hopkins-Pascal was a rematch of December's controversial majority draw when the former undisputed middleweight titlist from Philadelphia had appeared to have out-boxed Pascal for the victory despite having been twice floored during the bout.

Alvarez returned for a June 18 clash to dominate his 12th-round knockout in a mandatory defense of his crown against England's 34-year-old Ryan Rhodes (45-5, 31 KOs), whom he dropped in the fourth round.

On the Alvarez-Rhodes undercard, Golden Boy's 21-year-old super featherweight sensation Adrien Broner (21-0) scored his 17th knockout, ending with a first-round stoppage that dethroned 27-year-old NABF king Jason Litzau (28-3, 21 KOs).

On June 25, there is a non-title, junior welterweight match up between Golden Boy's 28-year-old Argentinian Lucas Matthysse (28-1, 26 KOs) against southpaw former WBC titlist Devon Alexander (21-1, 13 KOs) of promoter Don King.

Golden Boy also handles the American affairs of 30-year-old WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (25-1, 23 KOs), who on July 2 will pursue his 16th straight victory and his 14th knockout during that run against 34-year-old WBO, IBF and IBO counterpart Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49 KOs) in an attempt to end a 13-fight winning streak that includes 10 knockouts.

"Another big one is Lucas Matthysse, and then we have David Haye in Germany," said Schaefer. "I'm happy with the way things are coming along, and the way that our athletes are performing."

On July 9, Golden Boy Promotions is matching 28-year-old Cuban native Erislandy Lara (15-0-1, 10 KOs) in a clash of southpaws opposite 29-year-old former three-time champion Paul Williams (39-2, 27 KOs) on July 9.

On July 23, Golden Boy Promotions is has 24-year-old WBA junior welterweight champions Amir Khan (25-1, 17 KOs) of England going against 33-year-old Bronx native and southpaw IBF titlist Zab Judah (41-6, 28KOs) of Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas.

"The Khan-Judah fight is yet another big, major fight," said Schaefer.

On August 27, Golden Boy has 27-year-old WBA interim junior welterweight king Marcos Rene Maidana (30-2, 27 KOs) of Argentina against 28-year-old southpaw WBO and WBA interim lightweight king Robert Guerrero (29-1-1, 18 KOs), who has 13 straight wins, nine of them stoppages, and is attempting to win his sixth belt in a fourth weight class.

Then on Sept. 17, there is Mayweather-Ortiz, a deal that was struck in the wake of a settlement between Golden Boy Promotions and southpaw eight-division and WBO welterweight titlist Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 knockouts) of a lawsuit that could pave the way for a smoothed over working relationship between Golden Boy and Pacquiao's Top Rank Promotions' CEO Bob Arum.

"Adrien Broner looked sensational and Alvarez looked sensational. All of our athletes are doing fantastic, and we're very proud of them. Whenever you have athletes performing at that level, then you want to make sure that you can continue to keep them busy," said Schaefer.

"You want to move them forward and to continue to give them the kind of opportunities. You see these young kids advance, and that's huge part of it," said Schaefer. "You want to continue to give them the opportunities, and that's why I am so busy with ensuring that we get the necessary television dates and exposure."

Schaefer had said that if Alvarez, slated to return on Sept. 17, defeated Rhodes, he could potentially land on a pay-per-view undercard to Mayweather-Ortiz and, perhaps, face the Mayweather-Ortiz winner.

But Arum recently told ESPN.com that he would scrap plans for his 25-year-old Mexican WBC middleweight king Julio Cesar Chavez (43-0-1, 30 KOs) if it mean an opportunity to face Alvarez perhaps at a catchweight of 158 pounds that would allow Alvarez to keep his belt.

Although Schaefer said that he is willing to entertain Chavez-Alvarez, and, even Pacquiao-Alvarez, his schedule simply does not permit him to devote much thought to it.

"The fact is that we want to do that fight [Chavez-Alvarez,] and Canelo is scheduled to fight on Sept. 17," said Schaefer. "So I don't have time to get into these back-and-forths about it right now. I'm toos busy now with all my other fights, so I can't go and engage now in these other things."

FIGHT CAMP 360°: Pacquiao vs. Mosley Episode 5 Video

2011-06-05T15:00:00.000-07:00

Watch the full episode of the final chapter! Explosive details from the biggest night of boxing revealed by the cameras of SHOWTIME Sports. Watch the thrilling epilogue of FIGHT CAMP 360°: Pacquiao vs. Mosley

Watch FIGHT CAMP 360°: Pacquiao vs. Mosley Episode 5 Video

Mosley explains why he asked his corner to stop the fight against Pacquiao

2011-06-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

A lot of boxing fans went on the offensive after Showtime Fight Camp 360 released footage of Shane Mosley trying to convince his cornerman Naazim Richardson to stop the fight against Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Arena last May 7.

In the short clip streamed on Showtime's website, Mosley told Richardson "You got to stop the fight!" Richardson calmly replied, "Settle down Shane," and added, "you're cut from a different cloth,’ convincing Mosley that he isn't the quitting type. Mosley then shot back saying, "I can't move."

FIGHT CAMP 360°: Pacquiao vs. Mosley - Episode 5 - Sat. June 4th @ 8:45pm on SHOWTIME

In case you didn't see the fight for yourself (or fell asleep in the middle of it), it was a bore. Mosley ran for most of the fight, which garnered several boos from fans towards the end of the fight. After he got knocked down in the third round, Mosley took to his skates. "Damn! I want my money back from the PPV. Us fans got ripped. He should never fight again and he just lost a diehard fan," reader Roi Bernardo commented.

The Mosley camp, however, offered an explanation for Mosley's actions in these posts on Twitter:

A documented torn ACL to heal before camp and during training which led to a giant blister on the opposite foot He should be commended

@sugarshanem had a giant blister on his foot that popped midfight, a result from compensating a torn acl on the opposite leg!!

Later on, the Team Mosley insider clarified that the injury was an achilles injury, rather than ACL. Check out these photos as Mosley shows his injury.

Manny Pacquiao on HP Commercial

2011-06-01T11:29:00.000-07:00

Manny Pacquiao works like no one else does. He says, "I run ten miles every morning, do two-thousand set-ups a day, eat seven-thousand calories and train for eight weeks straight." And, "So, why did I get a small phone, " he adds. "Well, if there's one thing I know, little guys can pack a punch!"

These were Pacquiao's facts articulated through a thirty-seconder HP commercial which has been recently released. The filming of that same advertising tablet took place at the Universal Studio last May 11, Wednesday. This is the first biggest brand endorsement project that Top Rank has put together since it has signed Pacquiao to be represented by the same promotional company outside of boxing, for both US and international markets.

Manny Pacquiao on HP Commercial

Top Rank sent letters, in recent months, to a range of brands and advertisers, explaining that Pacquiao hoped to reverse years of confusion by naming Top Rank as his exclusive commercial agent for business outside the Philippines, according to report.

Through the William Morris agency, Top Rank submitted Pacquiao's name for consideration to HP and was successful. Pacquiao has been named the face of HP's recently introduced tablet computer product.

Bob Arum predicts Pacquiao vs Mosley will go over 1.2 million PPV buys

2011-05-11T06:54:00.000-07:00

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum believes that when the final tally comes in by the end of this week, the Shane Mosley vs. Manny Pacquiao bout will bring in over 1.2 million pay per view buys. This would eclipse the 1.2 million PPV buys that Pacquiao’s last fight against Antonio Margarito brought in last year in November.

Despite being a noncompetitive bore, the Margarito vs. Pacquiao bout did very well in PPV terms. Arum thinks the Pacquiao vs. Mosley bout could bring in between 1.4 to 1.5 million PPV buys, thanks the heavy marketing on CBS due to Fight Camp 360 series being aired on the non-PPV network.

Many casual fans likely were excited about the fight after watching the Fight Camp 360 episodes and paid their $55 to see the fight, expecting it to be an exciting fight. What they got instead was a huge disappointment with Mosley unwilling to mix it up and Pacquiao looking sloppy, tired and old. It wasn’t the right fight to be trying to make a big impression on the boxing fans that are more in the dark about the sport, because they’re likely going to be disappointed in the fight and might not be so quick to throw away another $55 to see Pacquiao destroy another old guy. Fans want to see Pacquiao in competitive fights, not just in fights against in house fighters that have little chance of winning.

Arum is hoping that the Mosley vs. Pacquiao bout was going to be a move to get boxing fans shown on non-PPV television. The opportunity was there but it was wasted due to this poor fight.

Pacquiao vs Mosley Highlights (Video)

2011-05-10T07:52:00.000-07:00

Watch Highlights of the bout between Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley on May 07, 2011 in Las Vegas. (VIDEO COURTESY OF SHOWTIME PPV). You can also find here the complete Manny Pacquiao vs Sugar Shane Mosley Full Fight Video (Replay).

Manny Pacquiao vs Sugar Shane Mosley Full Fight Video (Replay)

2011-05-10T00:13:00.000-07:00

Watch Manny Pacquiao vs Sugar Shane Mosley Full Fight Video. Manny Pacquiao defeated Shane Mosley in their bout for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title via 12-round unanimous decision. Held at the Garden Arena in the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 7, 2011. Pacquiao retained the WBO welterweight title by beating Mosley to extend his winning streak to 14 bouts.