maidana354 By Brian Kenneth Blackwell: Pre-Fight Entrances:
Maidana comes out slowly. He is sporting a solid red robe. He wears a look of caution. It is his first fight in the United States. Ortiz comes out to a halfway packed house, wearing a green and white robe; his chin held high in machismo fashion. The music of Michael Jackson plays in the background; it fades into mariachi music. The ring announcer informs the crowd that the bout will determine the new WBA Interim Super Lightweight Championship. The crowd boos loudly when Maidana’s name is called.

Round 1
Both fighters come out cautious. They trade at the center of the ring; both landing. Right hand by Maidana. Body shot lands for Maidana. Right hook drops Maidana! He is up at 8. WOW! Straight right puts Ortiz on his back! He is hurt badly! Much worse than Maidana was. Ortiz is up at 8. He is in trouble though. Ortiz lands a flurry even as his legs are visibly wobbled. They trade until the bell sounds. They shake gloves after the bell! What a round! Victor needs to keep his gloves up!
10-10 even

Round 2
Ortiz lands to the body. Lunging right hand to the body lands for Maidana. Maidana sure hits hard! Good left by Ortiz. He really wants to slug tonight. Counter right hand lands for Ortiz and Maidana crumbles to the mat! He is up at 8. They exchange again. Maidana gets dropped again! The round ends. Fantastic fight!
10-7 Ortiz

Round 3
Ortiz looking to counter. Right hand lands for Maidana. Ortiz responds and pressures Maidana against the ropes. Left hook from Maidana stuns Ortiz. Maidana misses with the counter-right, which probably would have ended the fight. Ortiz spits blood. Both fighters showing a lot of heart.
10-9 Maidana

Round 4
They battle into a clinch. Solid straight left for Ortiz. Maidana is rabbit punching in the clinches. The fight is beginning to get sloppy. Maidana is swelling under his left eye.
10-9 Maidana

Round 5
Ortiz lands a flurry. You get the sense that the longer this fight goes, the more trouble it seems that Ortiz is in. Maidana still rabbit punching in the clinches. They clinch again. Maidana rabbit punches again, and is finally warned by the referee. Good left by Maidana. Ortiz is cut! Big right hand by Maidana! Ortiz is in trouble! The round ends.
10-9 Maidana

During the break, Ortiz’ corner men inform him that they will stop the fight if he does not keep his hands up. They ask him if he wants them to stop the fight. He does not respond. I think the fight is going to end! No, the round begins.

Round 6
Maidana goes straight at Ortiz looking to end the fight. The right hand cannot and will not miss for Maidana. He flurries as Ortiz gets backed into the corner. Ortiz gets dropped by a left hand to the body. His left eye is swollen badly and his right eye is streaming blood. His body language looks as if he does not wish to continue as he does not turn to face his opponent. The ring doctor takes a look at the cut. He stops the fight.
TKO :46 Maidana is the new WBA Interim Super Lightweight Champion

After the fight Victor made some troubling statements as he was getting interviewed by Max Kellerman, stating that he did not wish to continue so that he could “speak well when he gets older,” and that he did not wish to end the fight “on his shield.” Very poor choice of words coming from a young prospect who is supposed to be gaining fan support, and who coincidentally chose to slug, knowing full well the consequences of taking such chances in the ring against a puncher like Maidana. I guess with words like that, the biggest fight that we will be seeing this guy in, is an undercard of a HBO World Championship Boxing undercard featuring Paulie Malignaggi in it’s main event.

As for his strategy in the ring tonight, he did exactly what his corner men, and many boxing writers, including myself said that he should not, which was to sit and trade with Maidana. Ortiz does pack a punch, but similar to that of Fernando Vargas, he does not possess incredible hand speed, and he lets his emotions get the best of him inside the ring.

As for Maidana, a star is surely born on this night. He did show raw skills, and yes, he was dropped on numerous occasions. But, he did keep coming, and as previously noted, it sure looked like his punches were more damaging than Ortiz’. He is definitely capable of beating the likes of Ricky Hatton, Nate Campbell, and I would think Juan Urango. He has already proven himself against Kotelnik as well, and he answered the question tonight as to whether or not he was truly a power puncher.