By John F. McKenna (McJack): Once again Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. (41-0, 25 KO’s) will be holding center stage in the lead up to his September 17 fight with World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Victor “Vicious” Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KO’s).
Mayweather is a solid favorite to defeat the less experienced Ortiz who won the WBC welterweight title with an impressive and gutsy performance against Andre Berto last April. Ortiz won back a lot of fans who had given up on him when he quit in his fight against Argentinean KO artist Marcos Maidana in June 2009.
Floyd Mayweather must be given credit for the way he has been able to market himself over the years. He is comfortable in a media setting and at talking to reporters who seem to hang on to his every word. The lengthy hiatus he takes between fights only heightens the magnitude of the excitement for his legions of fans.
While it is not likely that Ortiz will defeat Mayweather the fight should be a pretty good barometer as to where Floyd is and whether or not his skills have begun to deteriorate. If “Vicious” is to have any success he needs to take the fight to Floyd and throw punches in bunches. He must use his youth and power to overwhelm Mayweather right from the outset. Shane Mosley was able to rock Mayweather in the 2nd round but was not able to follow up on it. Ortiz, if he is able to land a power shot on the slick Mayweather must follow up with volumes of punches.
The Mayweather – Ortiz fight more than anything else should be a clear indicator as to whether Floyd still has the legs to go twelve rounds with a tough opponent. When this match up was made many boxing fans saw it as a possible tune up for “Money” for his ultimate challenge against Manny Pacquiao.
Floyd being the master tactician that he is will undoubtedly attempt to frustrate and confuse Ortiz and do what he does best. Adapt to the situation. Mayweather has seen it all and done it all. Boxing fans should know within four or five rounds if Floyd has lost anything, but it may take longer to determine if he still has the legs.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is perhaps the best pure boxer of this generation and one of the best ring tacticians ever. It is a pleasure to watch him in action.
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