By John F. McKenna (McJack): World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KO’s) who takes on Floyd Mayweather Jr. (41-0, 25 KO’s) on September 17 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas promises that he will not be swayed by all the media hype.
Ortiz has never been through anything like the media blitz he has endured in the lead up to his huge fight with Mayweather. At the recent media day workout at the Knuckle Headz Gym where “Vicious” is training for the Mayweather fight he put in 10 rounds of shadow boxing, followed by working out on the heavy bag with reporters and photographers present. After his lengthy workout there were still reporter’s questions to be answered.
It all takes some getting used to as anyone who has been exposed to it for the first time can attest to. It’s similar to what baseball players who are playing in their first World Series experience. Reporters ask the same mundane questions over and over again and photographers follow your every move.
As expected Ortiz says he will not let the hype interfere with his preparation in getting into the best physical condition he has ever been in. With the fight only two and a half weeks away the hype and pressure will significantly increase in the days leading up to the fight.
Floyd “Money” Mayweather has been there many time before and not only handles the pressure well, he thrives on it. Pressure is Floyd’s game, and despite what Ortiz says, it remains to be seen how well he handles the added media attention. It is one of the imponderables making the outcome of any major fight so hard to predict.
Victor Ortiz wants to prove to the world that he is the fighter who decisively beat Andre Berto in April and not the one who quit in mid ring against the Argentinean slugger Marcos Maidana in 2009. The loss to Maidana was a turning point for Ortiz. Since that fight Ortiz has defeated Antonio Diaz, Nate Campbell, Vivian Harris and drew with Lamont Peterson after knocking him down twice.
While training for his fight with Berto, Ortiz was like a man on a mission and those close to him say that he is working even harder for the huge opportunity he has against Floyd Mayweather.
Victor Ortiz has matured significantly since losing to Maidana. With that in mind perhaps the loss benefited his long time goal of being the best fighter he can be.
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