By Eric Thomas: Former WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KO’s) met with the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Wednesday in Las Vegas to be interviewed for the controversial comments that Ortiz made recently about trying to break Floyd Mayweather Jr’s nose when Ortiz headbutted him in the 4th round in their fight last year in September.
Ortiz had to explain why he made that comment and what was his rationale for so. Had Ortiz not given the answers that the commission wanted to hear, then he would have not been licensed to fight in Nevada and his February 11th rematch against Andre Berto would either have to be moved to a different state or cancelled. According to RingTV, the Nevada Commission gave Ortiz a license for just one fight, the Ortiz rematch.
The reason they did this was in case Ortiz snapped mentally and started head-butting or using other flagrant fouling techniques for whatever reason. Ortiz is going to have to keep it clean and not get frustrated if he’s unable to hit Berto or if he get caught with some elbows.
Ortiz said he headbutted Mayweather because he was getting hit with elbows from him and the referee Joe Cortez failed to do anything about it when he alerted him to this problem. Ortiz then decided to take matters into his own hands and teach Mayweather a lesson. Ortiz missed Mayweather’s nose with his head but did bust his bottom lip and make him angry.
If Ortiz screws up in the Berto rematch, Ortiz will have to wait an entire year before he can reapply for licensing in Nevada. It wouldn’t be a killer blow for Ortiz if that were to happen, as he fights most of his bouts in the Los Angeles, California area where he grew up. But still it’s not a good to be limited to where you can fight.
As bad as the economy is in Las Vegas, it’s not surprising that the Nevada Commission gave Ortiz his license. That fight will bring in big money to Las Vegas and the city really needs it right now. I grew up there and my family is from there as well, and unemployment is high in the city. They need the Berto-Ortiz fight, and they especially need the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao fight to take place there in 2012.
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