By Danni Rocket: Firstly, I’d like to thank all the people who provided constructive comments on my last Article, The Curious Case Of: Amir Khan. I found all of them interesting, and as I suspected, there was a good split of people across the comments as to how they felt about Khan.
(Photo credit: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions)
Back in early 2012 ‘Vicious’ Victor Ortiz seemed set to become one of the few boxers that make it to the mega money status as a PPV Star. He had a fan friendly style with knockout power, he had an unusual technique (a right-handed fighter, fighting out of a southpaw stance), and, as is becoming more and more important these days, he was charismatic and seemed to have genuine cross-over potential. There were already some questions about his heart however, as in both of his two loses to this point he seemed to either not wish to continue, or stayed down from a cheap shot some believe he could have risen from. In this article, I am going to explore Ortiz’s past, his present and his future.
The year was 1999 and Victor Ortiz was 12 years old. Both his parents had left him and his siblings in the hands if the foster care system of Kansas, and he had already been boxing for several years. In 2002, he moved with his sister to Colorado, basing themselves in Denver. Ortiz had a promising time boxing here, wining various amateur tournaments and gaining the attention of former champion Roberto Garcia, who brought Victor with him back to Oxnard, California.
Turning professional at 17 in 2004, he breezed through his first seven fights, winning 5 by stoppage. He then lost in a bizarre incident, in which a he dropped a fighter called Corey Alarcon with a right uppercut on the break from a clinch. As the referee had called a stop to the action, Ortiz was Disqualified and Alarcon handed the victory.
From 2005 to 2009 he compiled a record of 24-1-1 with 19 Kos, defeating notable fighters such as Emmanuel Clottey, Carlos Maussa and Mike Arnaoutis. He then challenged the big hitting Argentine Marcos Maidana for the vacant WBA Interim Light Welterweight Title. The fight was to become both a classic, and a sign of things to come for Victor Ortiz. By the sixth round there had already been 4 knockdowns, and Ortiz and suffered a serious cut above his right eye. Even before the sixth round began, Ortiz’s trainer Danny Garcia can be heard saying he will stop the fight, to no protest from Victor. Following another knockdown, in which ‘Vicious’ Victor appeared to turn his back on Maidana to avoid any more shots, Ortiz went to the neutral corner and was checked out by the ringside doctor. Clearly showing no interest in continuing the fight, it was stopped and Maidana handed the victory and, with it the vacant interim title and mandatory status to fight the winner of Andreas Kotelnik vs Amir Khan. After the fight Ortiz said, “I don’t think I deserve to be getting beat up like this.”
From here until 2011, Ortiz built his career back up with four victories, including wins over former champions Nate Campbell and Vivian Harris, stopping the latter, and one controversial draw against future champion Lamont Peterson. He then challenged the undefeated Andre Berto for his WBC Welterweight Title on April 16th, 2011, in what was to become The Ring Magazines Fight of the Year. Both fighter tasted the canvas multiple time during the fight, with was awarded to Ortiz by Unanimous Decision.
Now the WBC Champion, he was selected by Floyd Mayweather Jr to be his dance partner on September 17th 2011. In the build-up to the Mayweather fight, Ortiz seemed to relish the increased media attention, and he began highlighting his interest in other work outside of boxing, including television and film acting. Mayweather dominated the first three rounds of the fight, despite Ortiz’s continued use of his head. By the end of the fourth round however, Ortiz, clearly frustrated, went at Mayweather with a new fire. Whilst the linear champion was up against the ropes, Ortiz threw an obvious jumping head-butt into Mayweather’s face. This cost Ortiz a one-point deduction. Whilst apologizing after the event Mayweather landed a left hook, straight right combination, and Ortiz hit the canvas, unable to make it to his feet in time to beat the ten count. As referee Joe Cortez had already ordered the action to continue, the knockout was ruled legal.
Ortiz then faced Josesito Lopez in what was supposed to be a one-sided showcase fight for Ortiz, as he was scheduled to face the Mexican Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in a PPV bout in September. After a close fight, Ortiz retired in the tenth round, refusing to continue despite his corners pleas, claiming his Jaw was broken. Again, much of the boxing community saw this as another example of Ortiz’s questionable mentality.
After a year and a half out, some of which was spent filming the Expendables 3, some which was spent on Dancing with the Stars, Victor Ortiz faced faded former champion Luis Collazo in January 2014 in his comeback bout. In the first hard shot of the fight, Collazo connected a right hand to Ortiz’s jaw, causing the latter to turn his back and run away from the former, before taking a knee for the ten count. This appeared to be another example of Ortiz’s boxing heart failing him.
Victor then won two bouts over the next two years, and filmed some scenes for the movie Southpaw, before facing Andre Berto in a rematch of their 2011 Fight of the Year. Both fighters touched the canvas again, but in the fourth round, after his second journey to the deck, Ortiz appeared to indicate to referee Jack Reiss that he didn’t wish to continue. The fight was ruled a knockout victory for Berto.
After yet another year out, Victor Ortiz began training for his comeback against little known Saul Corral on July 30th this year. Claiming he had reprioritized his multiple careers, putting boxing back as his number one profession, he easily defeated the Mexican by fourth round stoppage.
This brings us to today. Ortiz looked pretty good in his last fight, though admittedly slower than he was, which make it all the worse that he has already gone against his word by filming yet another film, Puberty. Although not the greatest technical boxer, I feel he has knockout power in both hands, and should be more than a handful for most of the top welterweights in the world. However, he clearly has other interests in showbiz… and that’s fine. He was a world champion and has treated us to some fantastic fights over the years, however I don’t think boxing at the highest level can be done as a pastime or hobby.
As much as it pains me to say it about a boxer I consider one of my all-time favorites to watch, I think he should retire and purse his acting career. He has shown time and time again that he doesn’t like taking shots, which not surprisingly for a prize fighter, is a hazard common with the job. Also, do I fancy his chances of winning another world title? No, unfortunately I think all the current crop of champions at 147 pounds, apart from Jeff Horn, would easily defeat and stop Ortiz early on.
How does the reader feel about ‘Vicious’ Victor Ortiz? Do you consider him a wasted talent, or someone who achieved all he could? And what, if anything, can he do to return to the top of the game? I look forward to reading your comments.