By Rich Mancuso
Hold on boxing fans. So Floyd Mayweather said the fight with Victor Ortiz for the WBC world title is on for September 17th and hours ago the social media networks were flowing with messages. Not to say the fight won’t happen, but offer your comments when the fight is indeed official.
Wait until Golden Boy, co- promoters of the fight with Mayweather hold a press tour, as they say will occur later this month. Then we can start asking questions to Floyd, and speculate if we are any closer to seeing a Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight. Until then, continue to speculate and analyze how Mayweather and Ortiz will plan strategy for each other.
When the Twitter and Facebook pages exploded with news of this impending return of Mayweather, who last fought in May of 2010 with a win over Shane Mosley, this writer was skeptical. And it was not until Golden Boy released an official statement, with quotes from Mayweather, to take this seriously.
So apparently, unless Mayweather changes direction, we have a fight. It won’t be the one we are looking for, and we await word as to what thoughts are going through the mind of Manny Pacquiao. Because, if Mayweather does win in September we are expected to see the fight boxing wants, Mayweather and Pacquiao.
However, Victor Ortiz will be ready after his thrilling title win over Andre Berto on April 16th. Ortiz is no slouch and will present problems. It is a fight that Ortiz was looking for and he claimed, after the Berto fight, that Mayweather, more than Pacquiao, was someone he was always looking to oppose
Ortiz has the remarkable story. Overcoming obstacles and destined to be a champion. He is the fighter that Top Rank promoter Bob Arum claimed to have no pay-per-view market right now, in discussions as a next opponent for Pacquiao. Now Ortiz, when and if this is official with Mayweather, becomes a pay-per-view fighter. He wins and indeed becomes a next opponent for Pacquiao.
Ortiz briefly made a statement in the Golden Boy press statement. “l respect Mayweather because he has been a champion for many years and I know he will be ready, but so will I. I am not going to let go of my title any time soon. This is going to be a great fight, but I will remain a world champion for many years to come.”
Ortiz was briefly reached by phone. He would not say more than what was released by Golden Boy. “I will have more to say at the press tour,” he said. “It is a fight I wanted to have and now I have it.” Speculation is HBO Pay-Per-View gets the fight, and the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas will be the venue.
So, as we await the press tour and the official details, where does this leave Pacquiao in the Mayweather mix? Or for that matter Victor Ortiz? Mayweather, after a 16-month hiatus is confident he will dethrone Ortiz, the younger and determined champion. Pacquiao is still not certain.
And the certainty has nothing to do with an outcome of Mayweather-Ortiz, if indeed this comes off in September. Mayweather, according to various sources is running thin on money and has reached out to outside sources to keep him afloat. And legal issues continue to be many of his issues that include two criminal charges, one for domestic violence.
Mayweather is in a dangerous fight. And he has to sort out the legal problems that continue to be a part of his legacy that has indeed put Pacquiao in the seat as truly the best pound-for-pound fighter. But sources say, Mayweather is focused, prepared, and timed this one right to schedule a lucrative fight with Ortiz. And it is lucrative for Mayweather, because he is Mr. Boxing Pay-Per-View and the public will buy his fights.
It had been speculated. Mayweather and Ortiz was the talk after Pacquiao disposed Shane Mosley last month. It still is not official until the press tour that Golden Boy says will occur the week of June 20. Not until then we can talk more.
And talk more about where Mayweather stands with the fight we all want, him against Manny Pacquiao.
Source: boxinginsider.com
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