By Chris Robinson
Victor Ortiz's life has changed dramatically since his April upset over then-WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto and his name is being thrust into the spotlight even more so with an upcoming showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Ortiz defends his crown against the brazen and brash Mayweather on September 17th in a fight that looks more and more likely to be heading to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mayweather announced the Ortiz bout to his million-plus Twitter followers on June 7th but since we have heard nary a word from the Oxnard-based fighter on what the fight means to his career. I had been curious as to what had been on Ortiz's mind as was happy to see an in-depth interview on the 24-year old conducted by RingTV's Joseph Santoliquito.
In his own words, here are a few highlights from Ortiz's interview...
Ready for anything with Floyd Mayweather Jr...
"The contracts have been signed. Everything is set to go. We’re looking for a venue, and it’s going to be on pay-per-view HBO. I don’t know what Floyd’s issues are outside of the ring, all I know is that we’re fighting. But it hit me a long time ago that my life has changed. Bucky Avila and Ron Lyle, those two were there since way back, and they always told me that I would be in the lights one day. In doing so, I should always keep my feet on the ground. I always listen to what they have to say. I wake up each morning and work hard. Coach wants me at four in the morning and I’m there at 3:30. If Mayweather is running two miles, I’m running three miles. I’ve been through so many ups and downs these last three years, I’m ready for anything."
Getting ready for Mayweather's antics...
"What’s funny is that I don’t scare easily and I don’t let stuff like that bother me. I know what Floyd is up to and I know he’s there to sell tickets. I’m there to take him off the throne. He can call me anything in the book, I’m ready for it. I’ll pretty much laugh it off; I know it’s coming. Floyd will drum up something to say and I’ll laugh at him. I don’t anger easily, either. I’ve been called every name in the book. I’m this, I’m that, I have no balls. Floyd can’t bother me."
How to defeat Floyd Mayweather...
"I’ll take him the same way I thought Oscar De La Hoya beat him, the way Jose Luis Castillo beat him, that’s take the war to his ass. Every fighter I’ve faced is different. I’m not sure what Mayweather has planned for me, or what I have planned for Mayweather. Berto was one fight, we had a plan for him. Peterson was another fight, a different plan for him. I know how Floyd fights. We’ll come with some game plan and go from there. I’ll start training soon, maybe mid-June. I’m fat right now for welterweight, walking around at 156 pounds. I know I’ll get down. I won’t have problems making the weight."
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To read the full, in-depth interview conducted by RingTV's Santoliquito, please click HERE
