Ortiz vs. Maidana set for June 27th

[egreezy]

• When junior welterweight titlist Andreas Kotelnik passed on a June 27 HBO fight against 2008 ESPN.com prospect of the year Victor Ortiz to take a richer bout the same day in England against Amir Khan, it left Golden Boy and HBO searching for a new Ortiz opponent. It will be Argentina's Marcos Maidana (25-1, 24 KOs), Ortiz manager Shelly Finkel told ESPN.com. He said Golden Boy made a deal for the fight. Maidana is a powerful puncher whose only loss came via questionable split decision to Kotelnik in February. Ortiz-Maidana will be for an interim title and the winner is in line for the Kotelnik-Khan winner, who may have to first defend against official WBA mandatory challenger Dmitriy Salita. Golden Boy's Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com he would love to make a match between Ortiz and Khan, two of the top young talents at 140 pounds. Salita passed a bout with Ortiz because he said Golden Boy made a "very low offer" and because he was already the mandatory challenger for the Kotelnik-Khan winner.

[Joe2608]

Good fight, Ortiz will be the winner imo, hopefully he can then fight the winner of Kotelnik - Khan (after the mandatory of course).

[Eaner0919]

he's crude but should be a true test for Vic

[egreezy]

Maidana really won the fight against Kotelnik and Ortiz has the tougher test than Khan. and Salita is not ready for either of these guys... well maybe Khan

[The Hammer]

Maidana really won the fight against Kotelnik

No, he didn't, Kotelnik won. I saw the fight - did you?

In the past you've claimed European fighters are given gift decision in fights you haven't even seen (such as for Inkin-Zuniga, before the video went on the net).

Why are you so prejudiced?

[TheManchine]

Maidana really won the fight against Kotelnik and Ortiz has the tougher test than Khan. and Salita is not ready for either of these guys... well maybe Khan

No..............

[egreezy]

Kotelnik-Maidana was close did not say gift decision. FOTY candidate, reminded me of Berto-Collazo somewhat but Maidana won a close fight landed the more powerful meaningful punches and controlled the tempo of the fight.

[egreezy]

Wow nobody else cares about this Ortiz fight

[Clegg]

I've no problems with the fight, but it's yet more BS from the WBA.

Kotelnik is entitled to make a voluntary defence. Then he has to face his mandatory, Salita.

So why the hell are two other boxers fighting for the interim title?

[javelin_fangs]

I'm glad that they lined up Maidana. I think I read somewhere that they were talking about Stevie Forbes. I would have been so pissed if that'd been the fight. This is a good fight for Ortiz.