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Mayweather’s first fight back against Victor Ortiz is an interesting and fun one. Ortiz is young and strong and rarely in a bad fight – but he just isn’t in the same league as elite boxers like Mayweather or Pacquiao. He’s a 7 to 1 underdog for a reason – that said Ortiz is a talented guy who could punch and is coming off the biggest victory of his career against 4 to 1 favorite Andre Berto; a brutal war in which Ortiz and Berto both were on the verge of being stopped several times through out. I’ve been known to be very critical of Floyd Mayweather and his level of opposition. He’s one of the most naturally gifted fighters and best defensive fighters of this era but in the past decade i felt he was more concerned with keeping an undefeated record than fighting the fights the fans wanted to see. Although Victor Ortiz is no Manny Pacquiao and no Sergio Martinez this is definitely a step in the right direction for Floyd.
CAN ORTIZ WIN?
Probably not. I think Ortiz has the same chance of beating Mayweather as Tomasz Adamek has beating Vitali Klitschko. Both Adamek and Ortiz are good fighters but both are rightfully coming in as big underdogs. Adamek is a better fighter and more skilled than Ortiz but he is fighting Klitschsko – a guy just as skilled as him who outweighs him by 30 pounds and hits a lot harder. I think both Ortiz and Adamek will give their opponents problems for a couple rounds but both Klitschko and Mayweather will end up dominating. Klitsckho may get a stoppage and Mayweather is more likely going to dominate Ortiz in a decision victory.
WHAT ARE ORTIZ’S BEST CHANCES:
1) Ortiz’s best chance is if Mayweather somehow got old over night. Speed and Reflexes are the first to go on an athlete and those are Mayweather’s biggest strengths. Power punchers usually have longer-gevity than slick boxers because power is the last thing to leave a fighter. That’s why Muhammad Ali wasn’t a shell of who he once was by his late 30′s and a power puncher like George Foreman was still able to win a title in his mid 40′s, Foreman’s reflexes weren’t what they used to be but he was still able to knock guys out. If Floyd somehow can’t respond to the openings he sees, and can’t get away from the shots he was once able to, then Ortiz has a chance… But Floyd takes good care of himself physically and takes his gym work seriously so i don’t think that will be the case on Sept 17th.
2) If Ortiz lands a clean shot the way Mosley landed on Mayweather in the 2nd round of their fight Ortiz is young enough to possibly finish the job.
BUT… if Mayweather is in top form i don’t think Victor Ortiz will be able to hit him clean at all and also Floyd is smart enough to tie him up and weather the storm if he does get hit, and then use his defensive skills to be cautious and make Ortiz look foolish at the same time.
HOW WILL THE FIGHT PAN OUT:
I think Ortiz can give Mayweather a little trouble in the first few rounds while he still has his confidence. Ortiz might even win a round or two in the first four rounds but Mayweather should be able to break him down and frustrate his younger less experienced opponent then begin to dominate and win big on points. If Lamont Peterson was able to befuddle Ortiz and give him fits, imagine what’s going to happen when he gets in there with Floyd.
PREDICTION: FLOYD by Unanimous Decision
ERIK MORALES vs. LUCAS MATTHYSSE
I can’t remember Erik being in a fight that wasn’t exciting – He was always one of my favorite fighters to watch. His fights were usually wars on an Arturo Gatti level of action – except Morales fought on a much higher skill level. The Mexican Icon was thought to be washed up until he recently fought competitively against Marcos Maidana – losing a razor-thin decision.
His opponent Lucas Matthysse is a straight up bad ass. the Argentinian slugger dropped the last two big name fighters he faced; Devon Alexander and Zab judah – in fights many thought he deserved to win.
PREDICTION: Although i’ll be rooting for Morales I do believe MATTHYSSE will be too strong for him and will beat Morales more decisively than Maidana did.
SAUL “CANELO” ALVAREZ vs. ALFONSO GOMEZ
The 20 year old Alvarez has been selling out venues and is a already a star in Mexico but a lot of casual boxing fans don’t know who he is – so i’m glad he’s expanding his fan base fighting on these Pay-Per-View undercards. His opponent is Alfonso Gomez from TV’s Contender – a tough veteran who can fight but this is meant to be a showcase for Mr. Cinnamon.
PREDICTION: CANELO by 9th round Stoppage
CAN ORTIZ WIN?
Probably not. I think Ortiz has the same chance of beating Mayweather as Tomasz Adamek has beating Vitali Klitschko. Both Adamek and Ortiz are good fighters but both are rightfully coming in as big underdogs. Adamek is a better fighter and more skilled than Ortiz but he is fighting Klitschsko – a guy just as skilled as him who outweighs him by 30 pounds and hits a lot harder. I think both Ortiz and Adamek will give their opponents problems for a couple rounds but both Klitschko and Mayweather will end up dominating. Klitsckho may get a stoppage and Mayweather is more likely going to dominate Ortiz in a decision victory.
WHAT ARE ORTIZ’S BEST CHANCES:
1) Ortiz’s best chance is if Mayweather somehow got old over night. Speed and Reflexes are the first to go on an athlete and those are Mayweather’s biggest strengths. Power punchers usually have longer-gevity than slick boxers because power is the last thing to leave a fighter. That’s why Muhammad Ali wasn’t a shell of who he once was by his late 30′s and a power puncher like George Foreman was still able to win a title in his mid 40′s, Foreman’s reflexes weren’t what they used to be but he was still able to knock guys out. If Floyd somehow can’t respond to the openings he sees, and can’t get away from the shots he was once able to, then Ortiz has a chance… But Floyd takes good care of himself physically and takes his gym work seriously so i don’t think that will be the case on Sept 17th.
2) If Ortiz lands a clean shot the way Mosley landed on Mayweather in the 2nd round of their fight Ortiz is young enough to possibly finish the job.
BUT… if Mayweather is in top form i don’t think Victor Ortiz will be able to hit him clean at all and also Floyd is smart enough to tie him up and weather the storm if he does get hit, and then use his defensive skills to be cautious and make Ortiz look foolish at the same time.
HOW WILL THE FIGHT PAN OUT:
I think Ortiz can give Mayweather a little trouble in the first few rounds while he still has his confidence. Ortiz might even win a round or two in the first four rounds but Mayweather should be able to break him down and frustrate his younger less experienced opponent then begin to dominate and win big on points. If Lamont Peterson was able to befuddle Ortiz and give him fits, imagine what’s going to happen when he gets in there with Floyd.
PREDICTION: FLOYD by Unanimous Decision
ERIK MORALES vs. LUCAS MATTHYSSE
I can’t remember Erik being in a fight that wasn’t exciting – He was always one of my favorite fighters to watch. His fights were usually wars on an Arturo Gatti level of action – except Morales fought on a much higher skill level. The Mexican Icon was thought to be washed up until he recently fought competitively against Marcos Maidana – losing a razor-thin decision.
His opponent Lucas Matthysse is a straight up bad ass. the Argentinian slugger dropped the last two big name fighters he faced; Devon Alexander and Zab judah – in fights many thought he deserved to win.
PREDICTION: Although i’ll be rooting for Morales I do believe MATTHYSSE will be too strong for him and will beat Morales more decisively than Maidana did.
SAUL “CANELO” ALVAREZ vs. ALFONSO GOMEZ
The 20 year old Alvarez has been selling out venues and is a already a star in Mexico but a lot of casual boxing fans don’t know who he is – so i’m glad he’s expanding his fan base fighting on these Pay-Per-View undercards. His opponent is Alfonso Gomez from TV’s Contender – a tough veteran who can fight but this is meant to be a showcase for Mr. Cinnamon.
PREDICTION: CANELO by 9th round Stoppage
