By Nick Cole: Whether you’re a Floyd Mayweather Jr. fan or hater, one thing that most fight fans can agree upon: The sport of boxing could use a few more exciting fights.
The only way for that to happen, however, is to get boxing’s biggest draws in the ring more often.
Those draws, for the moment at least, are Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
But since the Mayweather and Pacquiao camps have not been able to come to terms, for the boxing fan, the best thing that could ever happen for the sport of boxing, is a Mayweather (41-0) loss to Vicious Victor Ortiz (29-2-2) in their September 12 fight in Las Vegas.
Here’s what I mean: A Mayweather loss would set three exciting fights into motion, forcing Mayweather to fight more often, which is what most boxing fans want.
In fact, the sport of boxing really needs the momentum with the UFC and FOX recently reaching a seven-year deal, which will put the product and the brand in millions more homes across the country and therefore dramatically increase its popularity.
The one thing that UFC President Dana White gets is that people just want to see good fights, which explains the UFC’s recent growth. Boxing has lost some of its luster since it Mike Tyson days and desperately needs a few more good fights each year.
A Mayweather loss would bring at least some excitement back to boxing for a while. If Ortiz somehow finds a way to beat Mayweather, boxing fans will not only have a young, determined new champion on its hands, but it would also set up a rematch between Mayweather and Ortiz.
That in itself is exciting. You’ll have a new champ and Mayweather is forced to fight more than once a year for a change.
There are several reasons why a Mayweather loss is intriguing.
For one, Mayweather has never lost a fight, so a rematch with Ortiz would in itself bring excitement. You’ll have the curiosity factor for fans to see how Mayweather bounces back from his first loss.
Plus, Mayweather, to some, appears to be boastful, prideful, and a money worshiper, but nothing humbles a boxer more than a loss. For Mayweather to be humbled, it would only add to the anticipation of a rematch, especially if the first fight between Mayweather and Ortiz is a close one.
Speaking of money, whether Mayweather is broke or is financially fine will be irrelevant if he loses to Ortiz.
If Mayweather loses, he can no longer sit back and fight when he wants to. His pride alone would force him back into the ring for a rematch, regardless of if there is a rematch clause in the contract. More Mayweather means more good fights for fans to see.
In addition, with a September 17 loss, Mayweather would not only have to redeem himself from the loss, but in recent weeks, Amir Khan has also appeared as a potential opposition for Mayweather. Assuming the Mayweather and Pacquioa fight can’t be made immediately after his redemption fight, there’s absolutely no other person Mayweahter could fight besides Khan, another young, hungry lion.
After the Khan fight, there’s still the much anticipated Pacquioa fight to be made.
So instead of a Mayweahter win on September 17 and fans waiting around for another year only hoping for the mega fight with Pacioua, a loss would force Mayweather in the ring three to four times within the next year instead of the usual one fight a year, which shortchanges true fight fans.
With that said, the odds of Mayweather actually losing on September 17, in my book, are slim to none.
Here’s why: Mayweather is a smart fighter, promoter, and businessman, and a smart business man would never risk missing out on the big reward that will come with the mega fight with Pacquioa.
As I analyze the fight between Mayweather and Ortiz, it was a smart business move on Floyd’s part to chose Ortiz because on paper, Ortiz has the prototype to beat Floyd.
Ortiz, for one, is a southpaw, which Floyd Mayweather Sr. has been on record for years as saying he doesn’t like Floyd fighting southpaws. Being the person who taught Floyd all of the basics and fundamentals that he still displays today, Mayweahter Sr. knows all of his flaws and what type of fighter his son struggles with. Clearly, it’s a southpaw.
If you’re Mayweather Jr., the business side would say, why not use that to promote the fight? Well, that’s exactly what Mayweather has done.
In addition, most Mayweather haters complain that he doesn’t fight boxers in their prime.
Ortiz, however, is a young, hungry lion. Making this fight adds to the marketing and business sense of Mayweather because boxing fans want to see how he handles a good fighter in his prime.
The problem is that I see exactly what Mayweather sees: Though Ortiz looks good on paper. He’s a southpaw, young and relentless in throwing punches, but Ortiz gases out after six rounds in single last one of his fights. That’s exactly what Mayweather is banking on. Boxing is a skill of habit and the chances of suddenly breaking a career-long habit in a few weeks of training camp, is highly unlikely. Ortiz’s habit is gasing out after six rounds.
The way I see it playing out is Ortiz will put up a great fight and will probably be winning on the scorecards through the first four to five rounds, but after he gases out in the sixth round, which Ortiz has shown to do throughout the history of his fights, Mayweather will come out of his defense-first mode and overwhelm Ortiz, making it basically a Zab Judah rerun all over again.
Now some may say that Ortiz kept fighting in the Berto fight after six rounds. But if you watch the tape, Ortix’s legs were clearly going away. The difference is that Berto doesn’t cover up well, so Ortiz was still able to swing and catch Berto will blows to the head. Berto was gased at this point in time as well.
Mayweather, however, can go 12 rounds without getting tired and he covers up very well, which may be the difference in the fight.
I am a huge Mayweather fan, but like most real boxing fans, it wouldn’t hurt to see him action more often.
A Mayweather loss is the only way that will happen though, so Ortiz, if you are reading this, do boxing a huge favor, and give Mayweather his first loss by using your southpaw stance to your advantage, and let your hands go for all 12 rounds.
Make no mistake about it, Ortiz will not win a decision, regardless of what the scorecards say.
Ortiz has to knock Mayweather out. That’s the best thing that could ever happen to boxing.