It wasn’t exactly a verbal body blow, but Victor Ortiz made it clear that he’s willing to get under Floyd Mayweather’s skin. In an interview for his upcoming bout with the welterweight champion, Ortiz had this to say:
“It’s a cool thing, because ever since I was a kid, I’ve said I’ll be the first to defeat Mayweather, and now I’m on the doorstep of making it true.”
“Mayweather’s quick, he’s a great fighter, but I’ve never been that impressed with his style,” Ortiz said.
Those are pretty tough words considering the fact that Mayweather is 41-0 with 25 knockouts. Of course, Ortiz may just think he needs to hype the fight as much as possible. And a psychological advantage against the reigning champ might be the only chance Ortiz has when he and Mayweather go toe-to-toe.
Going into this fight Mayweather faces several distractions, including three criminal cases, and the possibility of a lucrative 2012 super fight against Manny Pacquiao.
“I don’t think [Mayweather's issues] matter,” Ortiz said. “He’s an elite fighter, one of the greatest of all time. At the end of the day, I think boxing and reality are two separate things.”
“Boxing and reality are two separate things.” Well, that’s probably about the smartest thing the kid could say. I hope he’s ready for reality to pound him mercilessly when he takes on Mayweather.
[PhotoSource: The LA Times]
