On Saturday May 4, boxing pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather steps in to the ring for the Showtime PPV May Day: Mayweather vs. Guerrero. Yesterday, to preview Mayweather vs. Guerrero, we looked at one of Mayweather's fights that may have relevance for Saturday - his 2007 defeat of Ricky Hatton. Today, we take a look at another Mayweather bout - the controversial 2011 clash with Victor Ortiz.
Showtime Boxing Mayweather vs. Guerrero airs this Saturday, May 4 live on pay-per-view with a fight time of 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT. Bloody Elbow will have live fight night coverage, including results and discussion.
There are definitely similarities worth noting between Victor Ortiz and Robert Guerrero. The two men occupy a similar position in the overall boxing rankings. Both men used Andre Berto as a stepping stone to the big payday with Money. Both are clearly in over their heads against Mayweather.
More Mayweather vs. Guerrero coverage:Bloody Elbow | Bad Left Hook | SB Nation
But perhaps most important is that both men may need a somewhat similar strategy to defeat Mayweather. For Ortiz, that strategy was to make it a dirty fight. To fight on the ropes, and to make liberal use of his head to get Floyd off his game. Showtime commentator Al Bernstein thinks this is the same thing Guerrero will have to do:
Victor Ortiz was a lefty, and he had Mayweather on the ropes, but Victor Ortiz didn't often approach as a true lefty. He squared up, and he wasn't even close to as good a fighter on the inside as Robert Guerrero. And he's not mentally tough-minded enough, so he got frustrated and headbutted. If Floyd Mayweather goes to the ropes, yes, this could be his toughest fight in a long time.
But just like the Hatton fight, there's a problem with this strategy. Yes, it did give Ortiz moments of success, but in the end, he was down and out, as Mayweather rolled with whatever Ortiz threw at him, then scored the KO.
Watch the full fight video of Mayweather vs. Ortiz right now online at Bloody Elbow.
Of course, that KO is not without controversy. If you've never seen it before, it's absolutely worth watching. After a referee break due to a headbutt, Ortiz apologizes, keeps his hands down, and Floyd drills him and knocks him out. Many people felt Floyd's conduct was unsportsmanlike and even of dubious legality. Looking back on the incident now, I stick by my original assessment - the KO is primarily the fault of Ortiz for dropping his hands, and referee Joe Cortez for unclear instructions. Floyd's actions were not at fault. Though I do agree with the post-fight commentary - if he really is the best in the world (and he is), why does he need to win a fight this way?
For Guerrero, there's a lesson to be learned here. He can not allow himself to become emotional as Ortiz did. He's the distinct underdog, and for him to pull off a win will mean fighting the fight of his life. A single lapse in concentration can spell his end. That's what happened to Ortiz, and if The Ghost is not careful, that's what will happen to him on Saturday.
Join us here at Bloody Elbow for Showtime Boxing Mayweather vs. Guerrero PPV results, discussion, and live fight coverage this Saturday, May 4.
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