Dirty boxing or pure business? On Saturday, Sept. 17, boxing put on a show and the price was $25 million. Floyd Mayweather is a monster, and at 42-0 he’s one of the best boxers in his weight class. Over the period of his career he’s won six world-boxing championships in five different weight classes. However, his opponent Victor Ortiz, though an impressive boxer, did not have similar credentials. Mayweather had already beaten Ortiz once; Mayweather was favored 5-1 to win the fight, and no one expected Ortiz to win.
Although the facts and the odds were against Ortiz, he stepped into the ring Saturday. Mayweather dominated the first two rounds. A few good right hands and good use of his quickness kept Ortiz on his feet; however, as the fourth round began, Ortiz rallied. A series of successive hits to Mayweather only left Ortiz frustrated as he brushed them aside. This frustration would lead to the highlight of the match: the head-butt. Whether Ortiz reached a point of frustration or lost himself in the fight, somehow Mayweather got head-butted.
The refs quickly went to halt the match and help both fighters collect themselves. This was followed by a touching of gloves and a hug in the center of the ring, when suddenly Mayweather decided to end the fight. Sucker punch or business, Mayweather, immediately (after touching gloves) delivered a one-two combo to Ortiz that knocked him off his feet. The refs called the match, and Mayweather’s undefeated reign continued.
Now here are the bothersome facts: This fight, Mayweather’s first in 16 months, earned him $25 million at minimum. Once the revenue from Pay-Per-View gets divvied up, that number will grow even larger. Ortiz had zero chance of winning the fight — anyone who bet for Ortiz would be facing 5-1 odds and praying for a miracle.
So why hold the fight? It just so happens that Manny Pacquiao is fighting Juan Manuel Marquez in November. Marquez, though a decent boxer, has no chance against Pacquiao. When and if Pacquiao beats Marquez, they can begin scheduling the anticipated fight between himself and Mayweather. If the fight is held early in quarter one of 2012, or “if” there is a Mr. Clause and the fight is held on Christmas, both fighters can demand more money due to the closeness of their previous fights.
This, of course, is hearsay — the fight might never happen, but a Christmas fight would be cool.
