Mayweather lets down his guard
Post-fight Mayweather-Ortiz: 'Take the test,' Mayweather says to Pacquiao

Story by Andreas Hale
Photos by Chris Cozzone

A tearful Mayweather gave thanks to his family, team and God for another stellar outing that resulted in a knockout victory.

This was a far different Mayweather than the one seen in the ring clobbering Victor Ortiz with a combination that caught Ortiz off guard after he apologized for an intentional headbutt.

This was also a departure from the brash Mayweather who told HBO’s Larry Merchant that he “wasn’t sh*t” after feeling that the elder statesman of boxing analysts was not giving him his just due. This was the “Money” Mayweather who turned it off for a few moments just to show his appreciating for those that had his back since the beginning.

He never felt that he did it by himself.

Nevertheless, it was “Money” Mayweather taking home another multi-million dollar payday and his 42nd win as he scored a controversial 4th round TKO that has become magnified perhaps unfairly because of his “Bad Boy Floyd” image. For weeks, Ortiz’ trainer Danny Garcia talked about Mayweather being a “dirty” fighter. Even moments before the two fighters walked out Garcia was warning referee Joe Cortez about some of the antics Mayweather might pull against Ortiz. Little did he know, it would all start with the questionable actions of his own fighter.

After being soundly outclassed for four rounds, Victor Ortiz intentionally launched his head into Mayweather’s mouth and cut “Money” on both the inside and outside of his mouth. Knowing his actions were foul, Ortiz hugged Mayweather and gave him an inexplicable kiss on the cheek. With Mayweather visibly upset, referee Joe Cortez took a point away from Ortiz and brought the fighters back together. Another hug from Ortiz came as the two touched gloves and before the “Vicious” one knew what happened, he was eating two power shots from Mayweather and had dissolved into the canvas.

Whether or not Ortiz was ready for those two punches is what is up for debate. Reviewing the tape you can see that Ortiz still had his hands down after the two fighters were brought back together and Mayweather either pulverized Ortiz on instinct or took an opportunity that perhaps he shouldn’t have.

"I thought the ref called a break and I am pretty sure he did and then I was like 'whoa, whoa,' and then I woke up after,” a good-spirited Ortiz said during the post fight press conference. Ortiz, who was a bit more jovial than one would expect after losing the biggest fight of his career, admits that he let all of his emotions out in the locker room afterwards. He didn’t feel what Mayweather pulled was dirty, but he surely didn’t think it was fair.

Instead of persisting to point fingers at Mayweather, Team Ortiz admits that their fighter made a horrible mistake that the undefeated fighter capitalized on.

"You learn quite a bit from each fight individually, but I am still not convinced that he [Mayweather] is the greatest. I was doing just fine and then there was a little slip up,” he continued. “I would really like a rematch.”

It’s unlikely that Mayweather and Ortiz will fight again considering the way the fight was going up until that point. Despite claims from Ortiz that it was competitive, it clearly was being controlled by Maywather who landed his right hand at will and was well on his way to a victory. Nevertheless, the ending adds another notch on the “Bad Boy” belt that Mayweather has worn throughout his career.

"I just say what goes around, comes around. Things happen in this sport and like I said, they say protect yourself at all times,” Mayweather said during his time at the podium. He praised Ortiz afterwards but was very clear that young man deserved what he got. Whether it was right or wrong is up to fight fans to decide. One thing is for sure, Mayweather believes that the knockout that he promised was inevitable. "Without the fourth round, he was going to get knocked out anyway. I was fighting stronger. I was keeping my composure and sticking to the game plan.”

The game plan was working and it although it appeared that Mayweather would have cruised to a victory, the finish leaves a bad taste in many fight fans’ mouths. But for Mayweather, who is aware that his skeptics will take away from him more than they will give him, he was in a no-win situation from the beginning. This just magnified the situation further.

"I'm always in a no-win situation. They always say something about me. It's obvious I'm here for a reason," Mayweather says. He is visibly annoyed that he has yet to get his props as a great fighter; which is what led to the blowup with Larry Merchant on live television.

"I don't regret anything I said to him,” he said definitively. “He's never given me my just due."

It appears that the only way that Mayweather will ever get the respect he feels he deserves is by fighting the one man that matches him in the squared circle. Rather than ignore the Filipino elephant in the room, Mayweather tackles it head-on. “I’m not ducking or dodging nobody,” Mayweather said. “If he thinks he’s the best, all he has to do is take the test.”

The man he is talking about is the other pound for pound king, Manny Pacquiao. Talks to pit these two future hall of famers against each other have broken down several times over the past couple of years over everything from blood tests to controversy over who really wants the fight. Contrary to what Pacquiao and his team says, Mayweather says he has been ready to face Pac Man. The ball is in Pacquiao and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum’s court.

"Pacquiao doesn't want to fight me. All he does is fight my leftovers," Mayweather barked when the question began to rain down. Even though reports have come in that Pacquiao has agreed to the random drug tests, Mayweather says we don’t know the whole story. "They are lying about wanting to take the tests. Pacquiao has a boss who makes his decisions. They never wanted the fight. I wish you knew the whole truth."

The bottom line is that there is only one fight everyone wants to see. Should Pacquiao defeat Marquez for a third time in November, there is a lingering feeling that this fight takes place sometime in 2012; just as long as Mayweather doesn’t have to wait another 16 months.

"I'm not saying I'm retiring but if I take another long layoff, I don't know."

Hopefully it comes together sooner than later.