Mexican descent American professional boxer and the former WBC World Welterweight Champion Victor Ortiz turned his WBC welterweight title bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr into a "street fight" on Saturday, September 17 but paid a heavy price when he woke up on the canvas after being controversially knocked out.
In a tumultuous fourth round, champion Ortiz head-butted the challenger and referee Joe Cortez immediately called time and deducted a point. Acknowledging the foul, Ortiz hugged Mayweather apologetically before kissing him on the cheek and the two fighters touched gloves. Ortiz had his hands down when Mayweather landed a left hook followed by a straight and unsettled and put out Ortiz. But Ortiz took it as a part and parcel of boxing.
"I was called to break by the referee and I obeyed exactly as I was told," Ortiz said after losing his title. "And then, boom, he blindsided me" Ortiz slipped to 29-3-2 with the loss. "The ref said something. I looked up and he just caught me. I was like: 'Wow', and I woke up after. It happens. It's part of the game." Ortiz admitted the head-butt was a big mistake and conceded the controversial ending was deserved. "I apologised to him after the fight as well," said Ortiz. "It was in the heat of the moment. In a sense, it was a payback."
Mayweather, who extended his perfect professional record to 42-0 with 26 knockouts, said he had done nothing illegal and it was Ortiz who had been guilty of dirty tactics. "We came together, we touched and it's fight time from what I know," the 34-year-old said. "He wanted to do me dirty and then two minutes later he wanted to be friends."
Ortiz fought Andre Berto for the WBC welterweight title on April 16, 2011 at the Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket. Hailed as the early pick for the fight of the year Ortiz won the fight by unanimous decision over Berto. Ortiz lost his title by the knockout in this controversial ending of the match with Floyed Mayweather Jr who is ten year older than Ortiz. Victor Ortiz agreed to fight with Mayweather and it was announced by Mayweather via twitter on June 7 this year.
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| Ortiz knocked down by Mayweather |
