After rewatching the fight on hbo tonight

you would find something to ***** about no matter how the fight played out...barring floyd getting KOed

 

I take it you have never boxed or competed in any type of contact sport. When its time to fight it is time to fight. If Floyd got hit with a low blow and the ref didn't see it and Victor knocked his ass out while he was looking at the ref then so mother****ing be it. Protect yourself at all times. Get over it kid. Mayweather hugged and gave Ortiz dap and then the ref said "LET'S GO" That's the end of it kid. Ortiz lost and you need to just leave it at that.

 

Saw the fight again and haven't really changed my opinions, but learned a few new things.

First of all, Ortiz's people should have refused to cut the wrap off unless ordered to do so by the commission. They told Roger that at 6:30 they would wrap him. Neither Roger nor a Mayweather rep was sent to observe the wrapping at 6:30. In fact, they weren't there by 6:45. At that point, they were on notice and if they cared enough, they should have come.

I learned that Ortiz was trying to strategically place the top of his head into Mayweather's face several times before, and he did try to head butt him once before the truly obvious intentional head butt, but was more subtle about it all up to then. Mayweather used a couple subtle sneaky head pull downs, and it was obvious he was trying not to use his elbow/forearm tactic quite as much given all of the complaints and talk about it.

Ortiz was obviously dazed and confused afterwards. He lied about the intentional head butt, claiming that Mayweather pulled him in, which was patently false. He also claimed to be trying to listen to the ref so he turned to him when in fact he did not turn to the ref until after the hook out of the hug landed. Clearly, he was not looking at Cortez to listen to him as he claimed, but rather as if he wanted to lodge a complaint about being hit out of the hug. Ortiz claimed that he was hit after the ref said 'Break,' but nothing of the sort happened. There was no call to break. Of course, if he thought he heard 'break,' then that shows he knew the fight was on.

Yes Cortez was clearly looking away at the time, a big blunder, but actually, in the final analysis, it did not matter, because even if he was looking, there was nothing he could have done, nor should he have. Once the ref says "Let's go" and waves his hands together at ring center and then steps back, the fight is back on. He probably should have said "Box," or "Fight", which would have been more clear.

However, Victor should not have tried to hug and touch a third time. He had already apologized twice. He kissed and touched, then touched. Enough is enough and a fighter cannot continue to take a time out. How long does a fighter get to apologize and how many times must a fighter wait and allow him to engage in continual "ceremony" of apology? I say that twice was enough and once Cortez said "Let's go" and waved his hands Ortiz should have gone forward with the bout. Protect yourself at all times is something I have taught even basic beginner amateurs. I like the way Tyson used to touch gloves - by extending one arm from as far away as possible while keeping the other hand in a defensive position, looking alert. Always expect the other fighter to hit you. I teach my fighters to keep their hands up even after the bell, because a punch may be on its way which was legally started before the bell. This is basic beginner boxing. Ortiz made a huge mistake.

Did Floyd knowingly take advantage of a totally exposed boxer? Absolutely. He knew full well what he was doing. Was he in the legal right? Yes. Is he an ass? Perhaps so. But is it understandable? Yes. I noticed a little split in his chin below his lip clearly caused by that flagrant butt. Ortiz started the street tactics and Mayweather finished it. I blame the guy who removed the bout from the fair sportsmanship realm, the guy who mentally broke first. Is Ortiz an idiot? Yes. He should have protected himself at all times, and he should have seen that Floyd was pissed, and that when Floyd was advancing, it wasn't in a 'Let's make love' a third time attitude and position. Ortiz also should have ducked, blocked, or went down after the first punch. Instead, he kept his hands down and made it worse by looking away, another thing basic amateurs know you never do in the ring. Jack Sharkey paid for it against Dempsey, and now Ortiz has too. End of story.

It seems to me that Ortiz was happy to be done with it all and to pick up a paycheck the likes of which he never dreamed he would receive. I never before saw a loser so darn happy.

Is Floyd an ass for going after Merchant? Yes. I listened carefully, and Merchant did not ask him anything that was out of line. I think he asked him challenging questions, but fair questions that any journalist with common sense would have asked him. Larry probably could have given him a little positive preamble to soften things, but at the end of the day, Floyd needs to learn to be a mature adult, not a child. That temper tantrum was no more mature than something I'd expect out of a wild child.

 

I like HBO for boxing as well. I sort of want Showtime to get out of the game so that I don't have to pay for two premium channels. But then HBO has to up their budget a little.

HBO's slow motion replays are almost too good.

 

I agree with most all of your post, except this last paragraph.

For one thing, the episode between Floyd and Merchant was NOT just the end result of that short conversation in the ring. Merchant has made snide remarks and "cheap shots" verbally at Floyd for a LONG time. For instance, just on the evening alone Merchant made some kind of remarks about Floyd walking into the building with his children at his side....I can't remember the lines exactly, but I do remember Lampley laughing it off and saying "OR it could just be that Floyd wanted to walk into the event with his children...".

Listen to the commentary during the fight. How many times does Merchant keep pointing out how he feels Floyd's fights are usually shitty? (everytime he speaks, pretty much?)

I like Merchant a lot sometimes, and at others, he really could use a little slice of humble pie. If you pay attention to Larry, it becomes quite clear he feels he soooo above anything boxing....or put another way, he seems to feel he IS HBO boxing.

Where would HBO boxing be without it's fighters, and the unique characters and stories they bring with them?

 

Great comments. I think that Merchant is a thorn in the side to a guy who lives in an echo chamber created by his own ego.

Was Merchant representing the boxing fan who thinks that Floydvs Pac is an all time great fight and that Floyd-Ortiz was just watching some boxing? This fight was below the quality in some ways of many other fights this year. I'd rather rewatch Andy Lee's last fight or Ortiz-Berto.

On the other hand I do sometime watch Tysons one sided beat downs. Mayweather is a great fighter. You have to respect that. Kellerman would maybe be more diplomatic.

 

Good read. About Floyd's tantrum, you missed the part where Schaefer signalled for Floyd to end the interview, just before he inexplicably went off on Merchant. Neither Mayweather nor Golden Boy wanted to talk about a Pacquiao fight. It's obvious, they have their own plans to continue making money together and keeping it all in-house, with Khan looking likely as Mayweather's next opponent.

 

Well put.

IMO, Merchant's giggling like a tickled child at his own jokes while the others on the team are "uncomfortably" silent supports this.

 

It would be interesting to see an "alternate universe" p) where Mr. Merchant LOVED Floyd but took every opportunity to take cheap verbal shots at Manny Pac.

 

I mean that maybe Merchant is being an intentional thorn in the side of Mayweather who doesn't even want to consider any perspectives other than his own. Like in many conflicts, maybe both are wrong here. Floyd should be able to take a little criticism and maybe Merchant should be more diplomatic.

 

i think he acted right, Larry merchant is a commentator and that means regardless of his affiliations/opinions he has to be political and partial yet hes a nut hugger go watch some ODLH fights and youll see how he was moist the whole time, mayweather is the reason Larry got paid that day and its a totally appropriate reaction from PBF to lash out at a guy who just deminishes him every time he can just go ahead think all the things that the other moron herpes mouth his name escapes me this sec would have done as in tone and type of question... he would have asked the same but from a neutral position which larry hasnt been able to do for 20 years now

 

First, I'll agree with you that the situation is a two way street. Yes, Floyd could have not said anything.

However, I fully agree that Merchant likes being an intentional thorn in May's side. An intentional thorn in the side of the star of the show. A thorn in the side of the man everybody bought the expensive PPV to see.

If you are fair, you will see that even though Larry's question was designed to irritate Floyd, Floyd answered it professionally not once...but twice using video the second time. This wasn't good enough for Larry, because he'd yet to get the response HE desired out of Floyd yet, so he re-words the question to hit him with it again a 3rd time.

Floyd told him to **** off. I concur with that.

 

Excellent. :deal

Those are the problems, if one is being fair.

You said what I've been tryin' to think how to say......and it's quite simple.....Larry was NOT questioning Floyd from a neutral position. Simple as that.

 

Why did Floyd trick Ortiz buy pretending to except the third apology just to get close and land the cheap shot in. That is the question the Floyd sack swingers ignore. The third apology was not needed and the ref said let's go I don't deny that. Why use the apology just to come close and have a free shot? Why didn't he just refuse the apology and smack him? Why pretend is that a special boxing skill that only he can master. Why do you think Floyd was crying like a ***** after the fight because he knows everybody hates him and thinks he's a *****!

 

floyd used his elbow alot and those 2 punches were blatantly cheap. **** void mayfeather