Controversy as Mayweather knocks out Ortiz
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Shanghai Daily, September 19, 2011
Floyd Mayweather Jr took the WBC welterweight title from Victor Ortiz with a controversial fourth-round knockout in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday that prompted an angry response from the crowd and raised questions about his conduct in the ring.
Aggressive puncher Ortiz had knocked down 12 of his previous 13 opponents and he pinned fellow American Mayweather against the ropes before being penalized by referee Joe Cortez for a head-butt.
After a brief timeout, Ortiz apologized to his opponent in the center of the ring by touching gloves before Mayweather suddenly responded with a left hook and crunching right that dropped Ortiz to the canvas at 2:59.
Boos rang out from the crowd in the MGM Grand Garden Arena but Mayweather, who improved his professional career record to a perfect 42-0 with 26 knockouts, was unrepentant.
"I got hit with a dirty shot, I was protecting myself at all times," the 34-year-old said ringside. "I hit him with a left and then a right hand, and that ended the bout."
Asked to describe what happened as a replay of the final moments was shown on a giant television screen, Mayweather replied: "We touched gloves and we were back to fighting, then I threw the left and right hand and that's all she wrote."
Mayweather, widely regarded as the best defensive fighter of his generation, then showered his interviewer with abuse and said he had never been given "a fair shake".
Ortiz, who took the WBC welterweight title from Andre Berto in April with an unanimous points victory, conceded the head-butt had been unfortunate but was eager to get a re-match with Mayweather.
"I apologized to him," the 24-year-old southpaw said after slipping to 29-3-2 with 22 knockouts. "I am not a dirty fighter. I am sorry for that. But I was doing just fine until that slip-up so I would love this re-match."
Ortiz, who had said during the fight's build-up that he had never been especially impressed by Mayweather's fighting credentials, gave his own version of how the bout had ended.
"I was called to break by the referee (after the head-butt) and I obeyed exactly as I was told," he said. "And then, boom, he blindsided me. It happens."
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