Controversy as Mayweather KOs Ortiz

Floyd Mayweather Jr. remained undefeated with a controversial fourth round KO of WBC welterweight champ Victor Ortiz in Las Vegas. As expected, Mayweather was the superior boxer but Ortiz was competitive through three-plus rounds. Then, unprovoked, Ortiz launched an intentional headbutt which bloodied Mayweather's mouth. Referee Joe Cortez immediately called time out and correctly deducted a point from Ortiz. However, when Cortez signaled time back in, he was looking at the ringside timekeeper instead of the fighters. At the same time, Ortiz moved towards Mayweather to embrace and apologize. Mayweather, in no mood for a hug after being butted, landed a left hook and a straight right that dropped a defenseless Ortiz. Cortez missed the punches but, since time was in, he ruled it a legal knockdown and reached a count of ten before Ortiz could reach his feet to continue.

Punch Stats: Total Punches: Mayweather - 73 of 208 (35%); Ortiz - 26 of 148 (18%). Jabs: Mayweather - 12 of 83 (14%); Ortiz - 0 of 31 (0%). Power Punches: Mayweather - 61 of 125 (49%); Ortiz - 26 of 117 (22%).

Mayweather's actions, while technically legal, were somewhat unportsmanlike but the blame for what happened lies entirely on Ortiz. He's the one who blatantly fouled Mayweather and, more importantly, he's the one who failed to protect himself when the fight resumed.

After the fight, Mayweather felt disrespected by the completely reasonable questions being asked by HBO's 80-year-old Larry Merchant and completely lost his cool:

Mayweather: You never give me a fair shake. You know that? So I’m gonna let you talk to Victor Ortiz, alright? I’m through! Put somebody else up here to give me an interview.

Merchant: What are you talking about?

Mayweather: You never give me a fair shake! HBO needs to fire you! You don’t know shit about boxing! You ain’t sh*t! You’re not sh*t!

Merchant: I wish I was 50 years younger and I’d kick your a**!

Mayweather: You won’t do sh*t!

In contrast, Ortiz seemed oddly at peace over what had just transpired when he should have been upset - at either himself or the referee - over squandering the biggest opportunity of his career. Instead, he simply asked for a rematch which he will not receive.

While boxing fans were deprived of the remainder of what could have been an interesting fight, there remains a potentially silver lining. If Manny Pacquaio takes care of business against Juan Manuel Marquez in November, there would seem to be a decent chance of the two best pound-or-pound fighters in the world finally meeting in the ring.