HBO Commentators Look Ahead to Floyd Mayweather Jr., Victor Ortiz Fight

The most anticipated matchup of the year features former welterweight and lightweight champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and current WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz.

Before the bout goes down on Sept. 17 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, there will be a lot of build-up for the bout, including the return of the HBO 24/7 four-part series, which debuts Aug. 27.

HBO commentators Max Kellerman, Emanuel Steward and Jim Lampley discussed the megafight after Saturday's event featuring a light welterweight title unification bout between Amir Khan and Zab Judah.

"I think it's an exciting matchup," said Steward, who is training Chad Dawson for his upcoming bout with Bernard Hopkins. "In fact, I was very surprised that Floyd took the fight. He has so much to lose and not that much to gain because Ortiz is not that big of a name."

"It's a new type of a fighter that he has not fought in, to me, maybe 10 years," he continued. "Victor Ortiz is a young, aggressive fighter, and if he fights like he fought when he fought Berto, it's a new energy that Floyd is not use to."

Mayweather is undefeated at 41-0 with 25 knockouts while Ortiz is 29-2-2 with 22 knockouts. Since his return in 2009, Mayweather has defeated Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Ortiz has gone 5-0-1 since losing to Marcos Maidana in 2009. His most recent victory came against Andre Berto earlier this year.

"Floyd was hurt with a right hand against Shane Mosley," Kellerman said." Ortiz is a southpaw, leads with the right hand and the right hook. Floyd has had problems with southpaws."

"He (Ortiz) is a young, big, hungry, in-his-prime, strong welterweight," Kellerman continued. "Just the kind of guy you'd figure Mayweather would not risk a Pacquiao fight against unless he was truly preparing himself for a Pacquiao fight."

Kellerman also pointed out that Ortiz was a 7-to-1 betting underdog since the lines opened up and that they haven't changed since then.

"The odds opened at 7-to-1 for Mayweather and have not moved, and I think that reflects, among the betting public, you may not like Mayweather, you may not like the fact that's he's as good as he is, but you better recognize it."

The fans only can imagine one fighter giving him problems at this point in his career, and his name is Manny Pacquiao.

Pacquiao is currently scheduled to face Marquez in November.