Mayweather vs. Ortiz: Loss Does Nothing to Keep Ortiz from Stardom
There's no doubting the fact that one singular decision can greatly change the trajectory of a fighter's career. A dominating win can put one in line for a title bout just like a bad loss can keep a fighter out of marquee bouts for a good long while.
For the best example of this phenomenon, look at Victor Ortiz.
In 2009, Ortiz was on his way up the ranks when he took on Marcos Maidana. Not only did Maidana soundly beat Ortiz, it was perceived that Ortiz quit during the fight.
That was enough to knock Ortiz back a few rungs on the ladder. On his way back up to contention, he took on the undefeated Andre Berto. He beat Berto so spectacularly that he was propelled into a title fight with Mayweather.
On the surface, the loss to Mayweather looks like it should knock Ortiz back down, as it was clear that he was not in the same class as Mayweather.
That won't be the case, though. Ortiz is here to stay as a PPV boxing star.
For better or worse, controversy and intrigue draws as much attention to a boxer as wins and skill does. Ortiz has no shortage of any of those things.
Even in losses, he goes out with a bang. Unlike Mayweather, who has been called "boring" thanks to his defensive style, Ortiz comes out firing and doesn't slow down. That style is what made his fight against Berto a "Fight of the Year" candidate.
Then there's the aforementioned controversy. Both of his famous recent losses have been clouded by controversy. He is thought to have quit against Maidana, and the Mayweather fight, of course, involved perceived dirty tactics by both fighters.
By all accounts, Ortiz is nothing if not fun and exciting to watch.
He has the smile of a little kid, the punching power of a champion, and a history of fights that start great debates among boxing fans.
To a fan, it sounds like someone you want to watch. To a promoter and television companies, it sounds like a cash cow. Those things combined will keep Victor Ortiz a star on the boxing scene.
