Mayweather Jr. vs. Ortiz and the Top 10 Can't-Miss Fights in September

While August was the lowest point for boxing in 2011, September will be the biggest month in terms of superfights and potential fight-of-the-year candidates.

HBO returns with match-ups featuring Andre Berto and Yuriorkis Gamboa. A heavyweight showdown between Vitali Klitschko and Tomasz Adamek promises to provide the action Wladimir Klitschko versus David Haye couldn't.

Other standout match-ups will center around the most anticipated fight of the year, between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Victor Ortiz. The 24/7 series began last week and will continue until the fight on September 17.

These are the top 10 match-ups in the month of September.

No. 10: Dmitry Pirog vs. Gennady Martirosyan: September 25

Although it won't be the Martirosyan everyone wants to see him fight, WBO Middleweight Champion Dmitry Pirog (18–0, 14 KO) will defend his belt in Russia against Gennady Martirosyan (22–2, 11 KO).

Pirog introduced himself to boxing fans after knocking out Daniel Jacobs in 2010 to win the title. He defended it in March against Javier Francisco Maciel, whom he beat by unanimous decision.

Martirosyan comes into the fight on a five-fight win streak, with knockout victories in each.

No. 9: Aaron Pryor Jr. vs. Thomas Oosthuizen: September 3

Aaron Pryor Jr.'s career may be defined by his three fights in 2011.

In Pryor's (16–3, 11 KO) first bout in January, he dropped a unanimous decision to Edwin Rodriguez on Friday Night Fights.

To rebound, he took on former title challenger Librado Andrade in May. He upset the more experienced opponent and won a close majority decision.

Now, he is set to face another undefeated prospect in Thomas Oosthuizen (15–0–1, 11 KO) on the undercard of Andre Berto versus Jan Zaveck, which takes place September 3 on HBO.

No. 8: Jessie Vargas vs. Josesito Lopez: September 17

Light welterweights Jessie Vargas (16–0, 9 KO) and Josesito Lopez (29–3, 17 KO) will fight on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Victor Ortiz.

Vargas comes into the fight having gone 3–0 in 2011, including victories over Vivian Harris and Walter Estrada.

Lopez was last seen upsetting Mike Dallas Jr. on Friday Night Fights. Dallas went into the bout with a 17–0 record and was knocked out in Round 7. It was one of many upsets on the series this year.

The PPV opener will be a good fight to get the night's action under way.

No. 7: Jorge Arce vs. Simphiwe Nongqayi: September 24

WBO super bantamweight champion Jorge Arce (57-6-2, 44 KO) returns for the first time since defeating Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. to take on South African boxer Simphiwe Nongqayi (16-1-1, 6 KO) on September 24.

It will be a rematch of a 2009 bout that Nongqayi won by unanimous decision. Nongqayi couldn't capitalize on the victory and hasn't won since. He received his first defeat in July, 2010, against Juan Rosas.

The fight will take place in Mexico.

No. 6: Jan Zaveck vs. Andre Berto: September 3

Like all great champions, Andre Berto (27–1, 21 KO) takes no time in jumping back into action since being defeated by Victor Ortiz earlier this year.

His opponent will be IBF Welterweight Champion Jan Zaveck (31–1, 18 KO). His only loss was a split-decision in 2008 to Rafal Jackiewicz, whom he later beat in a rematch.

The bout will take place at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, and will be broadcast on HBO.

It should give us a good preview as to how great of a victory it really was for Ortiz before his showdown with Mayweather. If Berto is defeated again, perceptions may change on more than one boxer.

No. 5: Erik Morales vs. Lucas Matthysse: September 17

The Mayweather–Ortiz undercard got a lot better when Erik Morales versus Lucas Matthysse was added to the bill.

Morales (51–7, 35 KO) comes into the fight coming off his close majority-decision loss to Marcos Maidana in April. Before that, he had gone 3–0 since returning to the ring in 2010 after a three-year layoff.

His opponent will be power-puncher Lucas Matthysse (28–2, 26 KO), who comes off a split-decision loss to Devon Alexander. Both of Matthysse's losses were controversial decisions that many thought he had won.

Expect fireworks in this one. It should be similar to the fight Morales had with Maidana.

No. 4: Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Alfonso Gomez: September 17

Saul Alvarez (37–0–1, 27 KO) turned 21 last month, and to celebrate his birthday, he jumped in the gym to prepare for his fight with Alfonso Gomez (23–4–2, 12 KO).

Although the bout takes place at a different venue from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, it will be broadcast on the Mayweather-versus-Ortiz PPV.

Alvarez comes into the fight as the WBC light middleweight champion after successfully defending his title in June against Ryan Rhodes. He won the title after defeating Matthew Hatton earlier in the year.

Gomez comes into the fight on a five-fight win streak, including wins over Calvin Green, Jose Luis Castillo, and Jesus Soto Karass. He also holds a victory over the late Arturo Gatti.

No. 3: Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. Daniel Ponce De Leon: September 10

Cuban boxer Yuriorkis Gamboa (20–0, 16 KO) is the premier featherweight, and he puts his WBA super world featherweight title on the line on September 10 against a former champion in Daniel Ponce de Leon (41–3, 34 KO).

The bout will be broadcast on HBO on the same day as Klitschko vs. Adamek but at a later time. (10:30 p.m. ET)

De Leon hasn't fought since losing a controversial decision in March to Adrien Broner. Olympic gold medalist Gamboa comes into the fight undefeated with a knockout victory over Jorge Solis. He stopped the veteran boxer in the fourth round.

Gamboa is one win away from being in the top 10 pound-for-pound rankings. Could this be the stepping stone he needs to get there?

No. 2: Vitali Klitschko vs. Tomasz Adamek: September 10

Polish heavyweight Tomasz Adamek is looking for a big name in the biggest division, and he got it in the form of "Dr. Ironfist" Vitali Klitschko.

Former cruiserweight-turned-heavyweight Adamek (44–1, 28 KO) may be asking for too much when he takes on Klitschko (42–2, 39 KO), but the fight will be in his hometown of Wroclaw, Poland, and he is the toughest challenger to Klitschko's IBF heavyweight title since the 39-year-old returned in 2008 after a four-year retirement from the sport.

Klitschko has gone 7-0 since making his comeback, and his victories include wins over Chris Arreola, Shannon Briggs, Odlanier Solis, Samuel Peter, Juan Carlos Gomez, Kevin Johnson, and Albert Sosnowski. Those seven combined had a record of 219–9.

Adamek's wins since moving to heavyweight include Andrew Golota, Jason Estrada, Chris Arreola, Michael Grant, Vinny Maddalone, and Kevin McBride. Those five combined have a record of 199–27.

The bout will take place at 4:45 p.m. ET. and will be shown on HBO.

No. 1: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Victor Ortiz: September 17

In one of 2011's most anticipated match-ups, Floyd Mayweather Jr. (41–0, 25 KO) makes his long-awaited comeback versus "Vicious" Victor Ortiz (29–2–2, 21 KO) in a 12-round bout for Ortiz's WBC welterweight title.

September 17 is the date, and the momentum is behind Ortiz, who is coming off a "fight of the year" candidate versus previously unbeaten Welterweight Champion Andre Berto.

Mayweather hasn't fought since defeating Shane Mosley in May 2010. A series of domestic violence cases have kept him outside of the ring, but it should have no effect come fight night.

The anticipation is already building after the first episode of 24/7, which saw Mayweather Jr. and Sr. go at it in a verbal confrontation. Expect more warfare between the two before the series is over.

If Ortiz can pull off the upset, he could be the next big star boxing needs right now. This is his chance to prove he is worthy.