Mayweather-Ortiz: Ranking This Weekend's Fights for Their Explosive Potential

Just like most mega fights in boxing, we will see a lot of press coverage on the Mayweather-Ortiz fight this weekend. Everyone will be focusing on this card and for the most part, it won't have any competition, so this article will deal mostly with the pay-per-views fights.

In boxing we seem to have fights given where we know they won't be competitive, but they will be "fun while they last." This is the most ridiculous argument I've ever heard. If you know who is heavily favored to win then it isn't that fun. Simple as that.

All right lets get to the breakdown. 

*=Only use this as an aide to cure insomnia. Or a method of torture.

**=Drink enough alcohol and this fight might entertain you.

***=Decent fight. Just like most matinee movies you won't remember it three hours after it happened, but you'll enjoy yourself while your watching it.

****=A good fight. Something that will keep you on your toes every once in a while and you'll have a smile on your face the next morning as you remember it.

*****=Are you glad you saw this fight. It had a little bit of everything and it will get you through Monday at work when you wonder why you need your paycheck. It might even be something you brag about watching.

******=They don't get much better than this. Your voice is a little hoarse from all the yelling, but it was worth it. It'll be hard getting to sleep and by tomorrow you will have read every scrap of post-fight news you can find on the web.

*******=They don't get any better than this! Ever! Forget sleep as you won't be getting much if you get any at all. You will be refreshing news pages for new articles and breaking information, and by Friday your voice still won't sound normal.

So with that done let's begin.

Tyson Fury vs. Nicolai Firtha

As usual, boxing doesn't have any scintillating fights on Friday as the ESPN Friday Night series is done so we move on to Saturday.

Of course it will also be on several hours before the Mayweather-Ortiz card even starts which is understandable. Most boxing fans will be driven to see any boxing they can tomorrow, and that means even trying to check out some good English boxing.

Unfortunately, they only get this. I won't knock Fury as he is consistently better, but Firtha is a step down since the Chisora fight. Firtha is a big guy, but looking at his record, it's easy to see that he fought untested prospects and tomato cans. It was only when he stepped up against better opposition that he became a journeyman.

Expect it to go the distance and be a "fun fight with a predictable ending."

In my book that means boring.

Overall: **

On Channel 5 in the UK.

Said Ouali vs. Carson Jones

This fight isn't even on the pay-per-view and that is a shame because it should be. Both guys come to fight and even though Jones is the slicker boxer, neither is going to end up in the Hall of Fame. They both make good fights, though, and each has a decent knockout ratio so it might not go the distance.

Considering Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions expects us to pay $59.99 for this PPV, more if you want it in high definition. It's a shame they decided to not put this on. They may not have the biggest names, but that might be a good thing. Sometimes the bigger names hold back.

Hopefully ESPN's boxing homepage will be screening the undercard fights.

Overall: ***

As of now not being broadcast anywhere.

Jessie Vargas vs. Josesito Lopez

Jessie Vargas is the quintessential boxing prospect. He has been hyped constantly and peppered with interviews on the boxing websites. And like all prospects, he is finally taking a step up.

Unfortunately for him, that step up means Lopez who has made a career of being a gatekeeper. At 27, Lopez also has a chance to turn his career around, considering he is on a seven-fight win streak with a couple of good names put sandwiched in between the easy fights and is starting to turn heads.  

If he can beat Vargas in Vegas, then the press and the win might get him a better payday.

Count on him knowing that. Lopez isn't the biggest puncher, but he is a decent boxer and has probably picked up more tricks than anyone Vargas has been in the ring with.

As for Vargas, he has stepped up against journeymen and a few other undefeated boxers. He has a record with about half his wins being by knockout. Since his competition hasn't exactly been the stuff of champions, don't expect him to have much of a puncher's chance, but he might still be the better athlete.

Now he just needs to be the better boxer.

Still, it should be interesting match to see who breaks first.

Overall: ***

On Mayweather-Ortiz HBO PPV

Erik Morales vs. Pablo Cesar Cano

It's a little sad to see Morales reduced to this. Fighting some young kid over a "vacant" title that was stripped from Timothy Bradley who hasn't fought in a while. The WBC didn't strip Bradley because he hadn't fought, though. They stripped him because they wanted to give Morales the false accomplishment of another title.

And who is he fighting?  

Some young Mexican kid who hasn't even fought somebody in the top 50. I'll give Cano the benefit of the doubt and say he can punch, but even with a diminished Morales, it's hard to believe it will be enough.

Then again it's hard to believe this fight is happening. Especially for a belt.

Overall: **

Can be seen on the Mayweather-Ortiz HBO PPV 

Saul Alvarez vs. Alfonzo Gomez

I actually like Alvarez as a fighter even though I think that the hype train has pulled out of the station a little early. Still, I believe he is a fan-friendly fighter and his opponent is a perfect match for that.

Alfonzo Gomez is undersized in this bout and that definitely detracts from it. Still, I believe that Gomez is a little more game then people think. More importantly, he isn't afraid to come forward and swing a little. This is a problem as he is facing a much bigger opponent who is the better boxer, but he is also younger and a lot less faded then Alvarez' other opponents.

This fight will probably go to a decision after a decent back and forth between the two fighters who will have given it their all.

I don't think this will be a ground-shaking fight, but I do think it will be the fight of the night.

Overall: ****

Can be seen on the Mayweather-Ortiz HBO PPV

Floyd Mayweather vs. Victor Ortiz

And now we get to the main event. I think that it doesn't matter what I say about this fight. Most of the causal fans and some of the hardcore fans will have convinced themselves that this is going to be an exciting fight.

Except it's not.

Unless Mayweather grew old overnight, this fight is still going to be him fighting a 140-pound fighter who is way too young to have learned the tricks needed to beat a slick, defensive fighter like Floyd. Ortiz is the best fight that Mayweather has had in a while which isn't saying much.

With that said, in our heart of hearts, we all know how this is going to turn out.

Another UD for Floyd and a lot of boxing fans gritting their teeth as they realize they were weaseled out of 60 bucks.

Overall: **

Your Thoughts

Let me know what your predictions are and how you think it will turn out.

And as always, thanks for reading.