Mayweather vs Ortiz: Why Ortiz Will Benefit, Win or Lose

Big-time paydays are always good. The biggest paydays are the best. Of course, this will be the biggest purse Victor Ortiz has had in his boxing career. The benefits don't end there for the young welterweight.

It is obvious what Ortiz stands to gain by pulling one of the biggest upsets in recent boxing history. Fame, fortune and immortality by becoming the first man to defeat Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Even if Ortiz loses, he will likely still win. He is already an eight to one underdog for Saturday's fight. Almost no one is expecting him to win.

Ortiz is almost at the end of his image reclamation project. He committed one of the cardinal in-ring sins when he seemed to give up after suffering a cut over his left-eye while facing Marcos Rene Maidana.

In the post-fight interview, Ortiz said he didn't think he should have to stay in the ring and absorb that kind of punishment.

Victor, are you aware of what your occupation is?

That was then, and since Ortiz has shown nothing but guts in his subsequent bouts. Most recently in a thrilling win over highly touted Andre Berto. The fighters traded knockdowns but in the end, Ortiz outlasted him.

Now many are calling him rugged and tough. That is a far cry from some of the adjectives used to describe him after the Maidana fight.

Ortiz realizes the fight crowd can never sense that tendency again. If they do, he will forever be labeled as soft. For a boxer, it is the equivalent to calling a sprinter slow.

He does have a southpaw puncher's chance, but I don't see it going his way. He will lose this fight barring something greatly unexpected. Though I believe he will make the best possible account of himself.

This will facilitate more prize-fights and big paydays. There are big-time fighters at 140lbs that 147lbs Ortiz can defeat. I personally think a Amir Khan-Ortiz fight would be great, as would be an Ortiz-Manny Pacquiao fight.

Win or lose, Ortiz future is bright, as long as he doesn't quit.