Mayweather vs. Ortiz: WBC Champ Can't Let Money's Tricks Mess with His Head

To paraphrase Morgan Freeman's character in Million Dollar Baby, boxing is about respect. It's about taking it from the other guy and getting it for yourself.

It's a good line, and it certainly seems relevant concerning the upcoming bout between Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and WBC Welterweight champ Victor Ortiz on Saturday night.

In case you haven't been keeping up with the build-up, both fighters have done their share of jawing, as is usually the case whenever tickets and pay-per-view purchases must be sold. It's part of the business, for good or ill.

But Mayweather kicked things up a notch this week. As Ron Borges of the Boston Herald tells the tale, Money revealed at the final press conference before the fight on Wednesday that he would be led into the ring on Saturday night by Robert Garcia and Brandon Rios.

These names may not mean much to you, but they mean a lot to Ortiz. Rios is an old friend of his, and Garcia is the estranged brother of Ortiz's trainer Danny. In having the two of them at his side on Saturday night, Money's plan, obviously, is to rattle Ortiz.

But Mayweather didn't stop there. In a clear effort to mock Ortiz's younger years, which included both his mother and his father abandoning him and his siblings, Money claimed to know "the truth."

"His father didn’t leave him," said Money. "I do my homework. All he says is, ‘Dude, I grew up with nothing.’ One minute he wants to be a tough guy. Next minute he wants you to feel sorry for him."

Upon hearing Money's charges, Borges writes that "the shock and pain on the 24-year-old Oritz’ face was clear."

Now, you obviously have to take Borges' interpretation of the scene for what it's worth. But if it's true, then it goes without saying that Money's little ploy worked to perfection.

If Ortiz wants to beat Money and hang on to his belt, he needs to shake it off. And quick. He may be Mayweather's junior by 10 years, but he can't let himself be played like a rookie so easily.

This is not to say Ortiz is a rookie, mind you. He's a very good fighter, and this is a fight he can win. He needs to remember that he's the champ, and that Mayweather is the 34-year-old who hasn't fought in over a year and who hasn't fought a decent opponent in two years.

But if Ortiz is to pound Mayweather's head, he needs to keep him out of his own. If he can't do that, the fight is as good as lost.

If so, then it will be 42 who have tried and 42 who have failed.