Mayweather vs. Ortiz Predictions: Money's Victory Will Set Up Pacquiao Bout

If Floyd Mayweather is going to walk away from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas with a win over Victor Ortiz, the WBC welterweight championship belt and a shot at Manny Pacquiao, he need only do one simple thing.

Be himself.

"Money" is already one of the greatest fighters in the history of boxing, piling up 41 wins without a loss, including 25 knockouts. He certainly didn't get to this point in his career, undefeated at the age of 34, by accident. He's a tremendous competitor, a boxer's boxer and an athlete who can win with brains, brawn or both.

For Mayweather to be the victor against "Vicious" Victor, he must stick to his strengths to dictate terms against his bigger, younger and stronger opponent.

Ortiz is a slugger who relies on brute strength rather than careful strategy to get by in the ring. Thus far, that approach has served Ortiz well, compiling a record of 29-2-2 with 22 knockouts on the way to his WBC belt.

Then again, Ortiz has never faced anyone with Mayweather's combination of speed, defensive ability and punching accuracy. Along the way, the southpaw Ortiz has demonstrated a distinct susceptibility to right-handers (see: Andre Berto, around the 2:00 mark).

Mayweather is not the type of fighter to go for a big knockout punch, more often than not preferring to play it safe by landing punches, shifting around on defense and earning a decision.

However, if and when Ortiz goes for the "Money" shot (and he will), Mayweather will find himself in perfect position to dodge and send Ortiz back on his heels with a strong counter.

Frankly, the only chance Ortiz has of winning this fight is if he can land some big blows and knock Mayweather out.  

Which is to say, Ortiz doesn't have much of a chance. 

Ortiz isn't quick enough or savvy enough between the ropes, at least against a fighter as skilled as Mayweather, to pose much of a threat if he has to survive a methodical, 12-round bout.

Mayweather is well aware of what's at stake here, particularly with regard to the prospects of a future fight against Pacquiao, and will come out with a classic Money match, luring the lunkish Ortiz into a carefully planned chess match and using his speed and smarts to outclass an otherwise-worthy combatant.

All told, look for Mayweather to earn a win by unanimous decision and waste little time before calling out Pac-Man to set up the fight everyone's been waiting for. 

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