Floyd Mayweather: Why Money Will Have No Issue Laying Waste to Ortiz

After 16 months of semi-retirement from boxing, Floyd "Money" Mayweather makes his return to the ring tonight against the WBC World Welterweight Champion, "Vicious" Victor Ortiz. While Mayweather is the decided favorite in Las Vegas, many observers believe that Ortiz is the man to provide the first blemish on Mayweather's perfect 41-0 record.

Mayweather is at a 10-year disadvantage in terms of age, although Mayweather's experience could be key in this bout. All eyes will be on Mayweather and Ortiz due, in part, to the fact that Mayweather likely needs to win in order for the dream match of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao to take place.

Ortiz is a fine young fighter, but his pedigree simply can't match up to Mayweather's. Here are three reasons why Mayweather will have little trouble dispatching of Ortiz.

Mayweather's Quickness Will Be Foreign to Ortiz

Make no mistake, Victor Ortiz has scored some impressive victories over the course of his career, particularly his win over Andre Berto to capture the WBC World Welterweight Championship in April, but Floyd Mayweather is a completely different class of opponent.

There may be concern that Mayweather has lost a step after 16 months away from the ring, but he has bounced back from long absences before. After defeating Ricky Hatton in 2007, Mayweather left boxing for 21 months. He returned and scored decisive victories over Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley.

Mayweather has never possessed elite punching power like Ortiz, but he has been one of the most successful fighters in boxing history thanks to his defensive skills and incredible quickness. Ortiz will find it difficult to connect with Mayweather with great regularity, just like all of Mayweather's previous opponents.

If Ortiz gets frustrated, then Mayweather may have an opening to sneak a knockout out of this fight. It's more likely that the fight will go the distance, though, and the longer it goes, the more it plays to Mayweather's advantage.

Mayweather's Big-Fight Experience is Underestimated

Victor Ortiz may be in his athletic prime, but one area in which he can't match up with Floyd Mayweather is experience. Mayweather has beaten every fighter that has been put in front of him, including highly-touted opponents like Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Shane Mosley, Arturo Gatti and so many more.

Ortiz hasn't lost since 2009, but he does have two losses and two draws on his record. Say what you will about Mayweather, but when push has come to shove, he has always found a way to win. Mayweather's advancing age is being overstated as a deficiency since it actually gives him an advantage over Ortiz.

Mayweather has headlined his fair share of pay-per-views, but Ortiz hasn't. This fight will be an old hat for Mayweather, but it is entirely possible that Ortiz will wilt under the pressure that this fight is sure to bring with it. Mayweather will be loose, and there's a lot to be said for that.

Mayweather Has Big Pay Day on the Line

Anybody who follows boxing knows that Floyd Mayweather is all about the money, just as his nickname suggests. He hasn't repeatedly returned to the ring for the love of the sport, but rather for the love of a big pay day. Mayweather obviously knows that his biggest pay day would be a bout with Manny Pacquiao.

While both sides have been unwilling to compromise to this point, there has simply been too much hype for the fight to never happen. If the fight is going to happen, though, Mayweather needs to win. If Floyd can't handle Ortiz, then it will be assumed that he has lost a step and that he is no longer a worthy opponent for Pacquiao.

A win over Ortiz would prove that Mayweather is still among the best pound-for-pound fighters in boxing. There is no doubt that Mayweather views this particular match as a stepping stone for a collision with Pacquiao. Because of that, he understands how important a victory is, and he'll get it.