Floyd Mayweather: 3 Things That Must Happen for Victor Ortiz to Upset Floyd

Entering tonight's bout against WBC Welterweight Champion Victor Ortiz, undefeated Floyd "Money" Mayweather is an 8:1 favorite—and for good reason. Mayweather is a complete boxer who has been through tons of battles, while Ortiz had had very few prime-time fights in his career.

Even so, many are picking Ortiz to upset Mayweather, and it could certainly happen, but things will have to go perfectly for the champ. Here are three things that absolutely must happen if Ortiz is going to pull off a monumental upset against Mayweather.

Mayweather's Time Off Catches Up With Him

Floyd Mayweather has taken two extended sabbaticals from boxing over the past four years. He was inactive for 21 months from 2007 through 2009, and it has been 16 months since his last fight. While semi-retirement didn't seem to hamper him during his last comeback, he is now 34 years old and can conceivably break down at any time.

As a fighter who relies on his quickness to outfox opposing boxers, Mayweather could fall hard when that attribute begins to escape him. It remains to be seen whether there will be a marked difference in his movement since his last fight against Shane Mosley, but Ortiz stands little chance if Mayweather is still as evasive as he has always been.

Ortiz Comes Out Firing

Normally coming out of the gates with reckless abandon to start a fight is a recipe for disaster, but it would seem to be Ortiz's best chance to win the fight. Mayweather is the type of fighter who likes to pile up points by winning rounds and wins the fight on the scorecards.

Ortiz is more of a power puncher as evidenced by the fact that he has knocked down every fighter he has ever faced. Ortiz needs to empty the chamber early and often against Mayweather. Although this could certainly wear him down, he stands little chance if the fight goes too long anyway. He needs to break out the heavy artillery and hope that he can catch Mayweather with a shot that knocks him silly.

Ortiz Scores a TKO

As previously mentioned, it is extremely unlikely that Ortiz will be able to outbox Mayweather, so he will have to brawl with him in the early going. If this fight goes the distance, then it plays perfectly into Mayweather's hands. Ortiz absolutely needs to score a knockout of Mayweather, although that is easier said than done.

Mayweather has never so much as been legitimately knocked down in his career as his elusiveness and underrated chin have kept him upright. Ortiz possesses elite power, though, so if anyone can stop Mayweather, it may be him. Looking for a knockout is a very dangerous way to fight so he will leave himself susceptible to Mayweather's deceptive power, but he has no other choice.