Mayweather vs. Ortiz: Will Boxing Survive Latest Controversy?

For years, boxing has been trying to prove that Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao isn't the only great fight left in the sport.

That's why Saturday didn't help boxing's cause.

In case you missed it Saturday, the fight between Mayweather and Victor Ortiz not only ended swiftly in less than four rounds, there was controversy, to boot. More controversy is the last thing the sport of boxing needs.

After Ortiz decided to head-butt Mayweather in the corner of the ring, Mayweather decided to end it once and for all once they touched gloves. Technically, it wasn't a sucker punch because once you touch gloves it's on, but it still caused some waves throughout the boxing world (and Twitter), and most of it was negative.

It's a bad sign for boxing when the fight that is supposed to substitute for Mayweather-Pacquiao turns into not only a boring fight, but a controversial one. Heck, it took HBO commentator Larry Merchant getting into a staredown with Mayweather to make the fight more lively.

Boxing fans have been saying it all along, "We want Mayweather vs. Pacquiao." The problem is, that may be the only thing that can save boxing these days.

The truth is, controversy or not, there are no superfights nowadays, and the only matchup that has the potential to be one is Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. We all witnessed the other "superfight," Wladimir Klitschko vs. David Haye, and that may have been an even bigger laugher than this fight.

Sure, boxing can survive the latest controversy.

But not without Mayweather and Pacquiao, in the same ring.