Mayweather vs. Ortiz: Latest Reaction from Controversial Title Bout

For a fight that started out predictably, with Floyd Mayweather Jr. dominating through three rounds, it ended like a train wreck, and the response was deafening.

Reaction came in many different ways: anger, confusion, disappointment, laughter (we'll get to that in a bit), sadness. The fight certainly didn't disappoint in riling people up, but it wasn't for the right reasons.

First there was the head butt from Victor Ortiz, followed by a kiss on the cheek for all of the MGM Grand to see. Then there was the break. Then there was Mayweather laying Ortiz out after the break. Then there was protest for Mayweather laying out Ortiz while he apparently wasn't looking. And then, well, there was HBO announcer Larry Merchant saying he would kick Mayweather's behind if he were 50 years younger.

Yep, we had it all on Saturday night.

Per @hboboxing, Ortiz said he didn't hear referee Joe Cortez say, "Time in."

Two-time world champion Nonito Donaire Jr. said, via his Facebook page:

"

It can be classless, it can be (unsportsmanlike), even opportunistic, but (unfortunately), its still legal. Would I pull a mayweather? No. But would I pull an Ortiz and be THAT close to a fighter even IF he was saying sorry? No. Id keep arms length away.

"

It's hard for me to imagine Mayweather intentionally throwing a sucker punch, given he was dominating the fight beforehand, but it may have been simply a moment of miscommunication, too.

Once you touch gloves, technically it's on and a boxer can swing. As a boxer, there's no room for pity, because the second you try to play nice could be the second you land on your back.

But Donaire may have said it best. It certainly appeared that Mayweather could have held up while Ortiz talked to the ref. On the other hand, it was a bad move for Ortiz to just stand there in full range of Mayweather.

All around, it was a confusing exchange that marred what could have been a good fight and instead hurt boxing even more in the end.