Floyd Mayweather Cheap Shot: Ref Ensures Knockout Won't Disappear Soon

And the hits just keep on coming.

When Floyd Mayweather knocked out Victor Ortiz in the fourth round of their WBF Welterweight Championship fight I thought for certain that it wouldn't count.

Referee Joe Cortez wasn't even looking at the fighters, and Ortiz had his hands at his sides as if he was waiting for instructions on what to do the next.

The 24-year old fighter had just been docked a point for head butting Mayweather a few seconds earlier and another misstep would certainly have cost him another point.

But Mayweather, ever the opportunist and quick to fire, let rip a one-two combination that sent the younger fighter to the mat with a surprised look on his face.

Cortez then counted out Ortiz and ended the fight right there.

Floyd's explanation at after of the fight was, "always protect yourself."

Cortez has since defended himself and, according to Edward Chaykovsky of BoxingScene.com, admitted to never giving a verbal instruction to the fighters, but a visual one: 

"

I made the signal. You don't have to say anything. These guys know the rules. Victor made two mistakes. His first was being a bad boy, and his second was being too much of a good boy.

"

Obviously Ortiz missed interpreted the signal, and/or willingly accepted his fate in the fight.

The worst that could have happened to Mayweather was Cortez taking away a point. The punches, in this light, were nothing more than a calculated risk that actually paid off.

Had the punches not counted, or had Cortez done nothing at all to restart the fight, Mayweather would have likely still gone on to win.

Despite losing the second round on most cards, the undefeated 34-year old was dominating Ortiz in every phase of the fight.

This now adds to the controversial ending that many are still talking about.

It obviously goes down as a win for Mayweather. The fight still counts. There is little chance Ortiz gets back in the ring with him.

But this latest development will only add to the drama that is the closing chapters of Mayweather's career.

Should he be praised for protecting himself, following the rules and taking advantage of an opening when he saw it?

Or should he be criticized for taking a shot at a fighter that wasn't even looking at him?

That, like most things Mayweather of late, is up for debate.