Subject: Mayweather vs Ortiz

 

Tonight was a magical night in broadcasting for me.

I had this premonition about referee Joe Cortez and thus before the fight and after Joe Cortez’s final instructions I asked my announcing partner Wayne McCullough the following.

“Assess for me how much of a factor Joe Cortez can be in a major championship fight?” Wayne replied

“He cost me my fight in Japan” and explained what all he did to him.  I elaborated on how Joe Cortez in this same ring took away a point from Ricky Hatton for what he thought was a punch behind the head of Mayweather. From Cortez’s angle he could not see that Hatton’s punch had landed on the ropes and not to the back of the head of Mayweather.

Now with a point taken away, Hatton had to step on the pedal and waiting in his web was the Black Widow Mayweather with the lethal dose. It was a check hook and it was “Good night folks, thank you for coming, drive home safely” at the MGM Grand Arena.”

After that I set the fighters in the ring and what was at stake, but the referee and his role was well established. Just a matter of time when he would become a factor.

My premonition proved to be right.  Referee Joe Cortez looked at the judges as he took a point away from Ortiz after the most deliberate head butt since Monica Lewinsky.

Ortiz and Mayweather were exchanging apologies when Cortez looked away from the fighters to start the clock. Mayweather then hit Ortiz with a left and then a straight right that sent Ortiz
to Tequilaville.

Joe Cortez never saw any of the punches thrown or landed.

The next thing he saw was Ortiz on the canvas looking like Linsey Lohan while intoxicated, extended on the canvas, topless and with long silk panties on.

But the rule in boxing is very simple and everybody that laces up the gloves knows it.
PROTECT YOURSELF AT ALL TIMES.

Mayweather put on boxing clinic on how defense and how to throw a straight right lead. Mayweather had not thrown a combination since the Tony Blair regime was in power in England, he did tonight and looked brilliant.

Mayweather is the greatest liar in the ring. His every move is filled with  deception, he will lie to you with his legs, shoulders, elbows, waists and head. After so many clean misses by a fighter making the mistake of trying to hit his head, they resort to lunging head butts.

Jose Luis Castillo had the plan that almost beat Floyd Mayweather. Castillo attacked Mayweather’s body like a forensic doctor attacks a corpse trying to find the cause of death. Nobody has ever gone where Castillo went before.

Great night of boxing and what a treat for the pay per view fans as the world wide fans got their money’s worth. HBO Sports and my network, Primetime, Channel 480, showed two main events from two different places.

The Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs Alfonso Gomez fight took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Alvarez stopped Gomez at 2;36 of the 6th round.

Refereree Wayne Hedgepath did a great job in stopping the fight and preventing great harm
to at the moment a non punching, helpless Gomez.

The Indigenous Pride of a Mexican Warrior was never more evident than in watching Erik “Terrible” Morales. At the age of 35 and after being in enough World Wars to qualify for Combat
pay, Morales, once again defied the odds and found the way to win.

After Lucas Matthysse canceled due to a viral infection, 21-year unbeaten fighter, Pablo Cesar Canos stepped in for the opportunity of a lifetime. I asked my announcing partner, Wayne McCullough if he see the eery similarities of a time when Erik Morales was a 21-year old pro.

Morales at the age of 21,  got the chance to challenge Daniel Zaragosa for his WBC Bantamweight title. The date was September 9, 1997 and at 2:59 of the 11th round, Morales got his first World Title as referee Laurence Cole waved off the fight.

The record now shows that Morales is the first Mexican to ever win 4 World Titles in 4 different weight divisions. Cano gave it all he had, but in the end it was the Mexican Warrior reaching
deep within his championship heart to be in the moment.

At the moment he needed it, Morales was able to summon from his arsenal of weapons, the ones he needed to reconfigure Cano’s face and get the win.

The night started with a Split Decision win by Jessie Vargas, the unbeaten 23-year old fighter from Las Vegas. His opponent, Josesito Lopez gave it everything he had but was just a step
slower.

When Vargas appeared to tire, Lopez did not take advantage of it and let his punches go.  In the end the judges Patricia Morse Jarman scored it 96-93 for Vargas, Dick Houck scored it 95-94 for Lopez and judge Duange Ford scored it 95-94 for Vargas.  The crowd booed the decision but I thought it was the right one.  Lopez dedicated the fight to his incarcerated father who as he puts it “Despite his incarceration, he is a better father to me even in prison than most fathers that are out of prison.” I dedicate all my fights to my father.

Boxing, it is the greatest reality series in Television, one winner one loser, sometimes a draw. But in the end it is the compelling stories of the journey to get there before your very eyes and then what they do when they are before you.

Tonight it became “The Sweet Science” as the greatest scientific fighter of all time, Floyd Mayweather Jr, showed the world again his brilliance.

Erik Morales with his heart of a champion on display again tonight will be a first ballot Hall of Fame selection.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, in my opinion has many defensive flaws that a Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez level fighter can exploit and take advantage of. But Canelo is only 21-years of age, he will learn.

Jessie Vargas continues as a 23-year old unbeaten fighter but he will remember Josesito Lopez as he took everything that Vargas could throw his way.

Good night from Las Vegas, Nevada where the lights powered by Hoover Dam stay on and
the most brilliant boxing star of all still shines unbeaten.