When you think of fighters that are Mexican fan-favorites, Floyd Mayweather is not one that immediately springs to mind. Nonetheless, Floyd Mayweather’s career has become intertwined with Mexican boxing the last few years due to the choice and timing of his opponents. Victor Ortiz will be Mayweather’s third Mexican opponent of his last five fights, and another predicted to gross well over 1 million pay-per-view buys. Next Saturday will also be the second occasion that Mayweather has selected a fight on Mexican Independence Day weekend, and this time with the undercard support of popular Mexican stars in Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Erik Morales. It remains to be seen how Mayweather will be received by the Mexican fans in attendance on the night of September 17. Whether it’s a chorus of boos, cheers or a mixture of both, Floyd Mayweather expects to have the respect, however grudgingly, of everyone in attendance after the final bell.
Mexican Independence Day is a big fight weekend for boxing. You can’t be the pay-per-view king without having Mexican fans. I appreciate that they have followed my fights. Whether for me or against me I know they have been a part of my career. I might not have been born a Mexican but I know that I have tremendous support from my Mexican fans.
I have history with this weekend too. I fought Juan Manuel Marquez on Mexican Independence Day weekend in 2009 and everyone knows what happened that night. I know that there will be plenty of people watching September 17 when I fight Victor Ortiz. He might not be a Mexican legend like Marquez, but he is Mexican-American. Sure he will have the support of his people but I know lots of those fans will be cheering for me too. The fans buying the fight are ‘Money’ fans.
When I fought Oscar De La Hoya, which wasn’t on the holiday weekend but a record-breaking fight, I wore Mexican colors and big sombrero. That was for all my Mexican fans. They know boxing and know a great fighter when they see one. They appreciate the sport and I feel like they have tremendous respect for me and my undefeated record.
And because of the weekend, I made sure we gave the Mexican fans a great fight card because Erik Morales, Canelo Alvarez and my fighter Jessie Vargas are all on the show in separate fights. I am looking forward to being on that big stage again with these other fighters. I know that on September 17 when I face Victor Ortiz, it will be the same outcome. I am certainly not overlooking Ortiz who is a young, hungry champion. But 41 have tried and 41 have failed. Different fighter, same outcome.
Episode #3 of the all-access reality series “24/7 Mayweather/Ortiz” premieres Saturday, Sept. 10 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO. Episodes #1 and #2 are available at HBO ON DEMAND® and HBO GO® in addition to multiple replays on the network. The four-part series premieres on three consecutive Saturday nights before the finale airs the night before the welterweight championship showdown in Las Vegas.
“STAR POWER: Mayweather vs. Ortiz” is a mega-event taking place on Saturday, Sept. 17 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 