“Did you see Piers Morgan interview Victor and Oscar on CNN last night?" asked Big Steve during our morning jog through Griffith Park:" That is definitely big time, isn’t it?"
According to famed coach, Nazim Richardson, just getting the fight with Floyd Mayweather, Victor Ortiz has already won if you consider where he came from. Twenty four year old WBC welterweight champion doesn't see it that way.
“He (Mayweather) is done," said Ortiz yesterday during international media telephone conference:" He was done when he signed to fight Victor Ortiz."
“I am taking my title home and that means a victory as well. He sits there and says- You can have your title. I don't want it," said Ortiz about his adversary, Floyd during interview on CNN:” Well that includes my victory as well. So, I am taking my belt home along with my victory."
Sitting right next to his mentor and friend Oscar De La Hoya, Victor shared parts of his rough past with CNN's Piers Morgan. Abandoned by both of his parents at a young age and left to fend for himself, Victor was able to grow up on his own and raise his younger brother. Recently he made piece with his parents after finding them. That prepared Victor for life challenges ahead.
" Fear doesn't even exist in my dictionary anymore,"said Ortiz when asked by Morgan if there was any anxiety in facing one of the best fighters of our era on September 17th:" It was one of those things where my upbringing alone got rid of all that. So that I can go into battle with nothing to worry about."
Back from a hiatus caused by personal problems, former Olympic Gold medalist and a ten time world champion, Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya was back to his duties as a promoter and to support his charge and heir apparent Victor Ortiz.
“They say that there is a passing of the torch in any sport, said De La Hoya. Would young Victor Ortiz be able to take over the responsibility of carrying the torch from Floyd Mayweather?
“He can be and I believe will be one of the greats," said Oscar about his protégé:” I’ve sparred with Victor before and let me tell you, his punches are..."
How hard are Victor's punches? Ortiz has knocked down every one of his opponents as a professional, and when he sparred with Oscar at Big Bear several years ago to help his idol to get ready for Manny Pacquiao fight, he gave Golden Boy a black eye.
Oscar De La Hoya has lived up to his moniker, Golden Boy by becoming one of the most popular boxers of our era, but huge success had quite a price tag attached to it.
“I just hope I can be an example for him," said De La Hoya:" Victor, he is such a mature person where he can think on his own. He is such a smart guy. I am just here to help him, to support him. I got his back one hundred percent."
Looking at Victor's warm smile and a friendly demeanor it is hard to imagine that his nick name is Vicious. He does have one chip on his shoulders and that is to prove his critics wrong and to prove that he is the best.
“I want the best pound for pound Floyd Mayweather to arrive September 17th across the ring from me," said Ortiz who has recently got a key to the City of Ventura, a Southern California beach town he calls home today:" I don't want Floyd Mayweather, oh, that something was wrong with him...this and that. I want the best Floyd Mayweather, pound for pound, that he thinks he is to be there that night."
Oscar De La Hoya came close to beating Mayweather in 2007, but fell short. Could his heir apparent, Vicious Victor Ortiz finish the job on September 17th? He is most certain he can.
“I will bring a cane for the old man,” said Ortiz:” So he doesn’t hurt so much.”
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