Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather JR: WBC Welterweight Champion Victor Ortiz Looks For a Challenge
Exclusive Interview by Marc Anthony
“I will be ready for whatever comes my way.”- Victor Ortiz
Victor Ortiz, 29-2-2, 22 KO’s, is no stranger to the media or the hard criticism he has had to endure during his pro career over the last year. Things like no heart were used to describe him.
Overlooking his hard upbringing, for whatever reason, Victor’s mother left the Ortiz family when he was only seven years old. Then his father left the family soon after (five years later). As a youth, he was dealing drugs, but during this same period, Ortiz won the Golden Gloves Championship. Subsequently, right after his win, a local Kansas newspaper that covered the event placed a picture of Ortiz in it. This act motivated Ortiz to quit dealing drugs, showing him that he can make a name for himself through other means, and so the media relationship began.
Take a moment; picture a friend being critical of you. It hurts. Now imagine thousands of friends being overly critical of you. It’s enough for many to lash out negatively or become self-destructive (all one has to do is witness the many Stars that implode after being negatively critiqued by the media).
Victor once again showed the world that instead of imploding, he took that energy and made a positive out of it, recently taking the WBC Welterweight Title from Andre Berto, who many felt, was too much for him to handle(not on that fateful day of April 16t).
Rumors about a showdown with Floyd Mayweather, JR., and some talk of an eventual meeting with Manny Pacquiao have surfaced.
Now the newly crowned champion Victor Ortiz speaks with RSR about his plans in the near future.
MA: How are things after your victory over Berto?
It’s actually kind of nutty, but it’s part of the lifestyle
MA: What’s next for you?
I don’t know…whatever my coaches and managers say. As far as I am concerned, I am going to the Caribbean. I am going to hang out.
MA: How do you feel about your victory?
I just have to work a lot harder now. Not a lot has changed in my eyes. I will be ready for whatever comes my way.
MA: If you were to ever fight Floyd Mayweather, JR., what weaknesses do you see?
I don’t know man. I am not studying anybody now. So I couldn’t tell you.
MA: What’s it like having a great working relationship with Golden Boy?
I love working with Golden Boy! Oscar De La Hoya himself…he is a great guy. I have nothing but great things to say about my whole squad. Golden Boy is awesome. Anybody who says different? Hey, to each their own, but my experiences with Golden Boy has been nothing but wonderful.
Oscar and I, we get along like brothers. He is a good dude.
MA: Do you feel you are adding more tools to your skill set, even at this stage in the game?
I feel content with what I am doing right now. As long as I feel secure with myself I am good and right now I feel really secure with myself.
MA: Changing the pace. Places that you would love to visit that you haven’t been to?
I have a whole new thing; my new hobby is just to get a bunch of stamps in my passport. So I got a lot of traveling to do before I even answer that one.
MA: Plans for Spain?
Actually that’s a place I want to go to. I made some friends from Spain. That would be cool.
MA: You are very giving during your free time. How has the Big Brother partnership been going?
The partnership has been pretty well. I am just taking my time with everything. I am enjoying it all. Being this inspirational person for the kids, I am trying to do that.
MA: Your favorite surf spots?
I enjoy my surfing at Ventura California, bro and Huntington Beach area.
MA: Final Words to your RSR readers?
Thank you to everyone who has been following my career. I really appreciate that.
(Interviewer’s Note: Victor Ortiz’s manager, Rolando Arrellano, wanted RSR readers to know that there are no plans as of yet to fight Floyd Mayweather. Also, that the rumors might have come from Floyd’s camp, says Rolando.)
Victor Ortiz
Nickname: “Vicious”
Division: Welterweight
Professional Record: 29-2-2, 22 KO’s
2011
04-16 — Andre Berto, Mashantucket, CT, W 12
(Won WBC welterweight title)
2010
12-11 — Lamont Peterson, Las Vegas, NV, D 10
09-18 — Vivian Harris, Los Angeles, CA, KO 3
05-15 — Nate Campbell, New York, NY, W 10
02-25 — Hector Alatorre, Los Angeles, CA, TKO 10
2009
12-12 — Antonio Diaz, Chicago, IL, TKO 7
06-27 — Marcos Maidana, Los Angeles, CA, TKO by 6
(For Interim WBA light welterweight title)
03-07 — Mike Arnaoutis, San Jose, CA, TKO 2
2008
12-06 — Jeffrey Resto, Las Vegas, NV, TKO 2
09-13 — Roberto Arrieta, Las Vegas, NV, TKO 5
05-03 — Dairo Esalas, Carson, CA, KO 5
2007
11-10 — Carlos Maussa, New York, NY, KO 1
08-30 — Emmanuel Clottey, Houston, TX, W TKO 10
06-29 — Maximino Cuevas, Camp Verde, AZ, KO 1
04-14 — Tomas Barrientes, San Antonio, TX, TKO 5
01-19 — Marvin Cordova Jr., Phoenix, AZ, D Tech Dec 1
2006
11-03 — Yahir Aguiar, Nogales, AZ, KO 2
09-08 — Alfred Kotey, Dallas, TX, W 8
06-23 — Orlando Cantera, Nogales, AZ, TKO 4
03-31 — Freddie Barrera, Maywood, CA, TKO 1
02-10 — Nestor Rosas, San Antonio, TX, KO 5
01-06 — Leroy Fountain, Bernalillo, NM, KO 4
2005
11-04 — Donnell Logan, Ventura, CA, TKO 2
09-09 — Kevin Carmody, Laughlin, NV, W 6
08-26 — Oliver Bolanos, Houston, TX, W 4
06-03 — Corey Alarcon, Oxnard, CA, L DQ 1
03-05 — Rodney Jones, Las Vegas, NV, TKO 2
02-11 — Joel Ortega, San Diego, CA, TKO 1
2004
11-26 — Juan Patino, Las Vegas, NV, W 4
10-08 — Charles Hawkins, Laughlin, NV, TKO 4
09-17 — Lee De Leon, Las Vegas, NV, TKO 2
07-24 — Alejandro Nungaray, Laughlin, NV, W 4
06-04 — Raul Montes, Las Vegas, NV, TKO 1