Photo by AP
MANILA, Philippines – The prestigious Ring Magazine’s editor-in-chief Nigel Collins has doubts about Floyd Mayweather Jr. fighting Victor Ortiz on Sept. 17 as announced by Mayweather.
“I’m not even positive the Ortiz fight will happen,” Collins told the Philippine Daily Inquirer Tuesday. “It’s hard to say what Mayweather is thinking.”
He said that the undefeated fighter “is still facing serious criminal charges.”
Rather than making the announcement through his promoter Golden Boy Promotions, Mayweather used his twitter account to make a news flash about the fight because “my fans have been waiting long enough.”
Ortiz responded shortly afterwards, confirming the fight also on his twitter account. “I’m on road to another great fight with pound for pound Floyd Mayweather! I am blessed.”
Mayweather, the former No. 2 on the Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound ranking behind Manny Pacquiao, was removed from the roster last May 1 after being idle for a year.
He was replaced by light middleweight champion Sergio Martinez. He last fought on May 1, 2010, scoring a unanimous 12-round decision over Shane Mosley.
Ortiz, on the other hand, is coming off a spectacular win over WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto last April. Ortiz is a southpaw who is expected to give Mayweather problems should the fight push through.