The Victor Ortiz vs Floyd Mayweather WBC welterweight title match is a battle of good vs evil for me. I usually find myself rooting for the underdog in most competitions anyway but Ortiz has become more than just an underdog to me…. he has become a soldier for decency! Watching the HBO 
series 24/7 Mayweather/Ortiz, that is part of the build up to the pay-per-view fight on HBO, has shown the athletes in training and gives views of them as people outside of the ring. For me, the show built a hatred for the ARROGANT Floyd Mayweather while growing a tremendous amount of respect for the young Victor Ortiz not only as a boxer, but also as a person.
In one episode, Mayweather and buddy 50 Cent use stacks of money like phones to chat with each other. The money was winnings from a bet on pre-season football game. The attitude to flaunt money like this demonstrates a real lack of character. Mayweather was 
even videoed burning money at a party… literally “burning” money. After seeing photos of Mayweather “Burning hundred dollar bills, that’s a slap in the face for anyone,” Ortiz said. Mayweather was photographed burning money “Seeing something like that, that’s made of ignorance. That just shows what may take place in his life in the next few years, especially after I destroy him. I am 24-years-old, but I’ve been through a whole lot more than our good friend Floyd. If you’re really that careless about money like that, who knows where the rest of your life is gonna take you?”
Mayweather has even commented that he was old enough to be Ortiz father (which shows ignorance again because there is only a 9 year difference even less if you subtract the 9 month pregnancy) and the the fight he was going to “son” him…. what does that even mean? lol After he sons Ortiz he says he will leave him in the ring naked…. again lol Why does Mayweather want Ortiz naked? Maybe because Mayweather is jealous that he has never been asked to be an underwear model like Ortiz was! 😉
Ortiz’s mother abandoned him and his brother when they were quite young and not long after, their 
father also abandoned them. After not seeing his father since his teens, Ortiz saw his father and his father expressed pride seeing the family’s name tattooed on his back. Not wanting to carry the pain associated with his past… he changed the tattoo.
Seeing philanthropy of people with success endears me to that person. Victor Ortiz took the time while filming 24/7 Mayweather/Ortiz to spend time with some kids from Big Brothers Big Sisters. With humility he admits he may not be the best role model… but that he may be a position to be able to inspire hope. I was surprised when I saw Mayweather, in an effort to appear philanthropic, do a video call with the troops in 
Afghanistan. But my admiration was short-lived. He was asked what inspired him to maintain the physical stamina to keep boxing and he took the web cam and began showing the troops his $4,000,000 car collection including Rolls Royces (one given as a birthday gift from 50 Cent http://hollywoodstatus.com/2011/02/50-cent-gets-a-2012-rolls-royce-phantom-for-floyd-mayweather-on-his-b-day/) and his 22,000 sq. ft. home! Does he realize how little our troops are paid? Does he think that was inappropriate? No… because I feel he only thinks of himself! WOW, “THINGS” are what inspires him. Ortiz’s brother Temo 
says Victor fights for his family… he fights for ME. By family I feel Temo Otriz is referring to the team more so than blood family that abandoned him and his brother. The relationship of Victor and Temo Ortiz is a strong one forged by tough times, but as brothers… they have not only survived but thrived!.
There is the saying, if you do not have good to say about someone… don’t say anything. Well when talking about his fans Mayweather said Fans come first… oh no, I come first, but fans are important but not as important as I am! Sometimes…he should just not say anything!
Win or lose the fight… I think Victor Ortiz is the better man. I hope he gets a win not just for himself, but also for his brother Temo and his team. Win or lose the fight… Mayweather will be happy because he will still have what matters most to him – money. I feel Mayweather was able to use 24/7 Mayweather/Ortiz to show off, while Ortiz showed me that there are good guys even in the sport of boxing. For such a young man, I see much more maturity in the 24 year-old Ortiz than the older Mayweather. Ortiz gives me hope for this younger generation and maybe he can find politics as a back up career – he would get my vote! Victor Ortiz is a role model in my book and he has inspired me…. he has inspired me to once again root for the underdog and hope the better MAN wins!
Thomas Johnston 