Former WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz has said that he backs Manny Pacquiao to triumph against Floyd Mayweather if their fight will be recorded as a professional boxing match.
The original announcement of the rematch between the two all-time greats broadcast on Netflix is still down as professional bout on Boxrec to take place at The Sphere in Las Vegas on September 19. However, Mayweather told reporters three weeks ago that “This is not actually a fight. It’s an exhibition.” It remains to be seen how the fight will be stipulated.
“You know, I’ll be rooting for Manny,” Ortiz told Seconds Out. “But the truth is, Floyd doesn’t sign up for fights he thinks he’s at risk of losing.”
Ortiz (33-7-3, 25 KOs) collided with Mayweather in 2012, losing a fourth stoppage surrounded by bad blood.
“Why did he choose Pacquiao as his opponent? Maybe it’s because it’s an exhibition. I don’t know for sure. Personally, I’d bet everything on Manny winning. But, again, Floyd doesn’t take part in fights he can’t win.”
Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) has taken part in many exhibitions since hanging up hia gloves in 2017. On the other hand, Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KOs) broke his retirement of nearly four years to face Mario Barrios last July, sharing a majority-draw with he WBC welterweight champion in a fight many pundits believed the former eight division world champion won. The pair are tentatively scheduled to rematch over eleven years on from their first meeting, where Mayweather won a comfortable unanimous-decision.
