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Q
Oscar, just one other question; just checking more than anything. I know you had the interview with Piers Morgan. Are you answering any questions at all about your rehab right now?
O. De La Hoya
No, not right now.
V. Ortiz
How’s it going?
Q
Very good, Victor. I was wondering, did you get a chance to watch the 24/7 premier episode on Saturday night, and if so, what were your thoughts about the way you were portrayed and also what happened as you watched the issues apparently in Floyd’s camp with him and his father? What were your thoughts about that?
V. Ortiz
I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t watch the actual 24/7, but I caught a glimpse of what my brother does out in Kansas. That was more interesting to me than 24/7 itself. I kind of just wanted to see what my brother does on a daily basis and I’ve been there before because I actually drove the rigs with my brother a few times. He can back up a semi way better than me.
But, that’s neither here nor there. I didn’t watch the 24/7. It was just something that I was having such a great day, that I didn’t really feel like hearing a little kid running his mouth. So, I was just like, “Ah, I’d rather not.” I’d rather not waste my time on listening to some kind of negative stuff coming my way, so I did just that. I took it for what it was, and kind of enjoyed my day. It was a great evening. Sunset was coming in pretty nice. I was outside lounging. I don’t know, I guess people were watching that.
Then, people were like, some of my friends were coming over and they kind of watched the 24/7 episode and I was like, “All right, guys. That’s cool man, enjoy your time. I’m going to go outside and go look at the rays and what not.” Because there’s some big old like ray fish that kind of just go under my patio sometimes. I’m like, whoa, they’re pretty nuts.
Q
Do you plan to watch it, Victor, at some point? I mean, whether before the fight or after the fight, just to see how the whole thing together?
V. Ortiz
After ending this streak, I’m sure I’ll sit back and I’ll need something to do. So, that will probably be on my ‘to do’ list.
Q
How is it having the folks that do the show in your camp all the time? I mean, you know, for the most part in all of your previous fights although you’ve had some sort of higher profile television fights and such, certainly not like this. How has it been to have that group of people, in and around your camp, constantly?
V. Ortiz
The crews are actually great. The guys are super awesome. I’ve actually done a cookout for them a couple of times now. We hang out like friends do. We’ve connected so well. We’ve bonded with one another from day one. So them being around with the cameras, it’s just them holding cameras; nothing more, nothing less. I enjoy it. I mean, I’m not a bitter person and I can definitely surely appreciate an opportunity like this.
Q
I want to ask you one other thing about Floyd in particular. You know, you’re much younger than he is. I think you’re almost 10 years younger than Floyd is. He is coming off of what will be about a year and a half layoff before he fights you. Have you thought about whether that might affect his ability to have his timing or to do things he needs to do? Because you know, you have that youth, you have that power; you’re also pretty quick yourself, how that may be negatively impacting his ability to face you?
V. Ortiz
I really don’t know that much, thus far. All I really know and want is to-I want the actual Floyd Mayweather to show up. I don’t need a Mayweather that’s lost speed or lost power or lost age. He’s got that beautiful mouth of his that just never stops; so, in doing so, I want the best Floyd that’s out there.
Q
Okay. Do you think in this fight, you know, Floyd, even when he’s faced the best guys he’s fought, he’s usually just because of the way that you look at his whole career, he’s been a master boxer. You’re a good boxer also, but, I think anybody without any particular bone to pick with either of you would say Floyd is the more overall skillful guy; which would mean maybe that you need to go in there and make it a little bit more of a physical confrontation as opposed to what Floyd likes to do, which is to box and move, use his speed. Do you see yourself trying to mix it up with him to assert your punching power which is superior to his?
V. Ortiz
This is the thing. There it goes again. The media once again strikes and thinks and say what they would see what they would do if they were in a certain person like myself’s shoes. Me? I don’t care. My only thing is Floyd Who? That’s it.
Q
So you don’t want to address whether it’s going to-I mean assume knowing the way you’ve fought for your whole career, you’re a guy that does like to get mixed up with your opponent.
V. Ortiz
Everything will be discovered and told September 17th, when a man’s career ends and a new man’s begins. Let me clarify for you. Victor Ortiz will begin his throne, his reign and his throne, and I’m going to bring a cane for a good friend. Make sure his back ain’t hurting too much or something.
Q
Face it, Victor, you know, we all know you’re a powerful puncher, exciting boxer to watch, and so forth. And you’ll be facing a guy 10 years older than yourself; a guy, you know, who’s perceived by many to be one of the best in the business. How do you set yourself mentally to face this kind of challenge?
V. Ortiz
Well, the funny thing there is I’ve always been the underdog in everything I’ve done in my life and it’s just the way I’ve grown up. And even in boxing, always, I’ve always been pointed the finger at and told that I won’t do certain things, that I don’t have the potential or the talent to become something big, and I did pretty well for myself. So, when I went out looking for Floyd, and he finally accepted after a month of me begging, I was like, “Wow. All right.”
Q
Okay. You’re a guy, you know, of Mexican heritage and a Mexican background. When you step out in that ring, you know, what do you think of yourself as a role model as you put out there towards all the young Mexican immigrants in America and around the world, and those coming up through the ranks who want to get into boxing. What do you think you kind of give off?
V. Ortiz
Well, you know what? I would hope I give a positive influence. As far as that goes, though, I can’t really speak for anybody else. I just go in there well prepared and do what my coaches have told me to do before the fight and just go out and put it out there. Just like I know how to do. But as far as, the whole Mexican heritage or whatever, love me or hate me; that’s all I gotta say.
Q
I know a little bit about your opponent here. He’s faced a lot of fighters and he’s not been beaten. What do you think you can do different than everybody else before him that will make you the champion?
V. Ortiz
Here’s the thing. Forty-one of those fighters that he’s fought, none of them were me. So, somebody’s in trouble.
Q
Very much so, very much so.
R. Arellano
And it’s not what we think we can do, it’s what we know we will do. It’s the story that we tell ourselves between the ears that allows this team to be successful. That is nothing but victory.
V. Ortiz
That’s right.
Q
And then, a final question. When you win the fight, or, if you win the fight, how are you going to celebrate?
V. Ortiz
Well, you know what? I’m not a big partier. I’m not a big type of crazy person. After I became World Champion against Berto, I went out and had a burger with my friends.
Q
Hey, I have a question for both you and Oscar. Oscar has fought Floyd Mayweather and I’m just wondering do you lean on Oscar at all for any advice for fighting Floyd? And Oscar, how much do you feel you have to impart to Victor regarding Mayweather?
V. Ortiz
Well, Oscar and I have a great relationship. It goes beyond friends, the way I feel anyway. It’s more like I see him as a big brother and anything he’s got to say, I’m open to listen to. But at the end of the day, we’ve both got to know and realize that, “Hey, I’m in camp. I have a great team. I have to be under a command.”
And that command to me Coach Joseph Janik, Mario Aguiniga, and Danny Garcia. You know, whatever they say goes, but I am open to hearing whatever my man Oscar has to say. I love Oscar like a big brother, and I will always listen. But at the end of the day, though, it comes down on my team and what they think are the keys and the ways of beating him. But don’t get me wrong, Oscar has always been a great part of me. So, I can surely respect that.
O. De La Hoya
And to just answer your question, we have talked. I can give Victor tips or advice or whatever you want to call it. You know, he does have an amazing team behind him. His trainer and the people who come up with the strategies and you know, obviously, I have been in there with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and I know what works for him and I know what doesn’t work for him. You know, Victor’s a smart guy and obviously, when he’s up in that ring, he’s going to do what he’s going to have to do to win this fight. Let’s just put it this way, there’s no doubt in my mind that Victor’s going to win.
Q
Oscar, do you feel Victor has to get physical against Floyd and try to beat him by fighting? Or do you think he needs to do a little bit of both, boxing and fighting?
O. De La Hoya
I think what people have to realize is that Victor is 24 years young with fresh legs who moves like a cat. I mean, and they haven’t seen that from Victor. You know, people are going to be very surprised. People are going to be very shocked on what type of fight they’re going to see come September 17th. Only Victor knows what he’s going to do, but there’s no doubt in his camp, no doubt in his mind, no doubt in my mind, that Victor’s going to win.
Q
Hey, just a couple of quick questions. Talk about your thoughts about a lot people from Garden City coming to Vegas for the fight and what that means to you.
V. Ortiz
Dude. It’s something big, man. It’s something big because you know, like you already know, the tale’s been told over and over again. Man, those are the streets that I was walking around in and kind of hoping and wishing for a better tomorrow. Not only did you guys give me the key to the city, you gave me my own day, but you guys are coming out to support a Garden Citian. It’s kind of nuts. It’s almost unreal. But it’s something that I don’t forget and I appreciate forever and ever, you know.
Q
I don’t know if you want to comment, but I did visit with the Ford’s just the other day and they said that you’ve somewhat reconnected a little bit, maybe, with your mom and I didn’t know if you would want to comment about that or not.
V. Ortiz
Definitely. You know, I re-met my mom about seven months ago and the lady, she is doing well. I think I’ve maybe give her a year’s worth of life back into her. She seems like a sweetheart. I don’t know her personally or anything, but from what I saw, you know, I forgave her for everything. She asked me to please forgive her and don’t ever hold anything against her, and she didn’t really have to tell me that. I kind of decided I would do that before meeting her again.
You know what, I’m just happy for her. I’m happy that she’s married and happy and has her own family going on. I built my own family, except my family is pure friends. They’re as real as they come. Each one of them. I can tell you their names first and last. I could probably even give you their social security numbers.
Q
Can you imagine that maybe on the night of the 17th that nothing else is going to be going on in Garden City except everybody’s going to be in front of the T.V. here watching?
V. Ortiz
That almost sounding like a Rocky movie. Remember, when they went to, it was Christmastime and all these little kids are watching T.V. and Rocky’s like, “Adrienne.”
Q
Absolutely. Well, it is a little bit of a fairy tale at this stage, you know, coming from a town of 27,000 in southwest Kansas. But, as you know, we have a large immigrant population here. If you just kind of drew that focus down into this area, what you’ve accomplished already, what you hope to accomplish with the fight, the meaning of that to just the people in this area, you know, who have come to America and found work here in southwest Kansas in a wide variety of ways and how you see that?
V. Ortiz
It’s a beautiful thing. It’s one of those things where a guy like me isn’t supposed to have beaten the odds like that, not in a million years, according to statistics. I guess that why I’ve decided to make my own statistics. And that’s called, you just watch it. Keep watching. Keep looking. Other than that, I don’t really know. I don’t have statistics that I live nice, so, in doing so, I’ve just been blessed. Right place at the right time, maybe?
Q
When we talked last week, just briefly, about the early part of your boxing and that you really at first weren’t to enamored of the sport, I assume that that’s maybe changed a little bit now?
V. Ortiz
No man. I’m the same person. You know, and again, people will see what they want to see, so I don’t really know how to even answer that.
Q
No, I meant, when we were talking last week on the phone, you talked about your first initial impression of just the sport of boxing and that it wasn’t something you thought you wanted to keep doing.
V. Ortiz
Oh, what do you mean?
Q
Well, I asked you last week what your first impression, when you first got in the ring, when you were seven or eight years old, what you thought of the sport. And you said, well, you didn’t think it was for you, but you just kept on doing it because you could see the opportunities that it could present.
V. Ortiz
Definitely. I was a little kid, but I didn’t understand the point of two people beating each other up. That was kind of brutal and harsh for me. And given the fact that I was in school choir and I used to sing school solos and play piano, are you kidding me? Going into that world was a 360 for me and I was like, painful, it was something I didn’t really look forward to going to.
But when my mom and dad left, it was one of those things where it was survival of the fittest. I put it in my mind that, “Hey, I’m going to be World Champion one day.” I wanted to go to the Olympics. That was a big goal of mine, but thanks to politics, they kept me out. No problem.
Q
Hello, Victor. My first question is you and Mayweather are very different in personality and obviously background. What would it mean for you and for boxing to have someone from your background, the underdog, the hard worker, more humble, defeat someone like Mayweather; kind of the impact on the sport of which values are more important? Do you feel you could send a message with your win?
V. Ortiz
You know, maybe, but it all falls back on you never know what people have to say about you. But as far as I’m concerned, I’ve worked hard my whole life. I don’t know, I’ve never took a step back. I’ve always tried to step forward as much as possible. But at the end of the day, I don’t know. It’s just something that I know I for sure … going to be great. But some people may not feel that way. I don’t know.
Q
You’ve already kind of answered this, but how do you see your career and your path changing after you get a win against someone as big and as high profile fight as Mayweather? What do you think would be your next step?
V. Ortiz
Well in people’s eyes, I’ve probably changed quite a bit. In my eyes, and in my team, and in my camp, the difference between myself and all my friends, I stay the same. But, of course, I’ll go onto to taking over the division and taking over the world, like I once said I would. Other than that, I’m me.
Q
How important is it for you to get your camp, which you’ve said is like family to you, to get them this win? That is, obviously, I would think the most important in your career.
V. Ortiz
Oh, team. My team, of course. My team, I owe it all to them. From Danny Garcia to Mario Aguinga, and Coach Joseph Janik, also known as Hoss, you know, without these guys, I couldn’t say I’d be anything. They’ve always believed in me, through thick and thin. So nothing but respect for all of them and I love them very much. But definitely getting that victory here soon is going to be a history in the making. We’ll be together forever, you know. I just love them all.
Q
Very good, very good. When you had the fight with Berto, you went in and a lot of people didn’t give you a chance and you were, what I would call, defiantly optimistic, and Berto was undefeated going into the fight, and you handed him his first loss. Now, you’re going into the fight with Mayweather who is a much more accomplished fighter and is also undefeated, and you’re still just as defiantly optimistic. Can you tell us why you think you’re going to be the first one to hand a loss to Floyd Mayweather, Jr.?
V. Ortiz
Because Floyd’s overdue. He’s way overdue. He’s not supposed to be here. He’s definitely not supposed to be a 147 pounder and I’m going to see to it that he knows that.
Q
Is there anything you’ve seen in his recent fights that gives you an indication that he might be slowing down? Will you have an advantage in the ring?
V. Ortiz
Oh, no, not at all. You know what, Floyd is a good fighter. But, I’ve never thought he was great; ever since I was a kid. You know when you’re a little boy, you sit back and you say, “Wow. That guy’s good. That guy’s great.” Oscar was one of those for me. Mosley was definitely one of those for me. Bernard Hopkins was one of those for me. In his prime, Zab Judah was one of those for me. And Floyd, not in his prime, not in his come up, not in his anything, he’s ever been that to me. So, I’m definitely not impressed for one, and I’m not a person who’s going to hold any kind of respect like those 41 other victims.
Q
Do you anticipate, people talked about this before, that you were going to have to come out very aggressively at the beginning, it’s known sometimes he starts rather slowly. Do you want to come out and make a statement as soon as the opening bell rings?
V. Ortiz
I’ll show you everything September 17th.
Q
Okay. Do you have any predictions you want to make for the fight other than you’re just going to win?
V. Ortiz
I’m not Muhammed Ali, here, come on now.
Q
I’m all right. I’m curious. Somebody asked about the 24/7 being invasive. But I’m more curious how’s the Mayweather style of blood testing; all that random urine and blood collecting. Is that invasive? How often has he been to camp?
V. Ortiz
Quite a bit. Quite a bit. We actually went on some dates already, went to the movies, all kinds of stuff.
Q
I’m curious. Is it the same as when you’re an amateur-type testing? Is there a certain amount of tests that you can miss before they call it a positive? Or can you even talk about it?
V. Ortiz
I don’t know. I don’t even know what that’s supposed to mean; the whole question there.
Q
I this testing, there’s like an 18-month window for the Olympic athletes where you can miss two tests and then the third one counts as a positive. I’m curious if there’s any sort of clause like that with you guys. Can you miss a couple tests and then-?
V. Ortiz
Oh, that. No, I don’t think so. I don’t know. I really don’t know. But I’m not one to miss a test because I have nothing to hide. So that’s probably why I’m so lost with that question.
Q
Okay. Let’s get to the fighting then. Obviously, you can’t give us your game plan and you’ve kind of told a few people here you’ll see what you’re going to see on fight night. But just my opinion based on watching tapes, you have a tendency to drift to your left and leave yourself open for right hands, or you walk straight in and leave yourself open to right hands. Floyd’s best punch is arguably his counter, or his lead right. Have you noticed that? Is this something that you’ve worked on in training camp at all?
V. Ortiz
Yes, of course. I work on everything, on something, every training camp. But, as far as I’m concerned, there are no concerns on my end about Floyd, period. Don’t care how good he thinks he is or you guys think he is, I’m set in stone and I’m ready to go.
Q
Last thing. In studying him, you know, most people call him a runner or like a finesse guy, do you agree with that assessment? Is there anything about him that has surprised you?
V. Ortiz
No, not at all. He’s just a careful fighter. He’s a global boxer.
R. Arellano
You’re too focused on what Floyd’s going to do. Not what we’re going to do. We don’t give a shit what Floyd does.
Q
Victor, greetings from downtown Burbank. How are you?
V. Ortiz
Hey, good to go. How are you?
Q
Good. Listen, my question to you is I know you incorporate other sports in your preparation.
V. Ortiz
I actually don’t and people have been getting that twisted for sure. For training camps, it’s normal training camp. You know, I do what I’m told in the boxing gym. I do what I’m told in training camp. In between fights I mix it up. I go do my thing. That consists of triathlons, snow boarding, skate boarding, surfing, you name it; I do it all. Golfing. I have fun with this thing they call life. You know, and apparently, that’s a sin in boxing. But I don’t really care. I’m the guy that does have fun and I enjoy my life. I enjoy what God put in front of me on a daily basis. But when training camp begins, I cut it all off. And yes, it got to my coaches by doing a triathlon two months before the fight and for what it’s worth, I’m sorry
Q
Let me ask you one more question. What do you think about your strength and conditioning coach, Hoss, and how does he add to your entrance to the ring on September 17th.
V. Ortiz
Coach Hoss is great. You know, he gets me ready, he gets me up and going, and looking like a Spartan. So, I don’t know, as far as I’m concerned, I’m surrounded by great people. And I’ll be ready.
Q
My first question is, and a couple of other questions have kind of touched on this before, but one of the things that makes Floyd such a great fighter, at least in the eyes of much of the boxing public, is his defensive abilities, his style and his adaptability. So, can you say, without a doubt, that regardless of what you plan to do in the opening rounds, that you’re going to be ready for anything should he adjust to whatever your fighting style happens to be?
V. Ortiz
Yes. Forty-one of his fighters, he fought the same way every fight. Every single fight except the analysts are too blind to see that he actually fights the same way every fight. Now, I don’t really care what he’s got to bring, you know, he’s done. The moment they mentioned Victor Ortiz versus Mayweather, he was done. Period.
Q
But, yes, and I think the guy that you’re sharing the phone line with had one of those plans. By the way, Oscar, I think you’ll beat Floyd, but that’s neither here nor there. One more thing, the gentleman had mentioned that it’s kind of age and your evolution that’s brought you up to 147 because you’ve kind of grown into that. So, once you get past Floyd, and I have all confidence that you will, once you get past Floyd, once you get a little bit older, 26 or 27, once you start heading towards 30, when a lot of people hit their peak, do you feel comfortable at 147 or is it too early to tell? Do you want to clean out this division and do you see yourself moving up?
V. Ortiz
Hey, I’m the janitor for a reason, okay. Don’t be putting years on me just yet.
Q
No, no, no.
V. Ortiz
I’m enjoying my time right now, just kind of doing what I’m here to do for now.
Q
All right, Victor. Well, hey, thank you very, very much and all the best in your training, buddy.
V. Ortiz
Thank you.
K. Swanson
Okay that was our last question. Thank you, everybody for joining us. Just a reminder again, Victor Ortiz will be featured with Oscar De La Hoya on Piers Morgan tonight. That’s tonight on CNN, 9 o’clock Eastern, 6 o’clock Pacific with a repeat at midnight Eastern time. We thank Victor so much. Oscar, is there any last minute words you want to say and then we’ll call it a day?
O. De La Hoya
The last thing I want to say is Victor Ortiz and Oscar De La Hoya will be on the Piers Morgan show tonight and Victor gave me the opportunity obviously, to put my two cents into this fight and it’s an honor to be on the same room there with Piers and Victor and it’s going to be a very interesting, very entertaining interview. Do don’t miss it. Thank you. |
