BoxRec

Is anyone excited, or at least a wee bit interested, in this Saturday's 12 round Texas matchup between Victor Ortiz and Devon Alexander on FOX?

Or are you just focused on Eubank-Groves?

I know, both of these two welterweights have undoubtedly seen better days. Some might call them washed up.

Ortiz has only won 5 of his last 10 fights while Alexander has done just slightly better, winning 6 of his last 10.

But both guys have been champions and both are capable of rising to the occasion. Witness Alexander's taming of Maidana and Ortiz' upset drubbing of Berto.

Alexander is somehow, to me, a surprisingly heavy 3 1/2-1 favorite over Vicious Victor.

I can't forget how passive he looked in losing a very dull decision to Amir Khan a couple years ago. And after that he dropped a close nod to journeyman Aron Martinez. Alexander showed absolutely no passion in either bout. He pretty much just went through the motions.

At least Ortiz brings the fire, even if it may result in him getting knocked out. Or even quitting. You never know what to expect from him.

Sometimes he looks terrific (vs. Berto the first time) and on other occasions he looks dismal (Collazo). "Inconsistent" certainly describes Victor Ortiz.

It's tough fight to predict. You don't know which Alexander or which Ortiz will show up.

But I'll go with the solid underdog Ortiz. At least I know he'll bring the fire, pressuring Alexander and forcing him back. I expect Ortiz to simply outwork a sluggish Alexander throughout bout and earn a solid decision.

And if Ortiz is exciting enough, doesn't that mean that we'll probably see him in the ring later this year against fellow PBCers Garcia, Thurman or possibly (gulp) Spence?

This will be hours after Groves vs Eubank so I'll definitely be watching both cards. I expect Alexander to win pretty comfortably. If Ortiz still cares a little he might give Alexander a few problems, but Devon should be too much for him. It'll be interesting to see if he stops Ortiz.

Difficult to believe Alexander has only just turned 31. He seems to have been around forever. If he can recapture anything like the sort of form he showed in beating Matthysse and Maidana he should outbox Ortiz, but if the Alexander we saw against Bradley, Porter and Khan (albeit I thought Amir was excellent in that fight) rears his ugly head again he may be in for a rough night. Victor, however, has only had one fight in almost two years since being knocked out by Berto so, as the OP suggests, we can't be sure what sort of mental shape he will show up in either.
Probably last chance saloon for both. I will go for Alexander to grind out a win on the cards in a scrap that may not be easy on the eyes for the most part. I am certainly not too upset that none of the UK networks are screening it I have to say.

East End wrote: ↑14 Feb 2018, 17:11 Difficult to believe Alexander has only just turned 31. He seems to have been around forever. If he can recapture anything like the sort of form he showed in beating Matthysse and Maidana he should outbox Ortiz, but if the Alexander we saw against Bradley, Porter and Khan (albeit I thought Amir was excellent in that fight) rears his ugly head again he may be in for a rough night. Victor, however, has only had one fight in almost two years since being knocked out by Berto so, as the OP suggests, we can't be sure what sort of mental shape he will show up in either.
Probably last chance saloon for both. I will go for Alexander to grind out a win on the cards in a scrap that may not be easy on the eyes for the most part. I am certainly not too upset that none of the UK networks are screening it I have to say.

YouTube it on the Sunday

Stuarty wrote: ↑14 Feb 2018, 17:31

East End wrote: ↑14 Feb 2018, 17:11 Difficult to believe Alexander has only just turned 31. He seems to have been around forever. If he can recapture anything like the sort of form he showed in beating Matthysse and Maidana he should outbox Ortiz, but if the Alexander we saw against Bradley, Porter and Khan (albeit I thought Amir was excellent in that fight) rears his ugly head again he may be in for a rough night. Victor, however, has only had one fight in almost two years since being knocked out by Berto so, as the OP suggests, we can't be sure what sort of mental shape he will show up in either.
Probably last chance saloon for both. I will go for Alexander to grind out a win on the cards in a scrap that may not be easy on the eyes for the most part. I am certainly not too upset that none of the UK networks are screening it I have to say.

YouTube it on the Sunday

Not before I've read a few reports

gilgamesh wrote: ↑14 Feb 2018, 17:07 This will be hours after Groves vs Eubank so I'll definitely be watching both cards. I expect Alexander to win pretty comfortably. If Ortiz still cares a little he might give Alexander a few problems, but Devon should be too much for him. It'll be interesting to see if he stops Ortiz.

You can sometimes question Ortiz' chin. Many have questioned his ticker.

But do you really see Alexander having the power to stop Ortiz if Vicious Victor is on his game? Even somewhat?

Alexander's had just 1 KO since 2010. As a rising fighter, Alexander did display some firepower, but once he lost to Bradley (a fight he seemed to wimp out of) he became a more safety conscious boxer.

I see him trying to box, box, box Ortiz, not slug, but I question whether he has the legs anymore to stay away.

SenorPipino wrote: ↑14 Feb 2018, 18:03

gilgamesh wrote: ↑14 Feb 2018, 17:07 This will be hours after Groves vs Eubank so I'll definitely be watching both cards. I expect Alexander to win pretty comfortably. If Ortiz still cares a little he might give Alexander a few problems, but Devon should be too much for him. It'll be interesting to see if he stops Ortiz.

You can sometimes question Ortiz' chin. Many have questioned his ticker.

But do you really see Alexander having the power to stop Ortiz if Vicious Victor is on his game? Even somewhat?

Alexander's had just 1 KO since 2010. As a rising fighter, Alexander did display some firepower, but once he lost to Bradley (a fight he seemed to wimp out of) he became a more safety conscious boxer.

I see him trying to box, box, box Ortiz, not slug, but I question whether he has the legs anymore to stay away.

If you can knock out Juan Urango you can knock out Victor Ortiz. Urango always was sturdier than Ortiz has ever shown himself to be.

That was a long time ago when Alexander was a younger, more aggressive fighter.

Now of course Alexander will tell you that he's going to look like the young version of himself on Saturday, because he's licked an opioid addiction that had plagued him for several years.

An addiction to painkillers made Alexander a lazy fighter, he says, who failed to prepare properly for bouts, hence his poor performances against Porter, Khan and Martinez.

We will see. If he is the Alexander of the Urango years, then he should have little problem with the faded Ortiz.

But if he's simply blowing smoke and grasping for excuses, then Ortiz figures to give Alexander a rough night.

victor ortiz was actually a very gifted fighter offensively. he just didnt have it strong enough in the other parts

maidana if i recall said he hit him harder then anyone else and it sure looked it. actually he bounced maidana, berto, and peterson off the canvas for multiple kds vs each and 8 total but he only beat 1 of them

jamamb wrote: ↑14 Feb 2018, 21:51 victor ortiz was actually a very gifted fighter offensively. he just didnt have it strong enough in the other parts

maidana if i recall said he hit him harder then anyone else and it sure looked it. actually he bounced maidana, berto, and peterson off the canvas for multiple kds vs each and 8 total but he only beat 1 of them

I thought Ortiz squeaked by Peterson on the strength of a big early round where he decked Peterson twice.

Looked like he was going to manhandle Peterson, who was a pretty strong super lightweight.

But Ortiz ran low on gas in the late rounds and Peterson officially pulled out a draw.

Very entertaining fight.

Entertaining bout ends in a draw.

Alexander deserved it on my card 115-113, but he fought in spurts in the second half of the fight and it might have cost him.

Ortiz applied the pressure but Alexander boxed nicely as expected.

One judge scored it for Ortiz 115-113. The other 2 scored it even 114-114.

Neither fighter acted outraged by the decision so maybe they thought the draw was fair.

2 guys who are well past their best. Ortiz finally met a feather fisted guy who couldn’t knock him out.

I changed it to the Showtime card when the Ugas fight started because I like Ugas, but I had it 5-1 Alexander after 6 rounds. Wasn't the most thrilling fight, but I assume Ortiz came on stronger over the 2nd half?

gilgamesh wrote: ↑17 Feb 2018, 23:57 I changed it to the Showtime card when the Ugas fight started because I like Ugas, but I had it 5-1 Alexander after 6 rounds. Wasn't the most thrilling fight, but I assume Ortiz came on stronger over the 2nd half?

Well I saw it as Alexander slowing down and picking his spots. It allowed Ortiz to close the distance and get his punches off a little more but he wasn't terribly effective.

A draw wasn't a completely terrible decision but it seemed that Alexander opened up a big enough lead to hold on.

Ortiz' left eye was almost shut by the end of 12.

You must be ecstatic with Ugas winning by KO over Ray Robinson (obviously no relation to Sugar).

Hopefully he won't be fed to Spence this year.

I was pretty excited about it yeah. Definitely one of Ugas' best performances to date. I've always enjoyed watching that guy, and with a great win like that I know damn well I'll be seeing more of him and I look forward to it.

Just watched this in full. Proper CRAP decision in the main. Alexander won 8 rounds.

havent seen it but from pretty much everywhere it sounds like alexander was very unlucky

I thought Alexander won it easily. Ortiz hung around and won a few rounds, but no way in hell did he deserve a draw. Not many will scream robbery though, since both are basically gatekeepers.

The decision extended both careers though I guess, but neither guy is good enough to win a belt.

You can be certain that since neither lost, both will be in the ring this year with one of PBC's top welters.

Thurman's looking for some soft touches in 2018 so either Ortiz or Alexander will fit in nicely.