Mayweather is widely regarded as the best defensive fighter of his generation but WBC welterweight champion Ortiz said on Wednesday he was unimpressed by those credentials, describing his opponent as “done” for their Sept. 17 bout.

“All I think is: ‘Floyd who?’ Everything will be discovered and told on Sept. 17 when a man’s career ends and another man’s begins,” Ortiz said on a conference call.

“Victor Ortiz will begin his reign on the throne and I’m going to bring a cane for an old man to make sure his back ain’t hurting too much or something.”

The flamboyant Mayweather, renowned for his trash-talking, has not fought since May last year when he beat fellow American Shane Mosley by unanimous decision to improve his professional career record to 41-0 with 25 knockouts.

But Mexican-American Ortiz, who took the WBC welterweight title from Andre Berto in April with an unanimous points victory, said Mayweather is overdue for a loss.

“He can’t adjust to me. In 41 fights, he has fought that same way every single fight, except analysts are too blind to see that he actually fights the same way every fight,” said Ortiz. “I don’t really care what he’s got to bring. He’s done. The moment they mentioned Victor Ortiz versus Mayweather, he was done.”

Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs) is 10 years younger than the 34-year-old Mayweather and this could be a significant advantage on Sept. 17, according to his promoter, boxing great Oscar De La Hoya.

“People have to realize that Victor is 24 years young with fresh legs to move like a cat,” said De La Hoya, who held world titles in six different weight classes.

“People are going to be very shocked by what type of fight they are going to see. Only Victor knows what he is going to do but there is no doubt in his camp, no doubt in his mind and no doubt in my mind that Victor is going to win.” Ortiz did not want the age factor to overshadow the victory which he has predicted for himself at the MGM Grand.

“I want the actual Floyd Mayweather to show up,” he said. “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 I want the best Floyd that is out there.” Asked how he would triumph against one of the best defensive fighters of all time, Ortiz replied: “Those fighters that he’s fought, none of them were me. It’s not what we think we can do, it’s what we know we will do.

“Floyd is a good fighter but since I was a kid, I would sit back and think; ‘Wow, that guy is great.’ Oscar was one of those for me. (Shane) Mosley was one of those for me. Bernard Hopkins was one of those for me.

“Floyd, not his prime, not in his comeback, not in his anything has he never been that to me. I am definitely not impressed and I’m not a person who is going to hold any kind of respect like those 41 others.”
 
Mexican boxer Marquez in Manila

Meanwhile, Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez has arrived in the Philippines for the Manila leg of the world press tour for his November fight against Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

Only hours after he arrived from Los Angeles Marquez started training, jogging in a downtown Manila park as fans snapped pictures. His third matchup with Pacquiao in what already has been an epic series is set for Nov. 12 in Las Vegas. Marquez said he’s preparing mentally and working on his speed and power.

The Mexican told reporters he’s friends with Pacquiao outside the ring and “inside the ring he’s a great fighter.” The two are scheduled to hold a joint news conference Saturday.