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Floyd Mayweather Jr has put an end to the rumors, announcing a September 17 fight with WBC welterweight titleholder "Vicious" Victor Ortiz on his Twitter page:
My fans have been waiting long enough. Floyd Mayweather vs Victor Ortiz. Sept-17 2011 for the WBC World Championship.
The fight has been in the rumor mill since just after Ortiz defeated Andre Berto in April, giving him the green belt that Mayweather has coveted over his career. Victor Ortiz's manage has also confirmed the bout, according to Dan Rafael.
This is, obviously, a big fight for the fall, on a traditional big fight weekend. Mayweather (41-0, 25 KO) is also now facing a prime athlete, a southpaw with power who I expect will look to bang Floyd out. Ortiz can box, but no one should fool themselves into thinking he can outbox Mayweather. What makes him dangerous is the fact that he's big for a welterweight, strong, has power in both hands, and is 24 years old. He's fresh and now has a huge opportunity in front of him.
I said before that if I were managing Ortiz, this isn't a fight I'd make for him. But recent rumors of Floyd battling more nagging injuries, plus what will be a 16-month layoff by the time he fights, and the fact that he's 34 years old -- it's a risk worth taking considering what a win would mean for Ortiz.
So there you have it. It's done -- Mayweather vs Ortiz, September 17.