Lightweight titlist Brandon "Bam Bam" Rios is no friend of "Vicious" Victor Ortiz. That much has been made clear time and time again, including last week when Rios said that Ortiz's life story was "just a fantasy land he's living in." But he's a top fighter, and he knows Ortiz better than most just from working with them when the two were up-and-coming talents.
Here's what he told Ryan Burton about the Mayweather vs Ortiz fight, and his feud with Victor:
"I thought Vic gonna do something stupid. When he went in the ring his whole corner was nervous. When he tried to land his big shots he hit nothing. Only his shoulder and elbow. I could see him getting frustrated and leading with his head. You could tell something was going to happen. ... All that talking shit, I am over it. It is getting old and tired already. People are getting tired of it."
Earlier today in one of our threads, a comparison was made between Victor Ortiz and Zab Judah, and I think that might be the most apt comparison out there. Judah and Ortiz both do not lack talent. Remember Judah when he was younger? The hand speed, the combinations, the power. He was a total package. Ortiz has big, big power, he's a huge welterweight, and he's not lacking anywhere but defensively, where he falls a bit short.
Both should be or should have been big stars. Their personalities attract attention, good and bad. But both have a lack of mental toughness that is going to haunt them. It has limited Judah's career and made for a record you now look at and go, "Where's the beef?" Ortiz could wind up much the same. I know I've criticized Ortiz a lot, but I hope after Saturday it's more clear why I was always a bit distant and reluctant when it came to predicting anything great from him.
And like Judah, a fighter of whom I was never "a fan," I enjoy watching Victor Ortiz fight, and suspect I always will until he's just not very good at it anymore. Whatever Ortiz does next, whether it's a rematch with Floyd or a rematch with Andre Berto, I look forward to it. But nothing that happens will surprise me.
Rios (28-0-1, 21 KO) is set to return either on November 12 on the Pacquiao vs Marquez card, or on December 10, headlining on Showtime.