:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/7580427/146942264.jpg)
Victor Ortiz may get a second shot to beat Josesito Lopez, as Golden Boy's Richard Schaefer is in favor of staging a rematch at the Staples Center when Ortiz has healed up. Lopez upset Ortiz on Saturday night in front of a small crowd at the venue, but Schaefer and Showtime's Stephen Espinoza believe that the quality of the fight will mean a much bigger audience if held there again:
From Schaefer:
"Who wouldn't want to see a rematch of the 'Fight of The Year?' I haven't seen this year a better fight yet. This was a toe to toe battle and not many people gave Josesito much of a chance ... A lot of people underestimated him, but that won't happen the next time and I think the rematch is going to be huge."
Espinoza added this:
"Is there anybody who bought a ticket to this fight who isn't buying a ticket to the rematch and bringing two friends? We'll sell it out."
Fact is they probably aren't going to sell out the Staples Center -- it's a big building and let's get serious here, as good as this fight was, there were maybe 5,000 people there, and Josesito Lopez and Victor Ortiz are not A-list stars. Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez had wonderful fights, but they only had so much interest, too. They're not selling out Staples Center. It's just not a boxing venue. Put 10 or 20 Oscar statues outside, it won't make it one. Golden Boy's obsession with the building is easy to understand, but it just isn't there.
All that said, I don't care where they hold it. Do the rematch if it makes sense. It was a terrific fight, damn fun to watch, and both guys brought it. I don't think all 5,000 people in attendance will be bringing two friends to the Staples Center (many of them probably don't have two friends who give a crap at all), but it's definitely a fight that fight fans will want to see, or at least that's what I expect. Maybe you don't want to see it. I don't know. I'm not trying to speak for you personally.
Ortiz does have the option of a rematch clause that was in the contract, so if he wants it, it's going to happen.