Photo by Porfirio Barron Jr./RBRBoxing
The term vicious conjures up images of chaos, brutality and unstoppable bloodlust. Merriam Webster defines the word vicious as being ‘very violent and cruel’ or ‘very dangerous’. Hollywood star and ‘Anti-Ageing technology’ model, Victor Ortiz (31-5-2, 24 KOs), is apparently vicious. On Saturday night he certainly fit the ‘very cruel’ bill by beating on a vastly overmatched opponent in Gilberto Sanchez Leon (33-14-2, 13 KOs), a guy that lost to Diego Magdaleno and Juan Carlos Burgos back in 2011, and most recently was found losing to Wale Omotoso. But does any of this really sound like the kind of company we should be expecting for Vicious Victor Ortiz? In fact,when was the last time Victor was found doing something that is fitting of the ‘Vicious’ moniker?
In the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit to not watching the Ortiz vs Leon fight. I had this article in the works, and considered staying awake into the small British hours to see Victor do his vicious business, but having sat through hours upon hours of surprisingly (but unintentionally) competitive and entertaining Eddie Hearn matchmaking, and a few too many fine craft beers, it was well past my bedtime and Victor had to go it alone.
But I feel no less equipped to comment on Victor Ortiz’s future in the sport right now. I don’t believe anything could be learnt from watching Victor beat up poor Gilberto, and such a pointless exhibition of violence really served only to shorten Gilberto’s years and convince Victor he has what it takes to be the very best. Of course, if you feel I missed something really important, like a gleam in young Victor’s eyes as he pummelled the lesser fighter into a paste, or a foam building around Victor’s mouth as he inaudibly shouted about his favourite new Kenny Chesney song, then please chuck your complaints into a tweet and I’ll do my best to pretend that my opinions are like a fine wine that you don’t have the palette for. Shame on you.
The thing is, I really like Victor. I like him as a fighter, and I like his strange brand of madness out of the ring too. He is a great athlete, with some genuine power, and solid technique coupled with an attacking mindset and some defensive limitations that cause him to leave himself open when he is seeking to destroy. For all the criticism that can be levelled at Crazy Vic, he tends to be in entertaining fights.
But many observers can’t look past his main vulnerability, a seemingly weak mental state. His loss to Maidana saw him call it a day when the going got tough, and since then he’s been unable to shift the ‘quitter’ label especially when ducking out due to a broken jaw against Josesito Lopez, and seemingly not fancying it as soon as Luis Collazo hit him in the face. Personally, I don’t like calling any boxer a quitter. These guys are warriors, that have spent most of their lives fighting, who are we to disrespect them when they want no more? However, it doesn’t change that Victor has faltered on multiple occasions, and it seems clear that he often finds himself questioning his choice to be a part of such a violent sport.
Boxing is not a sport for the hesitant, or for the fearful. Fighters need to be able to step through the ropes sure that they are going to come out on top. When the heat turns up and they’re having to dig deep, a fighter can’t be found doubting their own abilities. Victor seems to do that, and most of all he seems not to like it so much when guys punch him back. A little bit has been made of his move to working with former Timothy Bradley coach, Joel Diaz, and I’ve seen a number of people on the internet saying that he looked good and their relationship seemed to be great (look at this high-level analysis that I’m offering), but Victor has always looked impressive when the guy hitting him back can’t really hit him back. The problem is when he is in with live dogs, that can take his shots and can do some damage themselves. Victor Ortiz is a little like a Hispanic Mike Tyson, except his tattoos are worse. What can Joel Diaz really do for him?
Victor’s fears won’t go away. Whilst his skills are almost certainly intact, and he’s likely coming into a physical prime at the surprisingly young age of 28, it only takes one or two big shots and Victor’s ghosts will come back to haunt him. And how long is it until those fears get him seriously hurt? In a sport where split second mistakes can be costly, a moment’s hesitation could be brutal for Ortiz.
Boxing is a dangerous and unforgiving sport, and one where you don’t want to be sticking around too long. Of course, many do. The ill-fated public decline happens to even the biggest of names, and it doesn’t look like it will stop happening any time soon. Victor Ortiz seems to be at a crossroads, having taken some time out of the sport and had an opportunity to try some other avenues. His return is unlikely to have a happy ending. He doesn’t appear keen on taking a beating to give one, and his behaviour has already seemed to be getting steadily more and more erratic (although it started with a much lower threshold than your average person). He simply seems drawn to the limelight, and since he has packed away his dancing shoes, boxing is really all he knows. Fighters craving the attention is far from peculiar, and Victor seems to want the fame and celebrity, but I remain unconvinced that he wants to be in the ring fighting. It can only end badly if he continues to do so in search of celebrity.
It’s been a few years since we’ve seen the Victor Ortiz that was rightfully described as vicious. I’m not sure if we’ll ever see that Victor again, and I’m not sure if any Victor can really succeed in the ring. Despite his immense physical gifts, Ortiz has suffered too many lapses in self-belief to really believe that he can operate at the very pinnacle of the sport again. And by continuing to step through the ropes, he puts himself at serious risk. Many will continue to ask what Victor Ortiz has left, and how far he can go in this comeback, but I hope he first does some soul-searching and decides if this is what he really wants. Because a game Ortiz could be a tough out for anyone, but if there is any fear, then he needs to walk away. No one likes to see these guys get seriously hurt.
Do you think Victor Ortiz has more to offer the sport? Can he winsome big fights and more titles? Or is it time for him to step out of the limelight?
