• Boxing

Floyd Mayweather Jnr announces Ortiz fight

ESPN staff
June 7, 2011
Floyd Mayweather returning to the ring

Floyd Mayweather Jnr has revealed on Twitter that his long-awaited return to the ring will come against Victor Ortiz on September 17.

Ortiz will put his WBC welterweight title on the line when he faces the American, who has been out of action since outpointing Shane Mosley in May 2010.

Announcing the fight on his Twitter account, Mayweather said: "My fans have been waiting long enough."

While Ortiz is not at Manny Pacquiao's level, the announcement does at least fuel hopes that the sport's pound-for-pound kings may face-off in future, with rumours of Mayweather's retirement now scotched.

Ortiz, who brings a 29-2-2 record with 22 KOs, sent shockwaves through boxing by defeating the previously unbeaten Andre Berto on a unanimous decision in his last fight - despite hitting the canvas twice - to win the WBC belt.

Whether he can trouble the unbeaten Mayweather is debatable - the American can boast some prize scalps, having defeated celebrated names such as Juan Manuel Marquez, Mosley, Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya, as well as Amir Khan's next opponent, Zab Judah.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices