Mayweather appreciates Mexican support

Published Sep. 8, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

As he prepares for his main-event fight against WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz at the Sept. 17 "Star Power" boxing event on HBO Pay-Per-View (9 p.m. ET), six-time world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. will be sharing his thoughts every week.

In our fourth installment, Mayweather talks about the support he gets from Mexican boxing fans.

What does it mean to you fighting on Mexican Independence Day weekend?

Mayweather: Mexican Independence Day is a big fight weekend for boxing. You can’t be the pay-per-view king without having Mexican fans. I appreciate that they have followed my fights. Whether for me or against me, I know they have been a part of my career. I might not have been born a Mexican but I know that I have tremendous support from my Mexican fans.

I have history with this weekend, too. I fought Juan Manuel Marquez on Mexican Independence Day weekend in 2009 and everyone knows what happened that night. I know that there will be plenty of people watching Sept. 17 when I fight Victor Ortiz. He might not be a Mexican legend like Marquez, but he is Mexican-American. Sure, he will have the support of his people, but I know lots of those fans will be cheering for me, too. The fans buying the fight are “Money” fans.

When I fought Oscar de la Hoya, which wasn’t on the holiday weekend but a record-breaking fight, I wore Mexican colors and big sombrero. That was for all my Mexican fans. They know boxing and know a great fighter when they see one. They appreciate the sport and I feel like they have tremendous respect for me and my undefeated record.

And because of the weekend, I made sure we gave the Mexican fans a great fight card because Erik Morales, Canelo Alvarez and my fighter Jessie Vargas are all on the show in separate fights. I am looking forward to being on that big stage again with these other fighters. I know that on Sept. 17 when I face Victor Ortiz, it will be the same outcome. I am certainly not overlooking Ortiz, who is a young, hungry champion. But 41 have tried and 41 have failed. Different fighter, same outcome.