As he prepares for his main-event fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the Sept. 17 "Star Power" boxing event on HBO pay-per-view (9 p.m. EST), WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz will be sharing his thoughts every week.
In our fourth installment, Ortiz talks about what it means to him to be fighting on Mexican Independence Day weekend.
What does it mean to you fighting on Mexican Independence Day weekend?
Ortiz: Fighting on Mexican Independence Day weekend is very important to me. Mexico, similar to my career, had to go through a lot in order to become the country that it is today. It is a day of celebrating when the underdogs such as Miguel Hidalgo and indigenous people of Mexico raised their courage and arms to freedom from oppression under overwhelming odds, and I feel as though I strongly relate to those struggles.
I had to overcome difficulties beyond my race, and I never would have been given any of these opportunities if not for our country’s independence and those who gave their lives for people like me who they would never even get to meet.
Secondly, it is when the great Mexican fighters of our time fought, and I plan on carrying the tradition. I am very proud of the fact that I get to go out there every day and train in order to represent the Mexican people, and I can only hope they look up to me in a similar fashion. When you’re growing up, it’s always nice to have someone you can relate and look up to. I’m proud of how I conduct my business and how I have accomplished all that I have accomplished and hope that I can be a positive influence on not only the Mexican community, but also young boxers and people all around the world.
I, and my people, know what it’s like to struggle. We know what it’s like to be regarded as inferior, and that is something I carry with me every day and every moment of my life. Fighting on Mexican Independence Day weekend has always been a dream of mine. I will not walk away without my belt and fight the hardest fight of my life.
I am regarded as the underdog, and as I have in the past, I will prevail. Being the underdog gives me nothing to lose and will make it that much sweeter when I finally make it to the top as the world’s best boxer. I am honored and privileged to be fighting in front and for all the boxing fans and Mexican boxing fans and am excited to make this already memorable weekend even more memorable.
