Mayweather vs Ortiz live on Primetime

August 15, 2011   ·   3 Comments

Primetime have acquired the pay-per-view rights to Floyd  Mayweather’s showdown with WBC Welterweight World Champion Victor Ortiz on 17 September at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Already the pound-for-pound and pay-per-view King in the United States, with an excess of seven million pay-per-view buys and total revenues approaching half a billion dollars, Floyd “Money” Mayweather has been untouchable through 41 professional fights, making him the biggest boxing attraction of this era.

“I love all of my British fans and I appreciate all of their support throughout my career,” said Mayweather.  “It is my dream to eventually fight in the U.K. but in the meantime, tune-in to STARPOWER on Saturday September 17 when I step back in the ring to face a very tough challenge in Victor Oritz.  It will be an extremely exciting fight and another Mayweather experience for everyone to enjoy.”

“Floyd is a major sports and entertainment attraction worldwide and his record-breaking box office and pay-per-view success is a testament to the power and value of his name and business franchise,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO Mayweather Promotions.  “He takes his next step towards all-time boxing greatness, continued global recognition and commercial success on September 17 when he faces Victor Ortiz.  We expect this fight to follow the amazing achievements of his past performances.

“Floyd Mayweather has become a major crossover brand in the United States, which is evidenced not only by his pay-per-view and box office revenue numbers, but also by the fact that he has one of the largest fan followings on social media websites of any athlete,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, co-promoter of the Sept. 17 mega-event.  “It’s clear that Floyd’s reach is global, so it is only fitting that he is setting out to capture the global pay-per-view market and continue to break records.  It is our goal to help him achieve the ‘unachievable’ and bring the great sport of boxing into new and unchartered territories.”

Both fighters were in resilient mood ahead of a bout that has captured the boxing world, with two star names at the very peak of their power.

“I am ready to return to the ring and give my fans a fantastic night of boxing by fighting the best out there and for me, that is Victor Ortiz,” said Mayweather.  ”He is the current champion and an extremely talented fighter who showed amazing skills, and heart, in his last performance against Andre Berto.  At this stage of my career, these are the challenges I look for, a young, strong, rising star looking to make his mark in boxing by beating me.  Like the rest of my opponents, he is going to try to prove that he can beat me.  I commend him for accepting the fight, but on September 17, Ortiz is just going to be another casualty, the 42^nd one who tried and failed.  Trust me, I will be ready.”

“I respect Mayweather because he has been a champion for many years and I know he will be ready, but so will I,” said Ortiz.  “I’m a strong fighter and I have worked really hard to silence my critics.  I’m a world champion for a reason and I am not going to let go of my title any time soon.  This is going to be a great fight, but I will remain a world champion for many years to come.”

With Mayweather currently sporting nearly 1.5 million followers on Twitter, almost 650,000 Facebook friends and a very interactive website (www.floydmayweather.com), the demand to see his mega-fights live has increased to the point where his bout against Ortiz, will be distributed in 170 countries.  In addition to the United States, some of the countries airing the “STAR POWER” via pay-per-view are the United Kingdom, Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda, Curacao, Canada and, for the first time, French-language Canada.

The fight sets the stage for the 34-year-old Mayweather to set even more records, something that the six-time world champion in five weight divisions specialises in. He already owns the record for the largest number of pay-per-view buys for a single night when he defeated Oscar de la Hoya in a 2007, reaching nearly 2.5 million homes.  The Las Vegan also holds the record for the highest average number of pay-per-view buys per fight of any fighter, active or retired.  When you consider the legends who have made their mark on the sport over the years like De La Hoya, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, Floyd Mayweather is clearly an all-time great and definitely in a league of his own.

‘STAR POWER: Mayweather vs Ortiz – LIVE on Primetime

Fans in the United Kingdom can watch “STAR POWER: Mayweather vs. Ortiz” live on Primetime (Channel 480 on Sky), Virgin on Demand or streamed live via the website www.primetimelive.co.uk. Existing Sky customers can buy through Box Office. New customers must register beforehand online or by calling 0871 200 4444. Virgin customers Press home > More on Demand > Live Events. The fight will cost £14.95 and a one-off registration fee will apply for customers new to Primetime.

Primetime’s coverage of Mayweather v Ortiz will be presented by Andy Kerr with Steve Bunce, Amir Khan & Duke McKenzie in the studio.  Benny Ricardo returns for commentary and is joined by former WBC Bantamweight champion Wayne McCullough making his commentary debut for Primetime.  The fight is scheduled for 2am in the early hours of Sunday morning, UK time.

Tags: Floyd Mayweather, Primetime, Primetime Sports TV, Star Power, Victor Ortiz