Star Power ': Five things we learned - VIDEO

Star Power ': Five things we learned

LAS VEGAS - Here are five things we learned from Saturday's "Star Power" boxing card with Victor Ortiz Jr. and Floyd Mayweather welterweight title fight:

1. Just when you think you've seen it all ... Boxing ability never ceases to amaze, er, surprise. Raise your hand if you predicted that the end? Sea Fan Man, the bite of an ear, a riot or a header and continued kissing-for-a-coup-de-la rupture scenario, boxing has a seemingly endless supply of unpredictable endings generate much discussion and controversy as our own fights. Saturday night was no exception, with a dominating performance by a future first ballot Hall of Fame, overshadowed by a controversial final.

2. Nobody, absolutely nobody manages to be at the center of a controversy quite like Floyd May weather. Inside the ring or outside it, Mayweather is a lightning rod and a divisive force. He has his detractors and his supporters, whether, for example, those who believe that Manny Pacquiao is avoiding or those who think that their position on the fight that the potential is quite justified. It was the same Saturday night, Mayweather's victory greeted by a cascade of boos anger of the nearly 15,000 people in the crowd and a difference of opinion in the front row. There were those who thought Mayweather threw and landed a low blow, even if what he did was within the letter of the law, was a clear violation of the spirit of sport. By contrast, there were many who argued that Ortiz was the culprit - he should not have embarked on a header in the first place and should never have allowed himself in position to be beaten with clean hands down. Whichever side of the fence you come down again, people are talking and arguing about Floyd Mayweather.

3. Victor Ortiz was not ready for prime time. Or at least he was not ready for Floyd Mayweather. The final debate obscures the fact that Ortiz did not threaten or trouble Mayweather for a second of the four rounds that took place. Mayweather was masterful, and the fight took place largely according to script: Young Ortiz forward, and Mayweather will tattoo his straight right hand. Ortiz showed his frustration early, and first-rate reporters caught him with his head in the corner twice before blatantly obvious butt that precipitated the final break. And say what you will about the beating that ended the fighting, the cardinal rule of boxing - the last thing a referee says to the fighters in his final instructions - is "protected at all times. "Ortiz lost his concentration, his guard down and, with the intention apparently in contact with gloves or hugging Mayweather after deduction of points, he forgot the final mandate. That's something that Mayweather would never have done. It's Ortiz will probably never do again, either, as he said, was a lesson learned - but it was a painful lesson.

4. Erik Morales is not ready for the retirement home. Morales continues to amaze. At 35 years of age in 59 of the fight and fought an extraordinary career, he took apart and bloodied from a man 14 years his junior. There were times when Morales looked at his age (and a lot of years on top of that), but gradually used their experience when the rookies. And as the fight progressed, the right hand of Morales, in particular, began to land with ease over left lower Cano. The result: Cano's face chaos became swollen and his left eye a slit of blood. For the ninth assault, Cano could barely see his veteran rival, and the decision of his corner to stop the fight was very pious and wise.

Posted in: Sports