So I asked a few people their thoughts on the Mayweather-Ortiz fight, and one person pretty much summed it up by saying, “what fight?” In boxing, just as in other competitive sport, the notion of keeping things fair is what separates elite athletes and real champions from subpar competitors who just don’t care. The Mayweather vs Ortiz fight, although highly controversial, represents another let-down in professional boxing, one that allows victory to come out of a technicality ruling. For Ortiz, his first mistake was loosing his cool and throwing an intentional head butt. His second mistake was prolonging his apology without sensing the anger brewing inside of Mayweather. And his third mistake was not being ready to fight after tapping gloves. It’s clear that Mayweather seized the moment and made Ortiz pay dearly, calling it payback. But despite Ortiz’s inability to protect himself at all times, the notion of a sudden KO from an unsuspecting opponent feels wrong and unfair. And if a highly regarded fighter such as Mayweather can get away with such actions and even be awarded a win, then what does that say about our sporting rules? Do we always choose legality even if it was conducted in an unfair manner? True sportsmanship tells us that all competitions ought to be conducted fairly. In any combative sport, it’s when both fighters are ready to go. Even if, say, another competitor tried to break the rules, such as the case of Ortiz’s head butt. Sure it was blatant. And sure it was illegal. But it doesn’t mean that hitting an unsuspecting fighter, even though the rules make it legal, is commendable, especially coming from the likes of Mayweather. At the very least, he should have stopped after throwing the first surprise punch, call it even, then give Ortiz the opportunity to fight back. This way, his superior boxing skills would have taken center stage along with an undeniable sportsmanlike conduct that the audience will not soon forget. We’ve already know how good Pacquiao is as a fighter, but most of the public didn’t really have a clue of how sportsmanlike he is until he stopped beating up a defenseless Margarito. For Mayweather, winning a KO against a defenseless opponent says nothing about his unblemished record and great boxing skills. In fact, it taints his legacy as a so-champion of the sport. For a boxer who’s fought some of the best opponents out there and showing us his technicality in the ring, his last match leaves much to be desired. Some may say that it’s Mayweather’s confidence and unapologetic ways that make him the superior fighter that he is, and this is what it takes to be in his shoes. Yet, others can also say that a true champion leaves no doubt in the public’s mind of his greatness in both physical skill and character. A legend of any sport does not hinge upon a perfectly unchallenged record or winning at all costs. It takes a show of fairness, a sense of humility, and a touch of class so that long after the competitions have transpired, the spirit of professionalism remains as it should be – exemplified by greatness that future fighters, athletes, and everyday people can aspire to.