Maidana Shocks Ortiz at Staples

On Saturday night before roughly 8,600 boxing fanatics at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Argentina’s own, Marcos Maidana (26-1, 25 KOs), pulled off a minor upset when he stopped hometown hopeful, Victor Ortiz (24-2-1, 19 KOs) in 6 action-packed rounds.

The bout was as exciting as it was billed.

From the outset, both fighters wasted no time as they each came out looking for the early knockout.

Ortiz scored first with a short right hook which dropped Maidana in the opening round. However, a few seconds after rising, Maidana landed a beautiful counter right to Ortiz’s head which sent him down to the canvas. Ortiz rose on wobbly legs and the classic was underway.

In the second round, both fighters had their moments, but it was Ortiz’s counter right hooks which found Maidana’s chin twice more, putting him on the canvas both times. Fortunately for Maidana, time expired as he shook off the cobwebs from the third knockdown.

In the third and fourth rounds, the pace slowed a bit as both men fought on even terms.

The tide began to swing in the fifth as Maidana began to find a regular home for his right hand. A punch opened up a cut over Ortiz’s right eye and a mouse began to swell profusely under his left eye.

Sensing Ortiz was on his way out, Maidana charged out in the sixth, and it didn’t take long before a series of punches made Ortiz wilt onto the canvas. Ortiz rose, but didn’t look like he would be able to continue. The ringside physician agreed and called a halt to the bout.

Many were hoping that the bout would serve as a coming out party for Ortiz, but as fate would have it, Maidana would be the only one celebrating on this night.

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