Mayweather vs. Ortiz: Is it Worth Spending the Bucks?

The Countdown to the Big Fight

For Mayweather, a win gets fans closer to a much-anticipated match against Manny Pacquiao; for Ortiz, a victory will certainly catapult him to boxing's elite class.

Floyd “Money” Mayweather comes out of retirement to face up-and-comer Victor Ortiz, the WBC welterweight champion, in what can be argued as one of the most exciting boxing matches in quite some time.

Sure, it’s not Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao but it’s a compelling matchup between the flamboyant and always entertaining Mayweather, and the much younger, charismatic protégé of Oscar De La Hoya.

But, in a stubborn economy, here's the bottom line: should you spend your hard earned money on this fight? Let’s go through the pros and cons.

Con: The fight costs nearly 60 bucks.

Let's be honest – unlike the UFC fight cards, you’re really just paying to see the main event here. Sure, this year they’re throwing you the three hour countdown show for free, but when you accept that you do want to see a boxing match, you accept that you’re going to only be really focusing on one match. Who remembers the undercard to Lewis vs. Tyson?

Is it really worth $59.99, the pay per view asking price? You have to really be invested in this fight to spend your hard earned money on what could essentially be a first round knockout or a dud. I don’t think that will be the case with this fight, but in reality that’s a gamble that could cost you 60 bucks, which, I don’t know about you, is a lot for me.

Pro: The fighters both have compelling stories and question marks that make you want to watch this fight.

Mayweather hasn’t fought anyone for a year and a half. Will he be the Mayweather we all remember? If he loses that ruins the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao super-fight and catapults Ortiz to superstardom.

Ortiz is not boring; he’s an engaging young man who has overcome a lot in his life. He’s a good-looking dude – who attracts the ladies – with a positive attitude and tenacity that could make him the best in the game. He even could become the new Oscar De La Hoya Latinos and fight fans have been waiting for.

Con: The fight is on late.

I’m old enough, and perhaps just young enough, to realize that by the time the fight comes on I'll probably be too tired to give it my undivided attention. If I’m at home with friends the tired factor shoots up – especially if my buddy Joe Muto eats all the guacamole and I am stuck in the kitchen smashing avocados while everyone else is enjoying the fight. When it comes to events like this, the match ceases to be the main focus.

Pro: Stay in the know.

How many times have you gone to work the next Monday and someone asked you about the big fight? You tell them you didn’t watch it and it’s like you checked your manhood at the door. Events like this, frankly, are big news, and if you call yourself a fight fan of any kind you have to order it; the reward will be earning the respect of your coworkers and not being left out of the loop.

What to do?

In the end I’m probably going to do something I regret: I’ll be muttering at myself angrily the next day about either ordering the fight or missing out.

Fine, maybe I'll order the fight, but not invite anyone to my place. Why would I play house to people when I can fully focus on the event by myself? Sure, my friends said they’d pay a chunk of the costs. But it'll be 2012 before you know it, and I'm sure I'll look back on it – with no "chip-in money" or any cash toward all the Miller High Life they drank.

I won't be going to the bar, either, because I’ll end up spending 200 bucks on drinks and Buffalo wings.

As I’ve said before, ordering a boxing event is a gamble. It’s like playing Roulette: you have a 50 percent chance of just losing your money or feeling like you got your money’s worth. You could end up paying $59 for 59 seconds of action.

On the other hand, do you really want to miss the possible “Fight of the Year”?

I’ll take that bet.

Victor García is an associate producer for Fox News Channel and a regular contributor to FoxNewsLatino.com.

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