As he prepares for his main-event fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the Sept. 17 "Star Power" boxing event on HBO pay-per-view (9 p.m. ET), WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz will be sharing his thoughts every week.
In our third installment, Ortiz talks about spending his first paycheck and how he spends his time away from the ring.
What did you buy with your first big check? A car? Home? Rolex? What TV shows do you watch that help you relax after a good day of training? Do you live alone during training? If not, who are your roommates?
Ortiz: I wish I could tell you I went out and bought all of these luxurious things, but it really wouldn’t be my style. Maybe it’s because I never had all of those things growing up, but for whatever reason I really just don’t bother with shopping and trying to prove to everyone that I made it. I made it through being humble and outworking all of my opponents, not because I had the nicest cars or fancy jewelry.
Later in life when I’m retired and have a family on my own and will be able to send my kids to college: that’s when I'll start spending. Way too many athletes go broke these days, and I like saving my money so that I can ensure my family and friends currently and after me will never have to endure some of the things I did when I was a kid. All those fancy cars and houses are just a way for people to show off their money.
I let my boxing do the talking. I did make some investments, though. I have a trucking company called Ortiz Trucking with six trucks already. I figure that could be a solid side business to grow some of my winnings instead of having them lie around or be spent.
In terms of my living situation, I live alone and when camp is in session my manager Rolando Arellano comes and stays with me. I really like living alone because it allows me to clear my mind and relax. When I’m training for a fight and Rolando comes, it’s all about boxing. It’s all about my opponent and my strategy and how I can get an edge. Everyone when they think of me thinks of a boxer, but to me I’m just a guy. I don’t want to talk about boxing every second, and living alone really lets me kick back and relax.
I don’t really watch too many TV shows, but “The Fighter” was a great movie. It was really cool to see the dynamic between the two brothers, one who allowed for the pressure of drugs and fame to take over his career, and one that just wanted to win. I like to think of myself as someone who wants to win and can resist those temptations because of the love of the game. I also have the support of my team who always make sure to keep me in line.
