<<Print>>

Floyd Mayweather claimed the WBC welterweight title with a controversial victory over Victor Ortiz in Las Vegas. Mayweather knocked out Ortiz at the end of the fourth round to extend his unbeaten record to 42 fights. But the 34-year-old looked to land the knockout blows while Ortiz was apologising after delivering a headbutt seconds earlier. "I got hit by a dirty shot. The rule is protect yourself at all time," Mayweather insisted afterwards. "We are not here to cry and complain about what he did or I did dirty." After a quiet opening in Sunday's fight, it burst into life in the fourth round with Ortiz getting Mayweather on the ropes without quite being able to find a decisive blow. Just before the bell Ortiz had Mayweather on the ropes for a third time, only to be penalised for a headbutt. The 24-year-old then seemed to be apologising and was not protecting himself as Mayweather landed two punches - the second a big right hand - to end the fight. Ortiz claimed he was hit by a punch before the referee had asked the fighters to continue. "I took the break by the referee and I obeyed exactly as I was told," Ortiz said. "And then, boom, he blindsided me. "There's two ways to look at it but as far as I was concerned I came here to entertain the fans and they were entertained. "There was a miscommunication with the referee but nobody is perfect and this was a learning experience." Mayweather had returned to the ring for the first time in 16 months. Some critics had suggested the bout will be a 'tune-up' for Mayweather before an agreement is finally reached for a Manny Pacquiao fight next year.