Preview: Berto vs. Ortiz

Preview by Mariano A. Agmi

Andre Berto (27-0, 21 KOs) defends his WBC welterweight championship against “Vicious” Victor Ortiz (28-2, 22 KOs) on Saturday, April 16th at Foxwoods Resort & Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

The bout, dubbed “East-West Showdown,” pits two charismatic, explosive young fighters whom HBO previously identified as future stars in the sport against one another.  However, despite all of the hype and natural talent, Berto and Ortiz have also suffered through steady criticism from the media and fans alike leading up to this fight, albeit for different reasons.  

In fact, it is apparent that each fighter is dying to make a statement on April 16th in an attempt to erase the demons of rough fights they each had in 2009 against their toughest opponents to date.

Andre Berto has been on HBO since early in his career.  The Haitian-American star, promoted by DiBella Entertainment and managed by Al Haymon, rose steadily up the ranks as his competition improved up until his “Fight of the Year” caliber win over former WBA welterweight champion Luis Collazo.

Since that close call, many believe that the 27-year-old’s brain trust have matched him extremely carefully against smaller men (Juan Urango), has-beens (Carlos Quintana) and never-weres (Freddy Hernandez).

“I feel I’ll always get a little criticism,” admitted Berto at a recent conference call.  “At the end of the day I don’t listen to criticism. You need balls to step in the ring against anybody.  I’m comfortable in myself and my true fans believe.”

The criticism has been so persistent that his promoter, Lou DiBella, could not help but to defend Team Berto’s choice of Victor Ortiz as their next opponent.

“This is his [Berto’s] most difficult fight,” stated DiBella.  “Fight fans wanted it; HBO wanted it.  We wanted bigger fights, but if we can’t make those fights, what are we supposed to do?  Victor Ortiz has never been less than 156 the night of a fight.  He’s probably bigger than Andre. This is not a welterweight going against a 140 pounder.  That’s 100-percent BS.  Like Berto said, we can’t control what people think.”

Berto seemed irked at the suggestion that Ortiz may have the better resume between the two: “I fought Collazo, Urango and Quintana, who beat Paul Williams. They say the fighters I’ve fought are a lower level of competition.  Every time I step in with ‘em I’ll make it look like it’s easy.  I know I won’t even get the credit that I deserve after this fight.  ”

While Berto’s level of competition has been questioned, Ortiz has been accused of a much more serious offense in the court of boxing opinion: that he is a quitter.

Prior to 2009, Victor Ortiz was regarded as a “vicious” finisher who took apart the likes of Carlos Maussa, Mike Arnaoutis and Jeffrey Resto on his way to an interim title shot against power puncher Marcos “El Chino” Maidana.  However, after succumbing to the Argentine brawler in another 2009 “Fight of the Year” candidate, the Golden Boy-promoted fighter has fought in a much more tentative manner in his next five bouts, winning four of them and fighting to a draw against Lamont Peterson last December.

“I had just one slip-up against Maidana,” states the Mexican-American boxer-puncher.  “I know where I’m going and what I’m about.  If Maidana wants to end his career, he should move up to 147.”

However, Berto does not consider the incident an aberration: “Every time I fight I have the heart of a lion, because that’s just how I’m built,” asserts the WBC champion.  “As for [Ortiz], you have to question his heart, because that’s what he showed against Maidana.  That was only one occasion, but it happened”.

Berto views Ortiz as a front runner – a fighter who performs impressively while he’s controlling a fight, but one who quickly loses confidence when the going gets tough: “In every other fight, he’s knocking guys out and beating them up and [Maidana] was an instance where someone cracked back.”

Ortiz understandably does not want to dwell on the past, especially on an occasion when he questioned whether the sport was for him on national television.  Instead, the 24-year-old chooses to focus on redeeming himself on April 16th.  Ortiz draws strength from Berto’s aforementioned weak opposition.  The way Ortiz sees it, Berto has never faced anyone with his blend of speed and power.

“I must be champion and I will be champion.  Berto has been talked about as the next big thing.  I don’t agree.  How is he Berto going to deal with my speed and power?  Mike Tyson once said, ‘Everybody has a plan until they get hit.’  Berto hasn’t been hit by someone like me.  He’ll see April 16th.”

 

For his part, Berto laughs off the bravado.  “It’s the name of the game, I love it.  Victor Ortiz can say what he wants.  It seems they were gassing him up at camp. April 16th is going to be a reality check for him.  They’ve been lying to him at training camp thinking this is going to be an easy fight.  The ring is a really cold place to find that out.”

What is apparent for these boxers is that they are both determined to make a statement, increasing the likelihood that the fight will be a memorable one between two hungry young fighters.  It is also apparent that each of them is aware of the other’s desire to prove the public wrong.

“Victor Ortiz was the new Fernando Vargas, promoted by Golden Boy with a Spanish background,” states Berto.  “Then he lost and they turned their backs on him.  The only thing that matters is he’s coming to fight.  He feels he has a lot more to prove and maybe he feels that he’s ready to die this time, but you can’t teach that thing that beats in your chest.  You can learn all types of skills, but you either got it – heart – or you don’t.”

Ortiz is more blunt but no less convinced that he will finally shut his critics and prove that he is willing to leave it all in the ring to win: “He says he has power, so do I.  He says he has speed, so do I.  I’m going to be crowned no matter what.  I’ve paid my dues.  I’ve been here a while and finally they’re going to give me a shot.  I will do whatever it takes to take that green belt home with me.  It’s my time.”

Berto vs. Ortiz takes place on April 16th in the MGM Grant Theater at Foxwoods Resort & Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.  The bout will be shown live on HBO.

April 12th, 2011

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