Uppercut Magazine.com - Big Expectations
Photo by Tom Hogan
Big Expectations for Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto II
By Katherine Rodriguez
LOS ANGELES-Victor Ortiz is a boxer-puncher with an emphasis on puncher. Andre Berto is a boxer-puncher and like the aforementioned boxer you must emphasize the punching part of his repertoire.
Mix them together and you get the 2011 Fight of the Year. Can they do it again?
Golden Boy Promotions and Lou DiBella Promotions along with announced the rematch between Ortiz and Berto takes place Feb. 11, 2012 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Showtime will televise the juicy welterweight match.
The last time Berto (28-1, 22 KOS) and Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KOs) entered the ring they attacked each other like two hungry roosters and did not slow down. Expectations are so high that the press conference was filled.
“We’re starting this year with a bang,” said Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer without a hint of hyperbole. “It’s the biggest way to kick off 2012.”
Berto was the holder of the WBC welterweight title and Ortiz was moving up from junior welterweight to the 147-pound division when they first clashed. Few expected the Southern Californian to survive the test but he slugged his way to victory after 12 rounds and emerged with the world title.
Ortiz slammed down Berto a few times though he also absorbed big blows too. Most of the action took place in the sixth round when both floored each other with their best shots and tasted the canvas. It was also the best round of boxing of the year.
“Their fight was the most compelling fight,” said Steven Espinosa, who formerly represented Golden Boy in numerous litigations and now heads Showtime’s sports division.
Berto walked in with his usual mild-mannered smile and banter but cranked up the intensity as he spoke about the rematch with Ortiz.
“This is the greatest fight happening,” said Berto to the press. “I’m a fight fan at the end of the day.”
During the photography portion of the press conference neither backed off before the other. For several minutes they stood eye to eye.
“People say I was juiced but I was only 50 percent of what I can do,” says Ortiz chuckling. “I apologized to my trainers after the first fight because I felt I could do much better than I did.”
Both know that their first clash sent shockwaves in the boxing world and is the reason that their rematch will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Ortiz expects his true strength to appear in the rematch.
“In the first fight I was at 140,” explains Ortiz. “I’m 147 now. I’ve put on seven pounds of muscle.”
Berto seems excited about the return fight.
“It’s the type of fight that made me fall in love with boxing in the first place,” said the Floridian. “I show my respect to Victor, his whole team. He’s a tremendous fighter.”
Don’t expect too much respect on Feb. 11 in Las Vegas.
Tickets are available beginning at $50. Showtime will televise the fight event live on the East Coast and delayed in the West Coast.
