Victor Ortiz got caught sleeping on the job last September in the ring against Floyd Mayweather. That cost him a lot of embarrassment, but more than that he was knocked out cold in the fourth round of his first mega fight. Young man and a sportsman, Ortiz could not believe and did not expect to get hit when he was not looking and so he made a passionate claim for a rematch. He did not get it, but he did get a rematch with Andre Berto, a man who Ortiz had to beat to get a fight with Floyd Mayweather.
Their first fight in April of last year was called the fight of the Year in 2011.Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto will do it again on February 11th, 2012 at the Mecca of boxing at the MGM Grand Garden arena in Las Vegas.
“Last fight I wasn’t up to par,” said Berto when I caught up to him at the Ten Goose gym in Van Nuys, California:” I just didn’t do what I had to do the first time. This time should be a different story.”
Andre Berto did a work out for the media on Tuesday afternoon and looked fast and muscular.” This time I had tremendous training camp and I am in great shape,” continued Berto:” I‘ll use my speed. I’ll use my power. I will do whatever I have to do.” They say rematches seldom produce different results, but Berto is a very confident fighter.
“Either way I can get it, I will get it; if it’s knock out or a decision,” replied Berto when asked how he plans to achieve victory:” But the knock out would be much sweeter.”
Just as great as he looked against Berto last April, Victor Ortiz looked as terrible in September against Mayweather. As long as the fight lasted, which was almost four rounds, Mayweather could not miss with his right hand.
“Mayweather is strong. He knows how to pick his shots,” noted Berto who had to give up his newly won IBF championship belt in order to secure a rematch with Ortiz:” He touched him with a few right hands. I don’t know if he hurt him. I used a right hand too, but I guess, I didn’t use it enough. My right hand put him down a few times. I just didn’t do what I had to do the first time. I wasn’t too focused on the fight because I felt that I probably should be fighting better opposition. I take nothing away from Ortiz. He came to fight and he came up with a win.”
Lack of focus will not be an issue for Berto in a rematch which is destined to produce excitement and high drama and fierce combat.
“Training camp has been pretty good for this fight ,” said Berto(28-1,22KO’S):” The most important thing my health was good, bring my doctors in pretty much every other week to check my levels, make sure my iron levels and things are up.”
This was a strange statement. I don’t remember Andre worrying about his doctors or his iron levels in the past. It sounded like he borrowed these ne words from his new strength and conditioning coach, Victor Conte. So I asked Berto if he used him for this fight.
“Yes, I’ve been using vitamins he’s been providing me for this camp,” replied Berto, 28:” And two or three other doctors have been working with me as well. I am trying to make sure that everything is up to par and ready to go.”
Whether it is with the help of infamous Victor Conte or just a good old fashioned training Andre Berto looked very muscular and strong on Tuesday afternoon; much more muscular than I am used to seeing him. I asked him about it.
“We’ve definitely have been working on strength aspects of things,” replied Berto:” I am just trying to stay lean and strong.”
Despite all the new training methods, the best way to get ready for a fight is with some hard sparring.
“I brought Fernando Guerrero and my man T. He fought on 2008 Olympic team,” said Berto about his sparring partners:” Both of them big southpaws that can punch and they bring pressure. So I’ve had tremendous sparring with them.”
Last time out Victor Ortiz had a perfect game plan; he forced Andre into a shoot out and won convincingly. I asked Andre if he expected anything else from his opponent in February.
“I expect the same old Victor Ortiz,” replied Berto:” I don’t think he will try to switch up and be versatile too much. He could probably come in and try to box, but his natural attribute is to come and get it.” And like they say if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. I expect Ortiz to do the same thing he did when he won the first fight. What about Andre? Does he plan to do anything differently come fight night?
“Like I said I am in shape and I am ready to go,” Berto said:” I put in a lot of work in training camp and as you guys can see the speed is there, the power is there and I am in shape and ready to go all twelve. This time should be a different story.”
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