Andre Berto makes the sixth defence of his WBC welterweight title when he faces Victor Ortiz in Mashantucket, Connecticut, on Saturday night.
The bout at the Foxwoods Resort is expected to be an entertaining clash between two young fighters, each with power in both hands.
Berto, whose record stands at 27-0; 21, won the vacant WBC belt in June 2008 when he stopped Miguel Angel Rodriguez in seven rounds.
He has made defences against Freddy Hernandez (tko 1), Carlos Quintana (tko 8) and Juan Urango, Luis Collazo and Steve Forbes, all of whom he beat on points over 12 rounds.
Berto, 27, is a good combination puncher with fast hands. He is regarded as the third best welterweight in the world behind Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
His 78-percent knockout ratio shows he has power in both hands. However, some critics say he has not fought the best welterweights around.
Ortiz, a 24-year-old southpaw with a record of 28-2-2; 22, impressed as a junior welterweight, losing only one out of his first 26 fights ? by first-round disqualification against Corey Alarcon in June 2005.
He had Alarcon down twice, but the second knockdown came after the referee had ordered the fighters to break. Alarcon stayed down and was awarded the fight because of an illegal punch.
Ortiz also lost in June 2009 when Marcos Maidana stopped him in six rounds in a fight for the interim WBA junior welterweight title. This will be his first fight against a fully fledged welterweight.
Berto, who is probably faster than Ortiz and a better boxer, should win over 12 rounds.
LOOKING FOR STATUS
Sapa-AFP reports that Berto is hoping a victory over Ortiz can give him the status his unbeaten record has not delivered.
The champion has not captured the imagination of boxing fans and is rarely considered among welterweights such as Pacquiao, Mayweather and Shane Mosley.
Berto believes a convincing victory over Ortiz could raise his profile. “I think this is going to be a fight that people want to see,” Berto said on Thursday.
“This kid is young, strong and athletic, and they know what I bring to the table.
“They want to see me tested. They think this kid is going to test me and I hope he does,” Berto added. “Because I feel another sharp fighter is only going to make me sharp.”
A victory would see Berto move up in the queue for a fight with Pacquiao or Mayweather.
It could also get him back on track for a fight with Mosley. The two were supposed to fight in January of 2010, but Berto, who represented Haiti in the Athens Olympics, pulled out saying concern over the earthquake in Haiti had disrupted his training.
Ortiz is coming off a ten-round majority draw against American Lamont Peterson last December that snapped a four-fight win streak.
