NEW YORK ? Sat before a small gaggle of reporters Victor Ortiz glances impatiently at his phone. His finger swipes the screen to check an incoming call. The screen alights with an image of the W.B.C. welterweight belt. When asked about it?s significance his face lights up.
For Ortiz this is a rarity.
?It reminds me of what I think is rightfully mine. It?s mine. I visualize it and it reminds me everyday.?
Sitting in a suit that hangs tightly around his triangular frame, flanked by his uniformed team he claims he is fully aware of what he needs to do to defeat his opponent on Saturday night.
?I have to end his career,? says Ortiz with a deadpan glance. ?I?ve already set my heart and my mind to do that. I?m ready.?
On the face of it things could not be better for Ortiz. This Saturday he will face Andre Berto at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods, Connecticut in a fight for the W.B.C. welterweight belt. It will also be his debut at 147 pounds having previously campaigned seven pounds lighter. He considered by many people in the industry to be the toughest opponent that Andre Berto has faced thus far.
?This fight means everything to means everything to me. It?s a once in a lifetime opportunity. I?m finally at the door knocking. I?ve done everything in my power to be ready.?
But the life of Ortiz is by no means as clear as his proclamations. The repeated question marks placed on him by writers hang heavily on his shoulders.
Amongst industry insiders it?s a well known fact that there is strife amongst his coaching staff. Before meeting Ortiz reporters were told the topic of Danny Garcia (Ortiz?s coach) and his relationship with his more illustrious brother Robert is off bounds, as is any mention of the defeat that Ortiz suffered at the hands of Marcos Maidana. There are to be no questions about his lackluster performance in his previous fight against Lamont Peterson. All talk is to be focused on his fight with Berto.
Ortiz with the help of his team says all the right things, but actions speak louder than words. While Ortiz is locked away in a back room with the press, his foe Andre Berto saunters the cavernous venue of the day?s press conference with the same lightness that he so often illustrates in the ring. Berto?s coach Tony Morgan leaves his charge to wander around. The buffet seems more appealing. Danny Garcia meanwhile is never more than arms length away from Ortiz.
As the formalities of the press conference are over the two fighters come forward for the stare down. Berto a picture of calm is faced by an Ortiz entourage keen to goad the champion into a reaction. The atmosphere is tense and the shouting loud. Victor is led away, Berto remains.
?You can?t train what beats in your chest,? explains Berto. ?His team is telling him all these things but it?s all about what you do in the ring.?
?Victor is scared. His team are trying to psyche him up and tell him the right things but he knows that he is in for one hell of a fight with Andre.?
For Ortiz Saturday is a chance to prove that his ever-increased barking can be followed by bite.
?I?m concerned about the holding that he [Berto] is going to do. The power does not concern me. But I hope the referee will do his job. But if he doesn?t then I?ll do his job for him. I?ll get dirty and it won?t be pretty.?
On Saturday night ?Vicious? Victor Ortiz will have a chance to prove that he can bite as hard as he barks, rather than leaving with a whimper. A victory will also be a chance to prove his many doubters wrong.
?After I beat Berto, I know people will say ?Berto was not this and that.? There is always something to say. I know where my heart is set and when I go home I go to sleep like an angel?.
