Andre Berto tasted defeat for the first time in his professional career on April 16th of last year against Victor Ortiz in what some called the fight of the year. Both fighters tasted the canvas twice during a twelve-round war, with Ortiz winning a unanimous decision victory and Berto?s WBC welterweight title. Ortiz went on to fight Floyd Mayweather on September 17th, and subsequently lost his title in his first defense. Berto went on to win the IBF welterweight title from Jan Zaveck, only to vacate it after to purse a rematch with Ortiz. Sixteen days from today, live at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Andre Berto will get his shot at revenge. Ortiz on the other hand, believes he will repeat his performance from the first fight.
In a conference call held for the media yesterday, both Berto and Ortiz seemed excited and confident to get back in the ring with one another. Victor Ortiz went on to say ?There are no worries in the world right now, and Berto is definitely not one of them. At the same time, I know I have to come to the ring tremendously tough for this guy. I am not a guy who will run my mouth and try to win people over by talking. Berto has a chip on his shoulder and I have a few chips on my shoulder. The first fight didn?t end the way I wanted it to end, and obviously my last fight wasn?t the greatest. Obviously I am on a roller coaster right now but I am ready to climax. I am not planning on pulling back now or anytime in the future. I will be victorious once again and I will not take no for an answer. Let?s remember, I was a 140 pounder the first fight and now I?m a natural 147. Somebody?s in trouble. I?m pretty sure I can and will knock him down and keep him down.?
A confident Andre Berto went on to say ?I think it is tremendously important that if you go through the things that I went through that you don?t stay down but you come right back into the action. At the end of the day, I know I can fight. I had a bad night but at the end of the day I know how to fight. You?re looking at two young guys who love to fight and who are looking to put on a show. I?m not sure if the fight will end early or decision. February 11 is right around the corner, you?ll see.?
Both Andre Berto and Victor Ortiz have agreed to submit to random drug testing throughout training camp. Berto claimed that up until now he has already been tested twice. For Ortiz, this will be the second fight in a row that he will have to submit to such testing, as he submitted to random drug testing throughout his training camp for Floyd Mayweather last summer. Both Oscar De La Hoya and Lou DiBella, the promoters of the fight went on to state that they agreed with the random drug testing for the fight and they believe it should be implemented in all major boxing events.
Victor Ortiz, who was in jeopardy of not being licensed in the state of Nevada a few weeks ago, for stating on the record that he was intentionally trying to break Floyd Mayweather?s nose when he catapulted his head into the head of Mayweather?s has been licensed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The licensing for Ortiz was given solely for the bout with Berto, under the agreement that Victor would ?behave himself? in the ring. When both fighters were asked if they felt this would handicap Ortiz?s fighting ability on fight night, Berto first responded by stating ?it?s just something that handicaps you if you?re a dirty fighter. If you know you?re not, you should be just fine. He?s been disqualified in the past. Even in our fight he was hitting me behind the head, and that situation with Floyd. I just hope he stays clean in our fight.? Ortiz responded by saying ?It will not handicap me in the ring on February 11th; it?s a motivation and incentive. I am me; if you don?t like it, change the channel.”
