Ortiz vs Berto 2: Victor Ortiz Ready to Prove Skeptics Wrong Again
by Scott Christ on Jan 24, 2012 3:36 PM EST
in Boxing News Analysis
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In an interview with Chris Robinson of the Examiner, welterweight contender and former titleholder Victor Ortiz says he feels he's being underestimated once again, and that he's prepared to prove his critics wrong once again, just as he did in April 2011 when he faced Andre Berto for the first time:
"I just keep pushing forward and keep pushing a little harder than the day before. As far as being ready, that’s not even a question in my mind. As far as getting past Berto, that’s definitely not a question I got to worry about."
Asked what realizations he has discovered about himself after the rollercoaster ride he’s been on, Ortiz points to a lack of respect from fans and the media,
"I’ve learned that I’ve been counted out for too long, by everyone," he continued. "Once again, I’m an underdog once again. I don’t mind it one bit. It’s the story of my life. As far as that goes, I’m ready."
I actually thought it seemed odd that Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KO) would consider himself the underdog again, and figured it was more of his usual self-help chatterbox stuff, but no, he's right: On the one line I've seen for the fight, Ortiz is a +145 underdog, with Berto the -175 favorite.
If you ask me those are some nice early odds on "Vicious" Victor. He beat Berto once and I don't think either of them has really changed in the ring since then. Sure, Ortiz had his meltdown against Floyd Mayweather Jr, but Andre Berto is not Mayweather. Against Berto, Ortiz has a mirror action fighter who does more fighting than thinking. It's a great matchup for him.
Berto (28-1, 21 KO) is coming off of a fifth round cuts stoppage win over Jan Zaveck, a fight where he was definitely tested by a guy most expected him to bowl over on pure talent. Zaveck was determined and fought toe-to-toe, and pressed Berto. That's both a credit to Zaveck being better than some thought, and a reflection of the fact that Andre Berto basically can't help himself from getting into a slugfest if the other guy can force him into that sort of pace.
Honestly, I think this is about as close to an even money fight as you get on this level, but right now I'm tipping my hat toward Ortiz just a little bit. When both are at their best, which I expect, I just think Ortiz is a bit better a fighter, and maybe that little bit better at recovering from punishment quickly, which is a big deal when two guys swing like these two guys swing.
Who are you favoring right now?
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Ortiz
If he tags Berto early its over. He’ll have that mental edge.
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
“mental edge” and “Victor Ortiz” don’t go together in the same sentence… but, I also favour Ortiz
However, if Conte has managed to improve Berto’s stamina issue, I think Berto can win this fight. Berto was almost dead in the first fight after he got kd’d the first time and somehow managed to drop Ortiz twice. If he recovers quicker this time, I think he can pull it off.
i do agree with this but ive got to admit i did i little doubletake at the mention of Ortiz having the mental edge.
by whypunchrabbits? on Jan 24, 2012 3:45 PM EST up reply actions
In a matchup like this, the mental edge should be up for grabs, unless Ortiz enters the ring in an Oliver McCall mind state.
Oliver McMcall, Jazzy Jeff, Ronald McDonald; Who the hell can tell?
the man’s as mad as a box of badgers
by whypunchrabbits? on Jan 24, 2012 4:23 PM EST up reply actions
Thats the beauty of it.
Ortiz’ mind (hollow and all) has nothing to do with it. Its Berto’s. He gets dropped, he’s effed. =) THINK, geniuses!
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
by xFenixKnightx on Jan 25, 2012 2:04 PM EST up reply actions
Berto dominates him...
that’s what I think at least. I honestly think Berto didn’t take the fight seriously and didn’t train as hard as he should have. I don’t really like Berto as a fighter but I think he takes this one.
Berto...
The first fight was Victor’s first time at 147… and Victor added the weight very well. And I think that caught Berto by surprise. I don’t think Berto trained too hard to face the then scrutinized Ortiz who was still living down his "I don’t deserve to get beat this way " speech.
Plus, Berto was seconds away from a TKO on Ortiz, but he was too gassed by then and got caught. If Berto is better conditioned then he can stop Ortiz.
Ortiz, but I wish he could have gotten a softie fight before running it back. Anytime a guy gets knocked cold in the ring, even from a sucker punch, you have to wonder how he’ll respond….of course this might be the one time Ortiz being such an airhead might help him. He is, after all, “literally a tree, bro.”
Yeah man, Ortiz will win by UD or tko this time. Berto will not know how to in fight, and ortiz will rough him up inside. I feel the story is about Berto: his chin ain’t going to improve, and he sure as hell ain’t gonna fight on the inside. Ortiz all the way. To tell you the truth, I thought Ortiz was doing damn well before the fight stopped. Weirder things have happened…
"According to all the laws of aerodynamics the bumble-bee should not fly, but the bumble-bee does not know this and so flies anyway."
Ah, remember when Victor Ortiz had that idealistic charm of a young hungry fighter whose narrative captured the imagination and support of boxing fans? Growing up in Garden City with his young brother after his mom and dad left them to fend for themselves. Soon he fell victim to the bright idea of playing this sort of nothing to lose “me against the world” kind of guy when he fought Mayweather. Now it’s just you know the whole Faceoff thing with Mayweather and how he kind of stuck it to Max Kellerman for comments he made about Victor during the Maidana fight. Dude we get that you’re from this impossible background and you made it out, get behind the thousands of other boxers who share the same background story. That being said……I like Victor Ortiz
I’d like Victor Ortiz more if he was connected to reality.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Jan 24, 2012 4:29 PM EST up reply actions
I think that he has always been strange, but Golden Boy tried to hide it as he seemed to have every attribute to be a major attraction when he was coming up: young, good looks, coming from adversity storyline, good power and fairly exciting fighting style etc. They tried to market him as having idealistic charm when really he is probably the strangest guy in boxing. To be honest I prefer him as he is now, the plucky idealistic charm and hard luck story just seemed grating, even if it was true.
After being found wanting against Maidana and losing it mentally against Peterson, I really think that GB thought they would cash in for the first Berto fight, and consequently have started just letting Ortiz be Ortiz. Now he seems to come out with statements that are so devoid of logic that nobody can take him seriously. I’m far more of an Ortiz fan than I used to be because of it. He is a good fighter, but is a bit crazy. Not Ike Ibeabuchi crazy, but enough for me to think ‘is he going to do or say something really stupid’ for all of his fights.
Nobody will read this and care and why should they?
by Eoin_not_ian on Jan 24, 2012 6:27 PM EST up reply actions
this fight owns
Either guy could knock the other guy out. Ortiz could have ended berto in rd 1, Berto to Ortiz in rd 6, etc
Going to keep this simple: Texans = SUPER BOWL CHAMPS
by battle axe of doom on Jan 24, 2012 5:57 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I think Ortiz is just a better fighter than Berto. He might not be quite as fast, but he’s got better skills and punches very hard. If he comes in with the same determination and focus as the first fight I think he’ll win again.
Berto might have underestimated him last time. But you also have to recognize the fact Berto was fighting bums for several years. He hadn’t faced a serious threat in so long he wasn’t prepared. I think that was a bigger issue than him not taking training seriously.
I’m on undecided at the moment. But leaning slightly towards Berto. I picked Ortiz to win the first time and was rewarded by it. I think there both the same fighter they were in there first fight. The problem I’m having is the consequences for the loser. The loser of the fight is looking at a long road back. I’m sure both know that. And to me it seems like Berto hates losing more than Ortiz. Based on his reaction after the Mayweather fight Ortiz doesn’t seem to have all that big of a problem with losing. While Ortiz can beat Berto again, I think Berto wants it a little more
Interesting points well taken
"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali
I'm going with the tree bro on this one
I picked ortiz to bully berto before the first fight, and I see the same thing happening again. Who did you have in the first fight Scott?
Before or after? I don’t remember making a pick before the first fight (if I did, it was probably Berto) but I scored it for Ortiz, like everyone else on earth who wasn’t Dan Rafael.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Jan 25, 2012 5:01 AM EST up reply actions
I remember this fight pretty clearly – it cost me first place in one of the pick’em seasons. I’m pretty sure you backed Berto, but said that Ortiz could conceivably pull off the upset. I was adamant that Berto would win, stuck a treble on him and promptly suffered. As it is, this time around I’m going with Ortiz. Better boxer, physically stronger; I reckon it will be a more dominant version of the first fight.
"Occasionally, there is a boxing match that, in its demonstration of skill, courage, intelligence, hope, seems to redeem the sport - almost. Perhaps boxing has always been a sport in crisis, a sport of crisis."
by Oli Goldstein on Jan 25, 2012 8:12 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I bet a lb. of crow on this one…
"According to all the laws of aerodynamics the bumble-bee should not fly, but the bumble-bee does not know this and so flies anyway."
Victor “Lights Out” Ortiz by TKO or something. Of course it’s not always his opponents that have the lights out, and sometimes its his brain…
"According to all the laws of aerodynamics the bumble-bee should not fly, but the bumble-bee does not know this and so flies anyway."
I would bet but I can't stand Berto
"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali
Their fights aren’t exactly a Mensa meeting, that’s for sure.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Jan 25, 2012 5:21 AM EST up reply actions
Which one will show up?
Victor looked soft and disconnected in his last fight. This scrap can go either way if they brawl like the first matchup. Or Victor can frustrate Berto by making him eat a jab & cross all night. Can’t wait!
by honorablecbm on Jan 25, 2012 8:50 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions
my honest opinion is that berto took ortiz lightly..of course that was his own fight and hasnt been in a war in his career since the collazo fight which he should have lose. i honestly see another war that berto wins this time but its a pick em fight and will not be surprised if ortiz wins..but this a bout thats good for boxing and can not wait til feb 11th.
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