Ortiz vs Berto 2: Postponement Official, February 11 Fight Is Off

by Scott Christ on Jan 31, 2012 11:43 AM EST in Boxing News Analysis

Victor Ortiz won't be facing Andre Berto on February 11. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

It's now official: The scheduled February 11 rematch between Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto has been postponed, according to RingTV.com:

According to his trainer, Tony Morgan, Berto suffered what was determined by an MRI to be a ruptured left biceps while throwing a hook to the head of sparring partner Tureano Johnson, and will require arthroscopic surgery as early as Tuesday.

... "Boxing fans really wanted this fight. We're right there with these two guys. We're right there behind Mayweather and Pacquiao, and then there's these two, hungry young guys Ortiz and Berto. I mean, Floyd's the best of the best, and so is Pacquiao, but you can't deny that they're in their 30s," said Ortiz's manager, Rolando Arellano.

This all came down last night, as Berto was reported to be hurt, then the ruptured bicep was reported, and then Ortiz said he'd keep camp going, but it was pretty clear from the get-go that we were losing this fight.

This is a pretty damn big blow to the schedule, as Ortiz vs Berto II was legitimately the biggest (signed) fight out there at the moment. But as Ortiz says, these things happen. This also means the cancellation of the undercard bouts, which means that Erislandy Lara (set to face Ronald Hearns) remains inactive since last July, and Gary Russell Jr (who was to fight Dat Nguyen) also loses a date.

Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KO) really should move on and maybe try to land that May 5 date with Floyd Mayweather Jr that I suspect could be a possibility now. Berto (28-1, 22 KO) is not going to be back in the ring all that quickly, and Ortiz doesn't need to sit around waiting.

Still, even in this time of disappointment, I am amused by Victor:

"Disappointed isn't even the best word to describe how I feel right now. I got home, and my manager is like, 'guess what? I don't know how to tell you this, so I'm just going to to ahead and tell you that your fight has been postponed or cancelled,'" said Ortiz.

And you know, if his manager were anyone but Roland Arellano... Never change, guys.

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Comments

This really sucks, especially for Berto. It’s his second biceps rupture to that arm, not a good trend. Plus, second, repeat injuries heal way slower than the first time. Bummer for him, as well as us.

There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939

by BoxAnne on Jan 31, 2012 11:47 AM EST reply actions

Yeah. I feel bad for Berto, feel bad for Victor, the undercard guys, us, everyone really.

Bad Left Hook
"The internet has undermined professionalism in journalism, which is a good thing." - Bill James

by Scott Christ on Jan 31, 2012 11:52 AM EST up reply actions

I’m almost as bummed about losing another chance to watch Mr. Gary Russell as I am losing out on what promised to be a killer rematch.

by AndrewDM on Jan 31, 2012 12:12 PM EST up reply actions

I was looking forward to the Russell fight a little bit – not that he had any real chance of losing, but Nguyen is a decent fighter and I’m still trying to get a real handle on Russell as a prospect.

Bad Left Hook
"The internet has undermined professionalism in journalism, which is a good thing." - Bill James

by Scott Christ on Jan 31, 2012 12:22 PM EST up reply actions

Exactly. At times, the guy looks absolutely spectacular. Incredible hand speed, relatively responsible defense, seemingly good power (though the KO rate doesn’t necessarily scream Earnie Shavers). I’d like to see him get in with a real brawler/pressure fighter to see if he stays calm, sticks in the pocket, and just carves dudes up like he’s been doing with the scrubs they’ve put him in with.

by AndrewDM on Jan 31, 2012 1:05 PM EST up reply actions

@#$%^&!!!!!

Me > Ben Henderson
@KrimsonTVN
Dia2iLL.com is up AND RUNNING!!!

by Krimson on Jan 31, 2012 11:54 AM EST reply actions

This is getting real old

"I wish people would love everybody else the way they love me. It would be a better world."
—Muhammad Ali…

by Boss Man on Jan 31, 2012 12:05 PM EST reply actions

Not much you can do about a ruptured bicep. Just bad luck.

by tylerj19 on Jan 31, 2012 12:09 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

Totally sucks. I feel bad for Berto, as well as Ortiz. This had the makings of such a good fight.

Just bad luck all round.

Nobody will read this and care and why should they?

by Eoin_not_ian on Jan 31, 2012 12:26 PM EST reply actions

Here's an idea

Berto is an Al Haymon fighter. So is Mayweather

Mayweather is in dire need of an opponent. A cheap one no less…. Berto is fighting a cheap opponent.

Al instructs Andre to…. feign injury to free up Ortiz?

by Sweet science on Jan 31, 2012 12:27 PM EST reply actions

Hospitals don’t usually collude in such shenanigans, and Berto is certifiably being operated on. He’s had this injury before, weakened areas are often susceptible to further injury. It’s a shame, not an excuse.

There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939

by BoxAnne on Jan 31, 2012 12:38 PM EST up reply actions

It was a longshot :)

by Sweet science on Jan 31, 2012 12:43 PM EST up reply actions

Obviously very disappointing… Was looking forward to this. But why not try to salvage something from it? Can you say SHOBOX doubleheader with Russell vs. Nguyen and Jermell Charlo vs. Momma’s Boy Denis Douglin, which was set for the undercard? Think it could work?

by alargar on Jan 31, 2012 12:28 PM EST reply actions

Probably a stretch to put together a date with a venue and move the TV people around and all that. It would be a nice ShoBox, but it seems like Haymon has purposely kept Russell away from shows like that — he hunts the big game, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t want his fighters getting tagged as secondary show prospects.

Bad Left Hook
"The internet has undermined professionalism in journalism, which is a good thing." - Bill James

by Scott Christ on Jan 31, 2012 12:47 PM EST up reply actions

Bummer

by SueB on Jan 31, 2012 12:30 PM EST reply actions

anytime a card like this goes to the waste side..its a big hurt..i feel bad for everyone..a triple header was nice and a big fight that showtime outbid hbo for as well..last week was supposed to be moralez garcia kirklnd molina..and now this will likely move back as well..lets hope this isnt a trend for 2012.

by Vicmatic1 on Jan 31, 2012 12:36 PM EST reply actions

Tell me about it. I was psyked to see Cote fight this weekend to. And he had to bail. Im starving for some good fights.

by sarangrat on Jan 31, 2012 5:00 PM EST up reply actions

I still say no to the Ortiz-Mayweather rematch… Plus, I doubt Floyd will give Victor the chance, he said that he will give Ortiz a rematch if Ortiz beat Berto. We still have to see how the Cotto negotiations are going and Canelo is still out there.

Floyd isn’t really known for participating in rematches. I think Castillo is his only one in his whole career.

by Clove_art on Jan 31, 2012 12:58 PM EST reply actions

Well there’s generally no reason for Floyd to have a rematch. But this thing where he really needs an opponent for 5/5 is as good a reason as any. Cotto’s not going to fight if he doesn’t like the terms. Golden Boy would PROBABLY prefer to not feed him Alvarez yet. Ortiz makes sense — Ortiz loses nothing losing to Floyd again, really. I think Ortiz is sort of bulletproof in a way; he’ll always bounce back. Maybe he’s not bulletproof — perhaps he’s Flubber.

Bad Left Hook
"The internet has undermined professionalism in journalism, which is a good thing." - Bill James

by Scott Christ on Jan 31, 2012 1:09 PM EST up reply actions

Makes sense… but selfishly i just want new fights. Funny how the tables have turned… We might have a new opponent for Manny and Floyd is the one that could be in a rematch. But still all are up in the air at this point.

by Clove_art on Jan 31, 2012 4:21 PM EST up reply actions

Robert Guerrero Should Step Up

If he thinks he can beat Mayweather, Ortiz should be pretty easy for a feared guy like him. “Cause at the end of the day”….

Sorry, I got nothin. I just wanted to say at the end of the day.

by Craig111 on Jan 31, 2012 2:55 PM EST reply actions

with 11 days to go id say thats a longshot but its definitely a way for the ghost to back up his talk

by Vicmatic1 on Jan 31, 2012 3:04 PM EST up reply actions

i hope he recovers well and this ain’t gonna be a recurring injury for the rest of his career.

It's not the creed, religion nor the nationality that counts, but the man himself

by Bald-Eagle on Jan 31, 2012 2:59 PM EST reply actions

Just called my cable company to cancel my Showtime subscription. I was looking forward to Berto-Ortiz, but with the cancellation and the late and tape-delayed broadcasts of all Showtime fights for California viewers like myself, I figured for $12 a month I’m not getting much…

by mambocowboy on Jan 31, 2012 4:17 PM EST reply actions