Andre Berto versus Victor Ortiz Preview

I am eagerly awaiting the Andre Berto (27-0 21KOs) versus Victor Ortiz (28-2 22KOs) matchup coming up on April 16th. It has promise to be a good action fight and two prime fighters going head to head. They both have great hand speed, like to come forward, good power for their weight, young and hungry.

Victor Ortiz

Is Victor Ortiz really back? After two good wins against Nate Campbell and Vivian Harris he puts in a horrible performance against Lamont Peterson where he looked like he didn’t know how to close a fighter. Against Peterson he withstood a few good hooks and right hands, it would be unwise to stand and take those against Berto. He needs to beat Berto to the punch while sitting in the pocket. It will be very interesting to see if he can do so.

One interesting note is from a promotional strategy point of view. Many will wonder why Golden Boy is taking this fight for Victor Ortiz? He still isn’t very far from the most devastating fight (egosticly more than physically) of his career with Marcos Maidana and only with two knockdowns avoided a loss with a Majority Draw in his last fight with Lamont Peterson. Now they are deciding not only to move up in weight, but to fight the 3^rd best welterweight in the world?

I think I just hear a slot machine whirring in Richard Schaefer head. It’s gamble time for Ortiz. They are either going to get an instant headliner with Victor Ortiz or he falls completely by the wayside.

Perhaps that’s the same reason why Victor’s camp probably took the fight as well. If Victor Ortiz gets brutally destroyed, remember those words he uttered after the Maidana fight, he might be done with boxing. But if he wins, all we will be talking about is his “vicious” right hook and “vicious” left uppercut.

Andre Berto

On the Andre Berto and Lou Dibella side this also good chance for them. They have been heavily criticized in recent years are also looking to ratchet up Berto’s opponent skill level. While others will continue to criticize Berto I applaud him and Dibella for taking this fight. While this is no giant step up, as I am sure that Andre Berto will tout, it is a good test to see if Berto can handle someone with the hand speed and power (albeit Jr. Welterweight power) like Ortiz.

However, don’t see this as an easy fight for Berto at all. Remember Callazo, who is also a southpaw, pushed Berto to the limit. He also seems to get lulled into other fighter’s style. In this fight I see he has a distinct advantage in the lateral movement, to see if he uses it is yet to be seen.

Prediction:

I really don’t know how to pick. My brain says Berto. My gut says Ortiz. Foolishly, I am going with Berto KO10.

SW