Ortiz vs. Berto Post-Fight Press Conference Quotes

MASHANTUCKET, CT (April 16, 2011) – New World Boxing Council (“WBC”) Welterweight Champion “Vicious” Victor Ortiz addressed the media following his thrilling twelve round unanimous decision victory over Andre Berto on Saturday night.

Berto, who hurt his right hand in round and required medical attention, did not attend the press conference.

Here are post fight quotes from the participants:

Victor Ortiz, WBC Welterweight Champion: “Andre Berto – I know he’s not here – we both went through a great war; nothing but respect. It was a very exciting fight. He hits very hard. I have a head harder than a rock. I wonder what the headline will read: Victor doesn’t have….fill in the blank. It wasn’t a walk in the park but I got the goods.”

“I want to thank Manny Pacquiao for his words. We talked today and he said to stick to my plan, that I’m a very good fighter, and don’t take anybody’s negativity.”

“I saw Andre Berto as a champion. There’s no stopping Berto. I didn’t prepare to knockout Berto. I knew it would go the full distance. I pictured myself with two black eyes, but I would have the green belt.”

“There are a lot of great fighters at 147’; I’m completely done with 140. I’m going to take a vacation and then shoot for the big names. I don’t make a helluva lot. Why not shoot for the big ones?”

“Stuff happens. That was the past. Maidana still doesn’t have anything on me. That wasn’t my night. I fought with a broken wrist and the fight was stopped. They said I gave up, I didn’t give up. I didn’t fight kMorales. He’s a great guy but past his time and I strongly believe he beat Maidana. He wouldn’t give me a rematch but I’m the guy with no courage, no heart, no balls. But I’m the guy with the belt.”

“I didn’t see it as close. I knew I pulled off a victory. You see the new WBC Welterweight Champion.”

“I wasn’t expecting an easy fight. I expected a war. I studied him and he’s no joke. He knocked out some good guys but I saw the Luis Collazo fight. He (Collazo) was the first to beat him (Berto). I tip my hat to you.”

“It goes back to when I was young. I didn’t have anything when I was young. I raised my brother. I thought this was my dream. I wasn’t going to stand for anything less. I was moving up to 147 but knew I carried my power. For three months, every day at the gym, I would say the new champ.”

Lou DiBella, promoter of the show and Berto: “Berto can’t attend the press conference. Dr. Schwartz said he has a possible break of his right hand and possible concussion. He went to the hospital. We have no issues. Very, very close. No problems from our team. Victor Ortiz answered all of the questions about his heart. You know Victor Ortiz is a welterweight.”

“There were no losers when you out on a fight like this. I’m very proud to promote this fight.”

“Yesterday would have been the 39th birthday of Arturo Gatti. Arturo Gatti would have been very pleased of the fight tonight.”

Richard Schaeffer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions and Ortiz’s promoter: “We’ve been waiting for a guy to bring excitement back to boxing and Victor Ortiz did that tonight.”

“We’re very proud of Victor Ortiz. He was attacked by some in the media. They questioned his heart and the will to go to war. He proved he has heart and the will to win, against an undefeated guy like Berto and gave him no chance.”

“You saw one of the best welterweight fights in years. Definitely all fight fans would to see it again. There are a lot of opportunities for Victor at 147 bit we’ll sit down and get this fight made again.”

Ortiz Outpoints Berto In Slugfest, Captures WBC Welterweight Title

By: Michael Gerard Seiler

"Vicious" Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KO's) defeated Andre Berto (27-1, 21 KO's) by a twelve-round unanimous decision, capturing the WBC welterweight title in what could become the 'Fight of the Year' for 2011. Official scores were 115-110, 114-112 and 114-111.

Entering the bout, both fighters were heavily questioned by the media about their overall star-potential in the sport. After quitting against Marcos Maidana in 2009, Ortiz was believed to lack the heart and courage of a true fighter. On the other hand, there were questions about Berto's chin: Could he take a solid punch? Ortiz and Berto answered and silenced their critics at Foxwoods tonight, letting everything they had deep inside of them come out in the ring.

During round one, it appeared that Ortiz floored Berto with a grazing left-hand shot that landed just behind the Miami native's right ear. However, referee Mike Ortega incorrectly ruled it a slip. Even if a fighter slips, such as Berto did according to Ortega, if a punch lands on a fighter that is falling, the correct ruling would be a knockdown. In this case, Ortiz' punch caused Berto to fall. Moments later, Ortiz would get an official knockdown scored.

Ortiz staggered Berto with a powerful right hook, and followed it up with a straight left - right uppercut combination, dropping Berto to one knee in the corner. After that, Berto was not quite the same fighter; He never fully recovered, displaying shaky legs numerous times throughout the course of the fight.

In round two, Berto answered back, firing and connecting with a counter-right cross, flooring Ortiz. Yet, Ortiz, 24, was not really hurt, as his right glove prevented his back from touching the canvas as he fell. Ortiz regained his composure, holding his own the last twenty seconds of the round. Before the knockdown, Ortiz was beating Berto to the punch and controlling the round, as the 27-year-old's legs looked wobbly.


Ortiz rocked Berto during round three with consecutive straight lefts in the second half of the round. Early on, Ortiz stunned Berto with a devastating left uppercut. 


Berto opened round four by precisely landing a flush right cross to Ortiz' chin. Once again, Ortiz came right back, connecting with consecutive left-hand shots to Berto's head. Then, Ortiz pummeled Berto, leaving him with a bloody nose in his corner after the round.

After a close, competitive fifth round, Berto put Ortiz on the canvas with a crushing right cross. Ortiz' legs were unsteady, but Berto could not finish him. Next, a right hook and consecutive lefts to the head by Ortiz floored Berto, just before the bell rang to end the round.

From there, Ortiz beat up Berto in close quarters, fearlessly unleashing combinations and charging after him.

In round ten, Ortiz was deducted a point from referee Mike Ortega for hitting behind the head. Ortiz absorbed Berto's punches, and kept throwing more, showing a higher energy level.

After his back was pressed up against the ropes in round eleven, Berto looked as if he wished the fight was over. He was gassed from the relentless pressure applied by Ortiz.

Entering the twelfth round, Ortiz was not content to coast in the final three minutes; He only knew one way to finish - Go straight ahead and continue throwing punches until there is nothing left.

The courage, heart, and desire to win exhibited from both Ortiz and Berto was immeasurable. Still, Ortiz was simply the more complete fighter, proving the odds of being a 4-1 underdog were vastly inaccurate. While Berto hurt Ortiz at times, Ortiz landed harder and with greater accuracy.

Not to take away from Ortiz' victory, or to discredit Berto's performance in anyway, but Berto has been over-hyped by some in the media for a very long time. Berto has always shown trouble fighting in close quarters against elite fighters, usually electing to clinch after throwing power shots one-at-a-time. Berto has above average hand speed and efficient power, although he can be off-balance often with his enormously wide stance.

Did Berto underestimate Ortiz coming into the fight? Perhaps, but a fighter who knows how to fight on the inside with so much ferocity, as well as utilizing effective combination punching, such as Ortiz, will always give a one-dimensional fighter like Berto a great deal of trouble. If someone is going to defeat Ortiz again, it surely will not happen if that fighter only relies on his speed, agility and reflexes; One will need to have the complete package, and an added something that many critics thought Ortiz lacked - a ton of heart.