Berto on Ortiz's Comments: That Was Stupid on His Part!

By Ryan Burton
 
On Tuesday's edition of The Boxing Lab, BoxingScene.com's official audio show, former welterweight champion Andre Berto spoke about his upcoming fight against Victor Ortiz that takes on February 11th in Las Vegas.  Ortiz defeated Berto via unanimous decision this past April in an entertaining fight in which both fighters tasted the canvas.
 
Berto bounced back from that defeat to knock out Jan Zaveck in September. He started working with Victor Conte of BALCO after the loss to Ortiz and found out that he had been anemic. While some fighters never mentally recover from a loss, Berto feels that the loss has made him a better fighter.
 
“I showed a lot of people in my last fight that I didn’t get deterred by it (the loss). I came out with a lot of aggression (against Zaveck) and I wasn’t coming out gun-shy. Mentally, I’m good and extremely focused,” Berto would tell The Boxing Lab.
 
We also asked Berto for his thoughts on the recent admission by Victor Ortiz that he was trying to break Floyd Mayweather's nose with his intentional head butt in their fight this past September. Ortiz has since been ordered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to explain his comments before he is issued a license for the rematch with Berto. 
 
“I just heard about that.  I think that was stupid on his part," stated Berto. "Just letting something like that come out. I think it was very stupid on his part and his team’s part. It’s something he has to handle and something he has to deal with. If it’s in Vegas or anywhere else, we’re going to be prepared and ready to go," he continued.
 
The fighter of Haitian descent also spoke on the recent news that VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency), will administer random drug testing for both fighters.  VADA was formed by Las Vegas based Dr. Margaret Goodman.  Berto said that he thinks that PED's are a big problem in boxing and that using VADA will help make sure that the fighters involved are on an even playing field.                                          .

“I think it’s a great situation because, of course, I know for a fact that performance-enhancing drugs are rampant in the sport. To involve a company like VADA, you won’t have to come out of pocket to have the drug tests done. It will clean up our sport a little bit,” Berto revealed.

Send questions or comments to ringsidewriter@gmail.com Follow Ryan on Twitter @ringsidewriter and tune in to The Boxing Lab, Boxingscene's official audio on Tuesdays. The show is hosted by Ernie Gabion, Luis Sandoval and Ryan Burton