Ortiz-Berto Rematch is Not a Sure Thing If Andre Prevails

By Rick Reeno

Former welterweight champion Andre Berto will soon get the opportunity to clear his name. Last week it was disclosed that Berto failed one of his random drug tests that were administered by VADA [Voluntary Anti Drug Association]. Berto's A and B samples were confirmed to have had traces of nandrolone. 

Berto was preparing for a welterweight rematch with Victor Ortiz. The fight was scheduled for June 23rd at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California - and both fighters had agreed to take part in a random drug testing protocol.

Days later, it was revealed that the amount of nandrolone found in his system was so minor that it is highly unlikely that he intentionally ingested nandrolone but was rather contaminated by food or a supplement.

Regardless, Berto was quickly replaced by Josesito Lopez, who signed a contract a few days ago to face Ortiz. 

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who promotes Ortiz, advises everyone to reserve their opinions until Berto presents his case to the California State Athletic Commission. 

"With Andre Berto, there shouldn't be a rush to judgment. Andre Berto should be given the opportunity to present the facts. For right now I think, for him, I think it's important to collect the facts and then present his case in front of the commission and then its going to be up to them to decide what's going to happen," Schaefer said to BoxingScene.com.

However, even if Berto is cleared by the California commission, and Ortiz defeats Lopez in June, there is no guarantee that Golden Boy will explore the Berto-Ortiz rematch in the immediate future. As Schaefer explains, there are countless options for Ortiz and most of those fights are easy to make because the majority of the top ten contenders at 147 are connected to the Golden Boy banner.

"We have to see what's available because there are a lot of good fights that can be made in the 147-pound weight class. Now whether that means Andre will be fighting Victor, or Devon Alexander fighting Victor. Of course you have the winner of Robert Guerrero and Selcuk Aydin as well. You have Paulie Malignaggi there as well. You have so many combinations," Schaefer said.

"I was actually looking the other day at the ESPN top ten welterweights, top ten junior welterweight, and in both of these divisions most guys are with us or affiliated with us. This is like a mix and match. You have the 140s as well. At 140, 147, 154 is where the action is."