by Osman Rodriguez
Former welterweight champion Victor Ortiz (29-3-2, 22KOs) was not entirely surprised when Andre Berto tested positive for a banned steroid in a random drug test administered by VADA [Volunteer Anti-Drug Association].
Ortiz, who decisioned Berto last year in a "Fight of The Year" performance, was scheduled to face him again on June 23rd at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. After Berto tested positive, he was replaced by Josesito Lopez (29-4, 17KOs).
According to Ortiz, he was suspicious of Berto after their first fight in early 2011. His suspicions grew after Berto accused him of using steroids. Ortiz didn't care about the positive test result. He was willing to fight Berto, but the California State Athletic Commission would not have allowed the fight to go forward.
"I knew in the first fight, to take a beating for twelve rounds and still be up on your feet without protecting yourself and being able to take my hits - that was surprising to me," Ortiz told WLIE Radio in New York.
"I remember after the fight, he started blaming me for steroid usage, which automatically made me assume 'this dude is on roids.' But even so I didn't care. I offered to buy him his roids for him and I'll pee and he doesn't have too. I was that confident that I could beat him again. This fight came around and they were trying to cancel it and I was like 'it's all right, let him be, I'll be fine.' They didn't let me fight him, because of the commission, but other than that I would have took him on [with] roids. I don't need that, I'm all natural."
