CARSON, Calif. - As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, former WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz was attacked by a crazed fan at the StubHub Center.
Following his knockout loss to Andre Berto on Saturday night, a unidentified male at ringside hurled some objects at him and started throwing punches at security and members of Ortiz's team.
Berto stopped Ortiz with two knockdowns in the fourth round night, avenging his loss in the welterweight stars' first bout five years ago.
Ortiz was shocked by the incident. He said the attacker threw some items at him and then attempted to punch him, but failed to connect.
"I don't know [what happened]. This guy threw something at me. And then next thing you know he tried to swing at me as well. At least he didn't hit me...[he was] too slow," Ortiz said with a smile.
Ortiz had some success in the rematch. He dropped Berto (31-4, 24 KOs) in the second round, but allowed him to recover. Berto floored Ortiz the first time with a right uppercut, and Ortiz went down again moments later from a series of big punches.
Ortiz crawled back to his feet and barely beat the count, but didn't respond when asked if he wanted to continue. Referee Jack Reiss stopped the bout 1:14 into the fourth.
Berto returned to the ring in style after his one-sided loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. last year in the pound-for-pound champion's final fight. Berto lost his WBC welterweight title and his unbeaten record to Ortiz in their 2011 bout, and he went 3-3 in his six fights since.
Ortiz and Berto knocked each other down twice in their wild first fight in 2011, each flooring the other in the sixth round alone. Ortiz hung on for a decision despite losing a point for hitting behind the head in one of the most entertaining high-level fights of this decade.
The loss was the fourth in six fights for Ortiz (31-6-2), who has struggled with injuries and inconsistent performances ever since his title-winning victory over Berto.
Still, Ortiz was booed by fans who have a tumultuous relationship with the former champion fighting out of Ventura, California. Ortiz has been criticized throughout his career for the endings to his fights, particularly losses to Marcos Maidana and Josesito Lopez in which fans hoped he would continue.
