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By Jake Donovan - Given the odds on the fight, his campaigning at a new weight class and what his career had become in recent years, it seemed that fans of “Vicious” Victor Ortiz would’ve simply settled for a strong showing on Saturday night.
Instead, he reminded the boxing world why such lofty praise once surrounded his career.
Ortiz overcame two knockdowns by scoring a pair of his own in outfighting Andre Berto en route to an upset win and ownership of alphabet welterweight hardware in their 12-round thriller Saturday at Foxwood’s MGM Grand in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
Scores were 115-110, 114-111 and 114-112 in a Fight of the Year candidate worthy of a return go.
Well before and also in the days and weeks leading up to the fight, both fighters had received more than their fair share of criticism.
Reviews forever remain mixed on the potential of Berto, a welterweight titlist for nearly three years but viewed as little more than a pampered paper champion who remains relevant due more to his industry connections than the results produced in the ring.
Conversely, Ortiz is best remembered exclusively for what he’s done in the ring, namely bailing out in the sixth round of his June 2009 shootout with Marcos Maidana. The bout headlined an HBO card that evening in efforts to introduce the then-highly touted Ortiz as the future of the sport. Instead, he decided to quit once momentum swung heavily back in Maidana’s favor, this after flooring the Argentinean three times but hitting the deck himself and sensing that the worst was yet to come. [Click Here To Read More]
Instead, he reminded the boxing world why such lofty praise once surrounded his career.
Ortiz overcame two knockdowns by scoring a pair of his own in outfighting Andre Berto en route to an upset win and ownership of alphabet welterweight hardware in their 12-round thriller Saturday at Foxwood’s MGM Grand in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
Scores were 115-110, 114-111 and 114-112 in a Fight of the Year candidate worthy of a return go.
Well before and also in the days and weeks leading up to the fight, both fighters had received more than their fair share of criticism.
Reviews forever remain mixed on the potential of Berto, a welterweight titlist for nearly three years but viewed as little more than a pampered paper champion who remains relevant due more to his industry connections than the results produced in the ring.
Conversely, Ortiz is best remembered exclusively for what he’s done in the ring, namely bailing out in the sixth round of his June 2009 shootout with Marcos Maidana. The bout headlined an HBO card that evening in efforts to introduce the then-highly touted Ortiz as the future of the sport. Instead, he decided to quit once momentum swung heavily back in Maidana’s favor, this after flooring the Argentinean three times but hitting the deck himself and sensing that the worst was yet to come. [Click Here To Read More]
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