Rafael: Several writers had 114-113 for Berto, T. Smith, R. Borges, Farhood, Marley.

[Evil Abed]

Last week danno u said Ortiz was delusional based on his comments, but now your on his sack.. W.T.F Danno ! Keep it real.
Dan Rafael
(12:57 PM)


He was delusional in his comments about Maidana but that does not mean I can't give him credit for what he did in the fight? Please learn that my job is to call it like I see it and report facts as I know them. Sometimes that means I will be critical of a fight or fighter and sometimes not. But it is not personal despite what some people believe. Victor said Maidana never even knocked him down. That was delusional. I have the tape. But he also fought his butt off against Berto and overcame a lot in the fight. I respect that and gave him credit for in the stuff I have written since the fight.

[Evil Abed]

JL (San Diego, CA)


All three ringside judges, Harold Lederman, Compubox stats (281 to 147), both Victor Ortiz, Andre Berto and their cornermen all had no doubt that Ortiz won. Just saying.
Dan Rafael
(1:13 PM)


No kidding. Thanks for the tip though.

[Evil Abed]

Kevin (LA)


Can you elaborate on Paul Williams situation?
Dan Rafael
(2:07 PM)


His team wants him to fight a stiff. HBO wants him in a real fight. The end.

[Evil Abed]

MM (Chicago)


Cant blame the PWILL team for wanting a tune up. the man was out cold in his last fight. He needs to get his confidence back.
Dan Rafael
(2:11 PM)


Taking a tune-up is fine. NO PROBLEM. But if you want to fight on HBO for big money, you have to fight someone. If he wants to fight ona small card or off tv, fight whomever you want. Under the bright HBO ligts for all that green, you better fight a real guy.

[LAkers85]

while I hate Dan a lot I will say that watching ringside sometimes is different than watching it on TV there are influences on both sides of the coin like crowd cheers, announcers opinions, and angle (several on TV vs. only one from your media seat)

that being said **** that fat pile of steaming ****

Harold Lederman was also at ringside. he scored it for Ortiz.

[studentofthegam]

Savoir Bear (Pasadena)


Dan, I was watching the youtube clip of the Ortiz-Berto press conference. Were you there? Some clown asked Ortiz a question and said "This fight was different because you didn't quit in the 6th round like when you quit against Maidana" and this guy Ortiz was like "you want me to come down there and beat you with this belt." I was DYING laughing. Dan, who was that writer that asked that? I'm guessing it was that kid Mike from USA Today.
Dan Rafael
(12:45 PM)


I was there and heard that question, which was a legitimate question. Victor took it with the right attitude and we all laughed. I do not know who asked it though.

The question was asked in bad taste. He could have worded it different and it would have been no prob. But he meant to start some ****. However Ortiz is a nice kid and handled it well.

R! (Bay Area)


Your defending your scorecard, does that mean that the wrong guy won then? Ortiz shouldnt have that victory on his resume then?
Dan Rafael
(12:43 PM)


No because I know it was a close fight and as I said I thought there were at least three extremely close rounds. I gave them to Berto. Had I given them to Ortiz he would have won. Some close fights are close but, to me at least, the rounds are easy to score (like in Pascal-Hopkins 1). In others, like Berto-Ortiz, they are not. So I have no beef with Ortiz getting the decision even if my score had it by one point for Berto.

You put that terrible score up to be critiqued and you're taking it personal. What are posters supposed to say when it was such a clear victory and you wont just say I ***ed up. Press row, no press row or any angle you could see that Ortiz battered him against the ropes.

[Evil Abed]

Eric P (Saratoga Springs, NY)


Dan, the round escapes me but I think it was 6 - berto was winning the round, dropped ortiz and then ortiz dropped berto. Is that a 10-9 round for berto because he won most of it. Is it 10-10 or 9-9?

Dan Rafael
(2:46 PM)


Most of us scored that round 10-9 for Berto. The knockdowns evened each other out, but besides the knockdowns, Berto dominated the round and therefore won it.

[Evil Abed]

Justin (Sactown,CA)


Speaking of, how sick were those punches ringside? They were absolutly viscious on tv. Which knockdown was the most brutal live?

Dan Rafael
(2:55 PM)


I think probably when Ortiz went down in the sixth round. He was hurt bad.

[warp1432]

It's pretty low of Dan to discredit those third row guys. I've been to two HBO events ringside being one of those "Third row guys" and most of them are highly professional in the way they act and analyze the fight. Maybe they were different for this fight, but everyone is their to a job and that doesn't make them any less credible.

I still don't understand how people had that fight close.

[Eaner0919]

Harold Lederman was also at ringside. he scored it for Ortiz.

this is true

**** Dan then lol