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Last Thursday’s media conference call featured WBC Welterweight Champion Andre Berto and WBC #5 rated title challenger “Vicious” Victor Ortiz in advance of their “East-West Showdown” event on April 16 from the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods, airing live on HBO World Championship Boxing.
WBC Welterweight World Champion, Andre Berto: “I caught the end of his conference call. It seems they were gassing him up at camp. April 16th is going to be a reality check for him. They’ve been lying to him at training camp thinking this is going to be an easy fight. The ring is a really cold place to find out that. Like he said, the fight won’t go the distance, only it’s going to come out on our side.”
“I feel I’ll always get a little criticism. A lot of people believe in my skills and potential. I’m fighting Victor Ortiz. I’m going in with a guy with a lot of speed and power. He’s going to bring some action and try to prove himself. At the end of the day I don’t listen to criticism. You need balls to step in the ring against anybody. I’m comfortable in myself and my true fans believe.”
“Victor Ortiz is a big guy, physically bigger than I am. He’s a competitive fighter, one I’m looking forward to fighting. I don’t listen to what others say, I’m staying focused on the fight.”
“Luis Collazo is a tough veteran. I’m my end I wasn’t in shape like I was supposed tp. That’s a mistake fighters on the rise go on and don’t take (fights) as seriously as some. It almost cost me the fight. I made that fight tough. Luis Collazo is tough, give him credit.”
“I saw different pieces of it (Ortiz vs. Peterson). Victor Ortiz is a good kid and can fight. He is limited in a lot of areas. He’s trying to box but needs to be set on his feet to throw punches. He’s a tough kid. Lamont Peterson, later in the fight, hit him with a lot of tough shots. If I had hit him like that, he probably would go to sleep. He definitely comes to fight.”
“Skills pay the bills. I can out-power him; I can out-skill him. Any way it goes. What showed in the Maidana fight, maybe he feels that he has a lot more to prove and he’s willing to die to prove it. I have a heart of a lion – where it comes from, how I’m built. There’s no question about my heart. I have to question his on everything from one situation, when he had to endure controversy – he didn’t like to crack back. At the end of the day, you can’t teach what beats in the chest. You either have it – heart – or you don’t.”
“I’m not sure. All of my focus is on fight night. I don’t see past this fight. All my energy and training I’ve put into this fight in a couple of weeks. “
“I’m feeling sharp. It’s always different going in against a southpaw. It’s been going well and now I’m hurting southpaws anytime, almost second nature. There should be no problem at all.
“I try to stay sharp in there — he needs to stay in shape as well, he knows I can take him out with one punch — not get lazy and make every move a smart move.”
“I’ve been sparring big guys my whole life, 160-165, some 170. I don’t think he’s stringer than guys I’ve been in there with. Juan Urango was the hardest puncher at 140. I’m looking forward (to fighting Ortiz) to see what all the hype’s about.”
“He has a lot of different weaknesses. He’s been a puncher trying to box. I don’t think he has it all done, yet. April 16th I’ll use all my skills to expose him.”
“A lot of guys predicting ask him how he’s going to handle my power. Let’s see how he handles real power. I got caught early in my career – my hand just hit the canvas – and I got aggressive. I didn’t quit, I got aggressive.”
“I think he’s a tough kid. It’s hard to say because I haven’t been in the ring with him. I can answer that after the fight. How do you figure his competition (is high level)? I fought Collazo, Urango and (Carlos) Quintana who beat Paul Williams. They say the fighters I’ve fought are a lower level of competition. I won’t get credit that I deserve (after the Ortiz fight). I just keep knocking guys out. Talk doesn’t make a difference. Every time I step in with ‘em I’ll make it look like that (easy).”
“I don’t care. The last 27 opponents were guys who were going to knock me out, take me into deep water and drown me, I was too young, I make mistakes. Maybe Victor Ortiz took a class that tricks you into thinking something else. If he does, fine; it’ll be a better fight but shorter fight.”
“It’s the name of the game, I love it. Victor Ortiz can say what he wants. The macho Mexican thing, or his team hyping him up. April 16th he knows he’ll be in with the truth. Once I beat him he’ll see his friends disappear. A lot of kids have to go through that.”
“They’re making a mistake if they’re watching the Collazo fight. It was close but I wasn’t prepared mentally or physically. It was the worst I’ll ever look. I’ve had tremendous sparring, non-stop, getting familiar with his style – southpaw angles – mentally getting prepared for those punches.”
“I’ve gotten a lot of credit but there’s been a lot downplayed. The boxing public, in general, just wants an exciting, young fighter against the No. 1 guy instead of a credible opponent. They want to see me fight the Mayweathers and Pacquiao but, until that happens, they say, OK, you were supposed to win. I can’t get upset. At first I didn’t understand but I’ve grown up in front of fans fighting on HBO since my 16th or 17th fight. It’s like watching a student in the ninth grade go to the 12th to see how they tackle the world. I’m focused on April 16th, handle that and then see what happens.”
“It only matters if you win. Victor Ortiz was the new Fernando Vargas, promoted by Golden Boy with a Spanish background. Then he lost. They turned their backs on him. The only thing that matters is he’s coming to fight (Apr. 16).”
“My big fight is April 16th on HBO. I’m fighting a young, hungry lion. I’ve been calling these guys (Mayweather and Pacquiao) out: been there, done that. I can’t keep yelling out there names after each fight. Same thing with Donaire and Martinez, Who do you want to fight, Mayweather or Pacquiao? I’ll keep dominating the guys in front of me. All the barking, as you see, really doesn’t get the business done. If they want to fight you, they’ll fight you.”
World Title Challenger, “Vicious” Victor Ortiz: “I’m doing quite well and prepared. Nothing has been easy at camp. I know where I’m going and what I’m about. I must be champion and I will be champion. Berto has been talked about as the next thing. I don’t agree. April 16th I must and will bring back the belt.”
“Not much has been different. I’ve always made weight easy at 140. When everybody runs from you at 140, you go up to 147, and I shot for the top of the line, Andre Berto.”
“I stepped out of my shell. For me, it’s not to be good or to be great; it’s excellence. It’s my time!”
“It’s normal for me (gaining 16 pounds between the weigh in and fight). More eyes were on me, so people noticed (last fight). I was one of the biggest threats at 140.”
“I want to be the best fighter. I want to be great.”
“Berto was the only one to give me a shot. I didn’t come up to fight at 147. I just want my belt.”
(Draw vs. Lamont Peterson) “Total bull s**t. That’s in the past. I’m focused on fighting the best 147 pounder in the world. You can talk about Peterson all you want, call him. I thought it was complete bull.”
“In my heart and mind, I won that. Obviously, during the show I didn’t show any pain to the media or fans, but in the locker room it hit me and I cried. It’s a new day, new camp; out with the old and in with the new WBC Welterweight Champion of the world.”
“I’m going to be crowned, no matter what. I’ve paid my dues. I’ve been here a while and finally they’re going to give me a shot. It’s my time! Winning The Ring title definitely is important to me because it shows I’m the best in the world.”
(about Marcos Rene Maidana) “He’s running left and right, dodging me. He sees me in his nightmares. When he gets the courage and comes out of the closet, he can meet me at 147.”
“I just listen to my corner. I always do and had just one slip-up against Maidana. That’s the difference between then and now. If Maidana want to end his career, he should move up to 147.”
“I’m ready for whatever comes my way, not dodging or putting anyone aside.”
“Mike Tyson once said, ‘Everybody has a plan until they get hit.’ He says he has power, so do I; he says he has speed, so do I. I’m not expecting less than the green belt coming home with me.”
“I will do whatever it takes to take that green belt home with me.”
“You say I haven’t fought a puncher. Maidana was considered the toughest puncher at 140 and 147 and he couldn’t put me down. Berto hasn’t been hit by someone like me. He’ll see April 16th.”
“April 16th, see it all. April 16th is the day on HBO.”
“I’m not going to be the gatekeeper (at 140). I’m fighting at 147 and I’ll be the king there. Everybody had their chance at 140.”
“How is he Berto going to deal with my speed and power? I’m going to listen to my corner.”
