Berto Believes Ortiz Will Fold Again Under Adversity

Andre Berto expects Victor Ortiz to again fold under the pressure of a big matchup when they meet next month for the WBC welterweight title.

Berto has been waiting to face a big name opponent since winning the vacant title in June 2008. Although potential fights with Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto failed to materialize, he’s excited about facing a fellow young fighter entering his physical prime.

However, the WBC titlist did note that he feels the main difference that separates him from Ortiz is the way they handle adversity. In his first big test in the ring, Berto fought hard to earn a close split decision over Luis Collazo in January 2009. Victor Ortiz received huge criticism that same year for wilting under the pressure of Marcos Maidana and then conducting an interview flirting with retirement.

“Victor Ortiz is a young exciting fighter who is stepping up to the plate. He is young and he has speed, but people who have seen me grow in front of the HBO cameras have seen the way I handle adversity,” Berto stated at today’s New York City press conference. “People saw the way Victor Ortiz handled adversity the first time he tasted it.”

Criticism of Ortiz’s “fighting heart” has mounted since his last fight in December. After knocking down Lamont Peterson and seemingly on the verge of an imminent knockout, Ortiz relented and allowed his opponent back into the fight. Peterson surged late and did enough to earn a draw.

“I’ve always worked hard, but in my last fight it was one of these things where at the end I felt like a piece of gum on the bottom of someone’s shoes,” Ortiz recalled. “So I said to myself ‘it’s my turn.’ I’m going in against some tough opposition. Andre Berto is no chump. But now I’m hungry. I’m tired of people saying that I have no heart or no balls. At the end of the day, I’m not scared of getting in the ring or challenging anyone. On April 16 I’m taking the title home.”

Berto-Ortiz will be the main event of a HBO double-header on April 16 that also features Amir Khan vs. Paul McCloskey from Manchester, England. The card airs at 9:45 PM.