After his last match up with Floyd Mayweather, everyone was wondering who Haitian welterweight titleholder Andre Berto would fight next. After a few vacations to Italy and Haiti, Andre has been back in the gym and this past week he announced his next fight will be against former welterweight boxer Victor Ortiz at the StubHub Center in California on April 30.
This is not the two Former welterweight titleholders first time in the ring together, they will forever be linked by their epic 2011 brawl in which they both got knocked down twice in a fight of the year contender In the end, it was Ortiz who pulled the mild upset to win a unanimous decision (115-110, 114-111 and 114-112) and a 147-pound world title at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
According to ESPN,
A rematch was scheduled for February 2012 but postponed until June of that year when Berto tore his left biceps during his training camp. Then the fight was scrapped altogether when Berto tested positive for a banned steroid in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association drug test during the lead-up to the fight.
Both fighters have suffered multiple losses since their fight, including both being soundly beaten by Floyd Mayweather — Ortiz in his first title defense after beating Berto, and Berto in Mayweather’s retirement fight last September.
The fighters have unfinished business, they believe, and with no other serious option for a fight the public might care about, it’s rematch time.
“I will not underestimate Andre Berto because of his injury,” said Ortiz. “I hope and expect a new and improved Andre Berto. I am training for the greatest Andre Berto ever. I want to give the fans the best fight because that’s what they expect from both of us. I am going to be World Champ again, there is no doubt about that. There is only one option for me…victory!”
“The arm is feeling great and I’m ready to get in there and handle some unfinished business on June 23,” said Berto. “This is guaranteed to be an explosive fight that you don’t want to miss. Los Angeles has become a second home to me, so I’m excited to perform for all the fans at STAPLES Center this summer.”
“It’s been a long wait since February, but I’m glad that we’re finally going to see this rematch between two of boxing’s top young stars,” said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “Ortiz and Berto went to war the first time and I’m expecting the same scenario to play out this time. These boxers only know one way to fight and that’s moving forward, which means we’re in for another great battle.”
Tickets, priced at $250, $150, $100 and $50, are available for purchase online at www.staplescenter.com and www.ticketmaster.com or via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (800) 745-3000. Tickets will also be available at STAPLES Center box office beginning Tuesday, April 17.
