MASHANTUCKET, CT (April 16, 2011) Forget what you know about Victor Ortiz. Forget what you know about Andre Berto. Nothing in either fighters past meant a damn thing tonight. The heart both men displayed and the way they fought has washed away any negative perceptions anyone could possibly hold about either fighter. Berto slugged instead of boxed, Ortiz over-came knockdowns and gutted out 12 hard rounds. Both fighters entertained and neither backed down. It’s what both needed and what they delivered.
Now the particulars. Round one set the tone for the entire fight, both men came out jabbing quickly, berto snaping off a few right hands. The felt each other out for a minute before Ortiz unleashed a left hand that glanced off of Berto’s should and head and put Berto down. Referee Michael Ortega did not rule it a knockdown but a few seconds later Betro was trapped in a corner went down amidst a barrage of Ortiz’s punches. Betro rose and the round ended but he was clearly shaken. Ortiz tried to exploit Betro’s shaky legs and charged him, swinging and landing. Betro survived and then leveled a perfect right hand counter that dropped Ortiz. Oritz rose and though not badly hurt, did mange to survive Berto’s follow up barrage. Rounds 3 and 4 had furious back and forth action between both fighters, with each giving as well as they were taking. Round 6 was the sure round of the year as Bertro dropped Ortiz hard with a counter right, only to be put down himself moments later from a perfectly time Ortiz left hand.
The fighters slowed a bit in rounds 7, 8 and 9 but there was still great two way action. The difference being that through those rounds, Ortiz appeared to be the slightly fresher, busier fighter. Ortiz was docked a point in round 10 for hitting behind the head but shook it off and closed out rounds 11 and 12 strong. It was truly a fight beyond words and both fighters gave it their all. When the scorecards were announced, Ortiz led on all three: 115-110, 115-112 and 114-111. Ortiz (29-2-2 22KOs) is now the WBC champ and appears to have handily overcome Maidana fight. Berto (27-1 21KOs) takes his first loss but will now hopefully be viewed as the truly exciting fighter he is.
Up and coming welterweight prospect Thomas Dulorme made a serious statement by notching a brutal 2nd round knockout over late replacement Harrison Cuello. Dulorme started quickly and had Cuello backpedaling for most of the first round, using hooks and straight right hands to keep Cuello off balance. Early in round 2, Cuello went down on an overhand right but was more off balance than hurt. Not long after he rose, Dulorme leveled a viscous right hand that instantly separated Cuello from his consciousness and dropped him straight backwards. Referee Johnny Callas didn’t bother to count and stretchers were immediately brought into the ring. Cuello (now 20-16-3 15KOs) was thankfully OK but there were a few tense minutes as medical staff attended to him. Dulorme, who improves to 11-0 10KOs with the knockout, has now certainly become a prospect to keep an eye on.
“Thomas Dulorme is one of the most devastating young punchers,” promoter Lou DiBella said. “He is the entire package. Within a year he will be challenging for a world title.”
Overcoming a 62 pound weight difference, the 223 pound female heavyweight Sonya Lamonakis claimed a hard fought unanimous decision over the 285 pound Gigi Jackson. Lamonakis initially looked a bit apprehensive as Jackson came forward and used her weight to push her around the ring, but by the second round, Lamonakis began to open up and score well with right hands. Through the next 2 rounds, Lamonakis was the busier fighter and pushed Jackson back behind strong right hands and left hooks. Ultimately it was work rate that caused the judges to give it to Lamonakis by scores of 40-36 and 39-37 (twice.) With the win, Lamonakis remains unbeaten at 5-0 1KO while Jackson falls to 2-2.
Deandre Latimore cruised to an unimpressive 8 round unanimous decision over Bayonne NJ’s Dennis Sharpe. Latimore was dominant in the early rounds and landed a number of good right uppercuts but seemed reluctant to follow up on any of his big punches. Each of the 8 rounds progressed in the same manner, with Latimore darting in and out and landing but refusing to open up and try for the stoppage. Sharpe did well to take Latimore’s hard shots but did little else throughout the 8 rounds. When the scorecards were announced, it was no surprise that all three read 80-72 in favor of the now 22-3 (17KOs) Latimore. Sharpe dropped is seventh in a row and stands at 17-7-3 4KOs
In an entertaining scrap between unbeaten bantamweights, New Haven, CT native Luis Rosa Jr. (6-0 5KOs) overcame the hard charging Joseliz Cepeda (4-1) of Neward, NJ and managed to pull out an impressive 5th round KO. The first three rounds of the fight were evenly contested as both fighters tee’d off on each other with near reckless abandon. The fight shifted in round 4 when Cepeda began to visibly slow. Rosa took advantage and pressed the action, putting in good work to the body. When the fifth began, Rosa began right where he left off and wisely went right back to Cepeda’s body. Less than a minute into the round, a left hook from Rosa dropped Cepeda to a knee and spelled the beginning of the end. Cepeda backpedaled to the ropes but was caught with another left hook to the liver and again took a knee; grimacing in pain as referee Dick Flaherty counted him out. Time of the stoppage was 1:12 of round 5.
Welterweight Joseph Elegele of Winter Haven, FL needed less than 2 rounds to blow out his out gunned opponent Angel Hernandez of Gary, IN. The talent disparity was quickly evident as Elegele dropped Hernandez early in round 1 with a counter right hook and proceed to tag him easily thoughout the rest of the round. Round 2 progressed in much the same fashion until Elegele landed a perfect left uppercut to Hernandez’s mid-section, causing him to crumple to the canvas. Referee Johnny Callas began a count but realized it wasn’t necessary and called the fight at 2:54 of round 2. Elegele remains undefeated and runs his record to 12-0 10KOs. Hernandez notches his tenth loss and is now 14-10 11KOs.
In the opening bout of the night, middleweight J’Leon Love of Dearborn MI, wiped out overmatched J.C. Peterson of Fort Myers, FL in less less than two rounds. Love dominated from the outset and rained punches on Peterson for the entirety of the fight. The end came as Peterson, trapped on the ropes, was stunned by a left hook and ate around 10 follow up punches en route to the canvas where referee Dick Flaherty waved it off. Time of the stoppage was 2:13 of round 2. Love is now 6-0 5KOs while Peterson stands at 1-11.
Post Fight Quotes
New World Boxing Council (“WBC”) Welterweight Champion “Vicious” Victor Ortiz addressed the media following his thrilling twelve round unanimous decision victory over Andre Berto on Saturday night.
Berto, who hurt his right hand in round and required medical attention, did not attend the press conference.
Here are post fight quotes from the participants:
Victor Ortiz, WBC Welterweight Champion: “Andre Berto – I know he’s not here – we both went through a great war; nothing but respect. It was a very exciting fight. He hits very hard. I have a head harder than a rock. I wonder what the headline will read: Victor doesn’t have….fill in the blank. It wasn’t a walk in the park but I got the goods.”
“I want to thank Manny Pacquiao for his words. We talked today and he said to stick to my plan, that I’m a very good fighter, and don’t take anybody’s negativity.”
“I saw Andre Berto as a champion. There’s no stopping Berto. I didn’t prepare to knockout Berto. I knew it would go the full distance. I pictured myself with two black eyes, but I would have the green belt.”
“There are a lot of great fighters at 147’; I’m completely done with 140. I’m going to take a vacation and then shoot for the big names. I don’t make a helluva lot. Why not shoot for the big ones?”
“Stuff happens. That was the past. Maidana still doesn’t have anything on me. That wasn’t my night. I fought with a broken wrist and the fight was stopped. They said I gave up, I didn’t give up. I didn’t fight Morales. He’s a great guy but past his time and I strongly believe he beat Maidana. He wouldn’t give me a rematch but I’m the guy with no courage, no heart, no balls. But I’m the guy with the belt.”
“I didn’t see it as close. I knew I pulled off a victory. You see the new WBC Welterweight Champion.”
“I wasn’t expecting an easy fight. I expected a war. I studied him and he’s no joke. He knocked out some good guys but I saw the Luis Collazo fight. He (Collazo) was the first to beat him (Berto). I tip my hat to you.”
“It goes back to when I was young. I didn’t have anything when I was young. I raised my brother. I thought this was my dream. I wasn’t going to stand for anything less. I was moving up to 147 but knew I carried my power. For three months, every day at the gym, I would say the new champ.”
Lou DiBella, promoter of the show and Berto: “Berto can’t attend the press conference. Dr. Schwartz said he has a possible break of his right hand and possible concussion. He went to the hospital. We have no issues. Very, very close. No problems from our team. Victor Ortiz answered all of the questions about his heart. You know Victor Ortiz is a welterweight.”
“There were no losers when you out on a fight like this. I’m very proud to promote this fight.”
“Yesterday would have been the 39th birthday of Arturo Gatti. Arturo Gatti would have been very pleased of the fight tonight.”
Richard Schaeffer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions and Ortiz’s promoter: “We’ve been waiting for a guy to bring excitement back to boxing and Victor Ortiz did that tonight.”
“We’re very proud of Victor Ortiz. He was attacked by some in the media. They questioned his heart and the will to go to war. He proved he has heart and the will to win, against an undefeated guy like Berto and gave him no chance.”
“You saw one of the best welterweight fights in years. Definitely all fight fans would to see it again. There are a lot of opportunities for Victor at 147 bit we’ll sit down and get this fight made again.”
Photo by Claudia Bocanegra
