The two most significant matchups this weekend. Ortiz/Berto is a sort of battle of the HBO hypejobs but it's good to see them take each other on in what should be a good action fight. I was a massive Ortiz fan early on but it's clear the guys got mental issues in the ring. He's just not cut out for top level boxing - against Maidana he fought a stupid fight and then quit and he should have finished Lamont off in about 3 rounds but took his foot of the pedal and ended up fighting to a draw. Very disappointing. Berto's got a couple of decent wins in Quintana and Collazo but the rest is HBO-sponsored shite. He's not the fighter that HBO make him out to be but he should be able to get rid of Ortiz at the midway stage with his size and speed. Over on Showtime Lopez takes on a tough guy who took Gamboa the distance. The job is simple for him - look better than Gamboa did against Salido and get the stoppage. Salido is a solid fighter who'd be on the lower end of the top 10 in his weightclass but JuanMa should handle him. There was going to be a solid co-feature as well with Roman Martinez taking on undefeated Luis Cruz. Martinez is injured and Cruz will fight Martin Honorio. I'm looking forward to seeing Cruz in action, he seems to be highly rated by a few people so we could have another special fighter from Puerto Rico. All in all, a good weekend of fights. I think the timings will work out alright and the two main events won't clash. HBO start at 2.45am and will show a replay of the Khan fight first and Showtime start at 3.30am opening up with Cruz-Honorio.
aint Premier just signed a deal with Goldenboy which is why they got the bantam weight tournement, hopefully they get the ortiz berto card last minute
DiBella's the main promoter for Ortiz-Berto so Premier would have to deal with him I think. Does anyone think Ortiz can win? I know you're a big fan LP
this his last chance with me:yep maybe he's struggled with the weight last time out. im not to impressed with berto, think hes a tad boring aswell. i reckon Ortiz will stop him in about 6 rounds:good
Ortiz has Audley syndrome im afraid all the tools but non of the mentality to back it up. As much of a hypejob Berto is he will still beat Ortiz probably stop him at least he has a few half decent names on his record Collazo is an underrated fighter i say Berto to win between 6-9
Ortiz's only hope is that Berto has a glass jaw and he manages to land something special early doors before he takes anything in return. JuanMa fight should be good. He'll go hammer and tong to outdo Gamboa. If it goes deep, he could be in for a rough last few rounds.
Can't stand Berto. Fake warrior..the way he talked before Quintana about how he wanted to let off steam and throw bombs for people of Haiti to then proceed to moan every time he was hit legally. The guys all hype and very little substance IMO. Ortiz just doesn't love the sport enough....he finds it easier to give up and smile then go through that pain barrier to win. Strange fight......not to sure because i can see Ortiz having success but if Berto hangs in there Ortiz has terrible habit of downing tools and giving up. I did say he may have one fight in him where he will just get through and show some metal and this may be that fight because Berto isn't likely to take him into trenches like Maidana was willing to. Got to remember after round 4....Peterson was hitting Ortiz more and more with ease. I will happily sit on fence for this one.
i think the weight may have been a big problem in this fight. I hope Eddie Hearn can get ortiz over here for a fight with Brook as a first defence for Ortiz:bbb
I dunno LP...to many times the lads downed tools when going gets tough...it was as one sided as you could get soon as Prescott showed heart and stopped cowering low to him and got bit taller and braver in fight Ortiz bottled it IMO. That's how bad i felt them last 6 rounds were...i really believe his bottle went.
i know where ur coming from, he must really know hes gota dig deep sooner rather than later, but why would he keep fighting, surely he'd knock it on the head if he knew he didnt have the mental aspect of the game and no1 should know more than him
Denial i suppose. He knows he's talented..i like the kid he's got all the ability but me and you know talent doesn't mean a great deal in this sport if you ain't got the minerals for it. Saturday night he may summon it...he may just pull it out...there can be no excuses. He did say he was to happy with losing and letting things slide but he was angry at last fight....i think he should blame himself not judges but maybe this angers good maybe Victor will become vicious!