MASHANTUCKET, ConnecticutNot the most familiar boxing dateline in the world, yes, but Foxwoods and now the plush MGM Grand at Foxwoods have had their share of fight cards, big and small. What many don't know is that Mashantucket is a old, tribal language word meaning huge upset by much maligned underdog. Many don't know that because I just made that up as a way of telling you that I have a very distinct but also ephemeral feeling that Vicious Victor Ortiz, branded a ring quitter for his less gutsy performance in losing to Argentinian hard guy Marcos Maidana, is going to win the Mashantucket Mashup (something else I contrived, this fight has no such nifty nickname) against undefeated but often pampered WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto. (Which, on third thought, also applied to Coach Freddie's No. 2 pupil, Kid Khan ever since he got flattened by a Colombian banger named Breidis Powell. On the other hand, Khan showed plenty of moxie and mettle in his victory over the difficult, heavy-handed Maidana.) I base my upset special prediction on nothing in particular other than there are those occasional fights between two quality fighters in which the guy with the most God-given talent does not emerge victorious. Like his former trainer Robert Garcia told me the other day (estranged brother Danny replaced Robert in the VVO corner), he gives his former student the proverbial puncher's chance. That phrase is being heard a lot these days in boxing circles as, for example, with highly respected Devon Alexander manager and trainer Kevin Cunningham telling me last week that he, like so many of his colleagues, gives 39 year old Sugar Shane Mosley a puncher's chance if nothing else against King of the World Manny Pacquiao on May 7. Here's the scenario I envision tonight at Foxwoods, where even the rival promoters, the fiery Lou DiBella and usually buttoned-up Swiss banker turned Golden Boy Richard Schaefer sharing a meal and a couple of adult bevvies on Friday night. No verbal spews, no vitriol between Lou and Richard as you can tell by their choice of headwear in the photo accompanying this column. You can Messrs. DiBella and Schaefer, who despite first impressions does have a wicked sense of humor, the Mad Hatters of Foxwoods. Someone asked me on my way out of the hotel-casino last night if the two promoters were part of Charlie Sheen's entourage, arriving early. Sheen's crazy Winning tour and his Goddesses appear here Sunday night so those in attendance tonight and Sunday may see Tiger blood on display on back to back nights, I am not sure. But the good feelings end when the first bell rings. We've got a 24 year old Ortiz, who is a genuine hammer force puncher with both hands, looking to erase the mental stain of the Maidana debacle. This content is protected And we've got probably still not in his actual prime, the 27 year old Berto trying to make the bold statement he had hoped to make by demolishing the ubiquitous Mosley. It took an earthquake in his family's original homeland of Haiti to derail the Berto-Mosley matchup. I am confident that this bout will be a corker and that it could feature multiple knockdowns with each man surfing the ring canvas. So I'll make this guess, that Berto is winning handily with his fast hands and feet, relying on his educated jab and some right hand leads to deter the lefthanded Ortiz for about three or four rounds. But the kid from Garden City, Kansas, who relocated to Oxnard to train with Robert Garcia (as did Victor's ex-pal and now sworn enemy, lightweight champ Brandon Bam Bam Rios) will find his stride by at least the fifth round and I think he drop Berto like a sack of potatoes. But Berto gets up to continue fighting and returns to his always smooth boxing style. I just see a fast and furious Ortiz, maybe wanting it more, dominating the second half of the scheduled 12 round title bout. I can see Ortiz being knocked also in a late round also bouncing back. The decision will razor thin and, because of the emotion and the contrasting styles of boxer versus slugger, a bit controversial. Not saying Ortiz is the better fighter here, just that on this night he will be. I certainly would not bet against a recharged Berto in an inevtiable if Victor is indeed Vicious rematch. There you have it, Vicious Victor wins it by a split or majority decision after 36 fun-filled minutes. Too bad Sheen and his foxy ladies won't be at ringside to enjoy it. But fight fans will. As for Khan, I look for a three round wipeout victory over game but overmatched McCloskey. Coach Roach will be airmailing himself back to LA and to his top student, Pacman, wearing a big smile.
