RESULTS FROM SATURDAY’S “SÓLO BOXEO TECATE” IN WOODLAND, CALIF.

Woodland, Calif.  – Earlier tonight, Northern California fight fans enjoyed an exciting night of world class professional boxing at the Woodland Community Center in Woodland, California presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Don Chargin Productions in association with Paco Presents. If you missed the live action or the TeleFutura “Sólo Boxeo Tecate” broadcast, below is a summary of the results:

Golden Boy Promotions’ next “Sólo Boxeo Tecate” takes place on Saturday, June 2 when top junior lightweight prospect Andrew “Chango” Cancio takes on former world title challenger and 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist Rocky Juarez in a 10-round fight from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.

For more information on Golden Boy Promotions, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/ChenteEscobedo, or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing.

Photos By Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions

Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, Former Three-Division World Champion

“Selcuk is coming to the United States and he wants to prove a point.  He’s an unknown Turkish guy who was ducked by Floyd Mayweather and now he’s coming to fight and make a huge statement.  This is his chance for him to prove to American boxing fans that he’s the real deal.

“I have to be ready for a guy like this.  He is trying to creep up on me and shock the world.  He’s one of those tough guys that tries to knock everyone out, which makes for a really exciting fight, and I’ll be ready.”

“I know this is going to be a great fight for Bay Area fans.  Some people say they are hungry like a lion, but I’m hungry like a cockroach…nothing is hungrier than a roach.”

Selcuk Aydin, Undefeated #1-Rated WBC Welterweight Contender (Via Skye from Stuttgart, Germany)

“I would fight anyone.  Victor Ortiz, Andre Berto, Floyd Mayweather, etc., but those fights couldn’t be made, so I’m happy Robert Guerrero stepped up to take the challenge.

“I’m confident that I will come out victorious on July 28.  Robert has never been in with a guy like me.  He has come up in weight from featherweight but now he is facing a true welterweight.

“I’m ready to come to America and show fans what I’m made of.”

###

Guerrero vs. Aydin, a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Interim Welterweight World Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Arena-Box Promotion and sponsored by Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T.  The SHOWTIME Championship Boxing telecast will air live at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) with co-featured events to be announced and preliminary fights to air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT

Tickets, priced at $252, $127, $62 and $26, are available for purchase at the HP Pavilion box office, by calling 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

By Gabriel Barrio

Every once in a while I get the opportunity to meet new people who are doing big things in their lives, and this person is no exception. I had the chance to meet with Joe “The Rottweiler” Torrez, a professional mixed martial arts fighter who fights in the World Fighting Federation. Joe is 26 years old and is already accomplishing more than most people do in their whole lifetime. He is a Las Cruces, New Mexico native who has stars in his eyes and championship belt dreams. Joe Torrez is a down to earth, humble and strong character. Immediately you can tell what his focus is in life; his family. He has a fiancee who is kind, polite, and also very supportive. He also has two children; a 5 year old girl named Aaliyah and 5 month old son, Joe Jr. His family stands behind him 100% and acknowledges it isn’t easy on the family but to see him do what he loves and do it well makes it all worthwhile. Growing up in a town where it would be easy to get caught up in negative lifestyles, Joe not only has escaped a difficult life but has made himself a local celebrity and is working on making himself a national household name. Jumping into the combat sport game quickly and with great success he shows a lot of character and dedication. The way Joe spoke with me was a mixture of confidence and incredible work ethic. From just speaking with him it was apparent that this fighter is destined for great things. He will be going to fight in Scottsdale, Arizona on the 12th of May and this is his story.

 Gabriel Barrio-

First of all thanks for agreeing to do an interview with Fightweek.com!

 Joe Torrez-

Its my pleasure.

 GB-

So where are you from and what gym do you represent?

JT- I am from Las Cruces, New Mexico and I represent Omega fight team and Round One.

GB-

When did you get your start in the sport?

JT-

Well I was 19 years old and back in high school I was a wrestler. I took 5th place in state wrestling competition. So that was basically my start. I had this friend Nate Patterson who was talking to me about MMA and he got me my first fight. After that I fell in love with it and just kept going.

GB-

What is your predominant fighting style?

JT-

I would say I am a striker but I tend to be more of a kickboxer. I like to stand and bang with my opponents, keep it interesting for the fans and knock people around.

GB-

How many amateur fights did you have before you knew you wanted to fight professionally?

JT-

My amateur career spanned 16 fights all wins. Only two of those fights went to decision. All of the rest were ref stoppages or KO’s. After that I knew that I wanted to take it further and thats why I am here today.

GB-

In your fight history do have any fights that stood out above the rest?

JT-

A fight that stood out was the Bucket of Blood against Ryan Sams. It was just a rough and tough fight. I remember it pretty well.

GB-

If you could go back and fight one fight over again who would it be and why?

JT-

I would go back and fight Dustin Poirier. I took that fight on two weeks notice. It was a quick camp and I felt like I could have won.

GB-

So I have to ask, the Dustin Poirier fight, whats your opinion about that fight and how do you see what went down?

JT-

So what happened was when the bell rang, I came out swinging and caught him. It threw him off guard, you could tell. So he took it to the ground and I was right there with him on the ground. We were on the ground for a while and at some point he had a good position to start hitting me and the ref stopped it early. I was defending myself and responding with hits of my own. Even Dustin was surprised that the ref stopped the fight. It turns out that I find out later that the referee was a training partner with Dustin. So that raised all kinds of questions. After that fight Dustin told me that when he got hit by me that it was the hardest he had ever gotten hit. I still keep in contact with him actually, no hard feelings whatsoever.

GB-

You have a very big fight coming up, tell us about that?

JT-

I am going to be fighting for the championship belt in Scottsdale, Arizona on May the 12th. My opponent is Benny Madrid who has a decent amateur record. His pro record is 3 wins and 0 losses. I am going to change that on the 12th and bring that belt back home to Las Cruces.

GB-

How is this fight different than others you have fought before?

JT-

Its not. I am training for this fight like I would any other. I always go all out and train as hard as I can. I don’t treat any opponent any different because I take this seriously. This is my job. A lot of people don’t treat it as serious or act like its a job, but it is. It is constant work from the dieting to the training. You have to live it, it is a complete lifestyle not just a sport.

GB-

Do you have a promotional team getting you these fights? I know how combat sports can be very political.

JT-

Well my fight team, Omega fight team and Round One. They are the ones who get me the fights and I go out and do my job.

GB-

How would you say you have developed as a fighter from a year ago?

JT-

I am a lot more focused and I am a better fighter all around. I don’t have specifics to point out but I do know that who I was last year is not the same fighter I am this year. I have background in wrestling and BJJ, but I tend to focus on my standup because I  like to make it fun for the crowd and I personally like to stand and fight my opponent face to face. I intend to show that in the cage and let people know who I am.

GB-

In your weight division who would be your toughest opponent?

JT-

There are so many people in the division that are amazing. I would have to say either Gray Maynard or Anthony Pettis. My dream fight would be to fight Nate Diaz, but either of the Diaz brothers would be awesome.

GB-

After getting the belt in your division, do you have any larger or long term plans?

JT-

After I get this belt and bring it home to Las Cruces, I plan on taking it anywhere the sport can take me. I will take any fight they offer me. I don’t turn fights down and I plan to make it by beating every person they put in front of me.

GB-

Are there any fighters that you just plain out don’t respect or care for?

JT-

I respect all of these fighters. They are all just doing their job. I don’t get into any problems with anyone because its my job to fight. I go out and do what I am supposed to and so do they. I have respect for any of the guys that put the time in to train and get into that cage. I do this to provide for my family and to be able to do what I love. Its as simple as that.

GB-

Are you a fan of other combat sports? Like boxing?

JT-

I love MMA. I watch it all day. If I am at a bar and they are showing replays I will sit there and watch all of the fights until its over. No matter what organization, I watch them all, Dream, Pride, UFC, World Fighting Federation. Everything I can watch I do. I do also like to watch boxing too though. I focus mostly on MMA though. My favorite boxer has to be Mayweather. On Cinco De Mayo he is going to knockout Cotto. Easy.

GB-

Where do you see yourself this time next year?

JT-

Next year I am going to be in a bigger fight organization. I am too talented to not be there by next year. Things are happening for me very quick this year and by next year I will be  in a much better place in terms of fights and also in terms of taking care of my family.

GB-

Is there anyone you would like to call out?

JT-

I would like to fight Dustin Poirier again. I have even told him it doesn’t have to be a big fight organization. I will fight him anywhere and anytime. I would love that opportunity again.

GB-

Ok now for some fun questions. Favorite food after a fight?

JT-

After a fight I love pizza (laughs), In and Out burger, shrimp. Everything I can get.

GB-

Guilty Pleasure?

JT-

Anything really. Everything. No sweets I don’t eat sweets but fast food, burgers, pizza, everything.

GB-

What is on your ipod right now?

JT-

Again, everything. Electro music, Skrillex, Waka Flaka, Wiz Khalifa, Jeezy, Nicki Minaj. I listen to a lot of different stuff, too much to name. (Laughs)

GB-

Any shout outs?

JT-

I would like to give a shout out to my family. I love you all, Aaliyah, Joe Jr., Natasha. To all of my sponsors. To Subherbia 2, My Fit Nutrition, Aram Industries and Cocaine Energy Drinks. Thank you all for your support through my training.

GB-

Thanks again for the interview, it was a pleasure speaking with you and best of luck on your upcoming fight!

JT-

Thank you very much for the opportunity!

Where Pacquiao is Haggler is where lies the key to decisive wins for the former. And where Mayweather and Marquez are not Cotto and Margarito is where the reasons are why strategies must vary.

The Haggler magic of winning fights is it, not Coke. And it’s the sure way Pacman could beat convincingly and knock out Marquez or a Mayweather type of opponents, different from the way when he destroyed Cotto in November of 2009. Not that Manny Pacquiao needs to adapt the style of Marvelous Marvin Haggler, but that Pacquiao just need not abandon what made him unique and phenomenon because “the style” has been his naturally, all along when he rose to boxing stardom.

Pacquiao has stark similarities with Haggler. They are both destructively offensive
fighters armed with speed and power. They can appear “invincible” by pressing the
fight against their rivals, giving them no time to blink, maybe just a little space to
breathe. Remember the smile of a devastated Tommy Hearns in the l985 classic and
unforgettable Fight of the Year seconds before he was knocked out cold in the third
round of “The War” by a bloodied Haggler. Tell me what made Haggler emerged
inspiring in spite of the odds during that fight, and you got the key.

Miguel Cotto lost yesterday but exposed Mayweather. Such is the bald truth. He got
Floyd figured out but fell short of tactical consistency. Cotto was effective engaging
Mayweather in the inside territory for several thrilling heated exchanges. And
that’s when Cotto landed most of his power shots that triggered blood to ooze from
Mayweather’s nose until the last round. Though there were a number of times that
Cotto stood idly by at a distance comfortable enough for Mayweather to pound on
him. So that was Cotto’s major undoing in the fight for it caused the difference in the
judges’ “flawless” scorecards that reflect the obviously scripted and widely “unbiased”
commentaries by the sycophant anchormen in the ringside.

Regret is the least that Cotto can do now. He could have emerged the winner and
retained his WBA Super Middleweight belt in a dominating way.

As certain as the Marvel Avengers are a perfect combination of strengths, Pacquiao and
Haggler are separately and singularly Avengers themselves in style and command. And

there is no way for them to glow, fighting a good counter-puncher and a cowardly
defensive boxer or a suicidal non-stop puncher, but by becoming complete on their own
to hit the enemy and hit him unreservedly with full force of their heart and soul, and
from all directions.

Just like Haggler, Pacquiao cannot afford to be still and wait for the green light. He
should always be on the go closing in toward the target without let up, but not without
caution and precision; staying busy and aggressive to constantly create a slugfest against
a mainly technical boxer, even when being occasionally hit hard. Pacquiao scarcely did
this to Ledwahba, Lucero, Velasquez, Larios, Solis, Barrera, Morales, Diaz, Hatton and
Cotto. Hence they all ended up on the canvass. But Pacman could have executed his
inherent mastery of the sport tougher in each of the said knock out victories if he had
the awareness and opted to do so. A fight with Clottey was Pacquiao’s only official win
over a paid but reluctant spar-mate in Baguio’s training gym.

Dela Hoya quit after the 8th round. Mosley quit from round 1 to 12, while Margarito was
a compassion beneficiary who was allowed to endure a whole stretch of punishment
with a broken orbital bone, still on his feet. All three had “common” divergent methods
and demeanor in the ring, being “no match” taller or much bigger than Pacquiao. The
Pacquiao camp got it right for their prized ward opposite those three Cyclops to gain
lopsided wins.

But Freddie Roach must know what fundamental movements to coach Pacquiao in each
particular matchup every time since no bout is the same. And he ought to know, for all
his mindless presumptuousness, when and how to switch game plans.

Mayweather and Marquez have distinct ways though similar in certain aspects. Tim
Bradley has his own technique, but the unbeaten American “warrior” from Palm
Springs is less vicious a specie than his fellow American Joker from a kids tale. Thus a
combination of the tested approaches could make it easy for Pacman to fully dry up
the “Desert Storm” in the first six rounds, sans a Robin.

Marquez was effective versus Pacquiao, while Mayweather was “brilliant” against
Marquez. But Pacman can demolish both probably even with his right hand tied behind
his back.

Relentless is the word.

renimvalenzuela@yahoo.com

ANDRE BERTO INJURY FORCES CANCELLATION OF FEBRUARY 11 FIGHT AGAINST VICTOR ORTIZ

POSSIBLE POSTPONEMENT DATE BEING DISCUSSED

 LOS ANGELES – Due to a left biceps injury sustained while training on Monday, January 30, Andre Berto will be unable to compete in his scheduled February 11 SHOWTIME televised bout against Victor Ortiz at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., forcing a cancellation of the event on that date.  All parties involved are actively seeking a possible postponement date for Ortiz vs. Berto II.

Information regarding previously purchased tickets being honored for a possible postponement date will be released as it becomes available or, alternatively, ticketholders can contact their place of purchase for refunds.

More information will be announced as it becomes available.

CROSSFIRE MEDIA GROUP TO HANDLE PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR STRIKEFORCE WELTERWEIGHT TYRON WOODLEY

San Jose, California (USA):  Phil Lanides, Owner/Publicist of Crossfire Media Group (CMG), today revealed that his company has reached an agreement with Strikeforce welterweight star Tyron “T-Wood” Woodley to become his public relations representative. The undefeated Woodley has cemented himself as a star on the rise in Strikeforce’s 170-pound division, and is poised to fight for their vacant belt in the near future.

CMG will provide PR and media relations services for “T-Wood,” and in the process help continue to build his brand and that of his gym, ATT Evolution, in St. Louis, Missouri. Lanides will now handle all media inquests for Woodley.

“Tyron is, without a doubt, right on the cusp of reaching true elite status in the welterweight division,” said Lanides. “I’m extremely excited to join up with him at this point in his career, as I truly believe that his skills are already there. It’s just a matter of building up his brand, and I am committed to doing my part to bring that to fruition.”

“I worked with Phil on the launch of my gym, and he did an exemplary job,” stated Woodley. “He’s passionate, and working together, I believe that we’re going to be able to build each other up even further.”

“T-Wood” is one of the top competitors in Strikeforce’s 170-pound division. Making the transition from prospect to legitimate threat in 2011, the two-time Division I All-American in wrestling bested both Tarec Saffidiene and Paul “Semtex” Daley. He kicked off 2012 with a decision victory over Jordan Mein on January 7^th in Las Vegas at “Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine.” Now unbeaten at 10-0 with six finishes, the 29 year-old is in position to compete for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight belt next.

In late 2011, Woodley opened up American Top Team Evolution in St. Louis. A long-time member of ATT, “T-Wood” is focused on making his new gym the preeminent training center in St. Louis. A devoted husband and father, he also dreams of one day opening up a non-profit center to help troubled children and teens.

Woodley joins the CMG stable of clients, which also includes Canadian fight promotion Aggression MMA, former world champion pro wrestler Diamond Dallas Page’s workout brand, DDPYOGA, Bay Area-based combat sports promotion Elite Combat Sports, top MMA fight team Roufusport, and top combat sports broadcaster Mauro Ranallo.

For more information on Tyron Woodley, please visit http://www.tyronwoodley.com/ or http://www.attevolution.com/. Tyron can also be followed on Twitter @TWooodley.

Los Angeles  -  At the end of the year, when several highly respected publications, including ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and Yahoo! Sports named Andre Ward their Fighter of the Year, it seemed that the people around the 2004 Olympic gold medalist were even more thrilled than he was.  Though grateful for the awards he had earned, the WBA and WBC super middleweight World Champion was waiting for “the big one.”

That wait came to an end yesterday, when the Boxing Writers Association of America announced that the 27-year-old Ward was to receive the 2011 BWAA Fighter of the Year award named after one of the greatest of all-time, Sugar Ray Robinson.  The BWAA stated “Ward was chosen by an overwhelming margin over nominees Nonito Donaire, Wladimir Klitschko, Floyd Mayweather, and Manny Pacquiao.”

Not a bad list of pugilists to be associated with.

In 2011, en route to capturing the inaugural SHOWTIME Super Six World Boxing Classic, Andre showcased a dominant victory over Arthur Abraham in the semi-finals in May, and followed it up with a masterful performance over Carl Froch in the tournament finale on Dec. 17.  An MRI after the fight revealed that he had entered the bout with a double fracture in his left hand, making his victory all the more special.

“I want to thank God for giving me the strength to put in the work year after year to get to this point,” said the humble champion.  “I also want to thank my manager, James Prince, my promoters Antonio Leonard and Dan Goossen, everyone who is a part of Team Ward, including all of my family, friends, and loyal fans who have been behind me all these years.  This award is just as much for them as it is for me.

“Even in the midst of receiving this tremendous award, Team Ward is not going to let up.  In 2012 and beyond we’re going to push forward, and God-willing we can be considered for these awards every year. Its easy to get comfortable at a time like this, but I can assure everybody that I’m going to continue to put in the work to be the best that I can be.  I’m going to stay humble, keep God first, and with that: the best is yet to come.”

“Since the day we signed Andre from his Olympic gold medal performance, to this past December beating Froch, he has been a complete joy to work with, as well as his whole team,” said Goossen.  ”The crazy thing is I don’t believe Andre has scratched the surface of where he’s headed.  Inside the ring he’s vicious;  outside the ring he’s classy and humble.  Simply said, he’s the future.”

The accolades for Team Ward continued when the BWAA also acknowledged the man who has trained Andre since the first day he stepped into a boxing gym, voting Virgil Hunter winner of the Eddie Futch Trainer of the Year award.

“I’m very happy for my trainer and Godfather, Virgil, for winning this prestigious award,” said Ward of the man who has taught him his craft.  ”I’m probably more excited for him than I am for myself.  I’ve always wanted him to win this award because he is one of the hardest working trainers in the game.”

“I’m thrilled for Virgil,” Goossen further stated.  ”He deserves to be mentioned with the top trainers in the sport today, and like Andre, I believe the best is yet to come.”

Andre, who is expecting his fourth child with his wife Tiffiney, was certain not to forget the media, stating: “Last but not least, I want to thank the boxing writers, because without them, this would not be possible.”

LOS ANGELES  – Former World Champions Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto participated in a media conference call yesterday to discuss their upcoming rematch of the 2011 “Fight of the Year” on Saturday, Feb. 11, live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast), from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.

Ten months after their classic slugfest that was named 2011 “Fight of the Year” (USA Today, Ring Magazine), Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KO’s), of Ventura, Calif., and Berto (28-1, 22 KO’s), of Winter Haven, Fla., will square off again. The eagerly awaited 12-round fight is a rematch of a fiercely contested, multiple-knockdown affair on April 16, 2011 that Ortiz won by a unanimous decision (114-112, 114-111 and 115-110) while capturing Berto’s World Boxing Council (WBC) 147-pound title. Both fighters were knocked down twice in the fight, with Berto being dropped in the first, Ortiz going down a round later and each of them hitting the deck in a wild sixth round that many called the “Round of the Year” for 2011.

Here’s what the participants had to say on Wednesday’s call:

VICTOR ORTIZ: “Once again, I’m counted out by Berto’s team. To me it’s perfectly fine. I don’t care. I’m going to show him why I beat him the first time. It’s Berto’s second chance, not mine. What do I lose? Nothing. At the end of the day it’s going to be a great fight. Berto is a good fighter, but I never saw him as great, not even when I was at 140 and I was coming up to challenge him, which is why I challenged him. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a dangerous fighter but I don’t fear him. I have no respect for him, I’m not scared of him, nothing like that. At the end of the day I will win this once again.”

How have things changed since the first fight against Ortiz?

VICTOR ORTIZ: “I’ve been working hard and keeping it positive. There are no worries in the world right about now, and Berto is certainly not one of them. At the same time I know I have to be tremendously tough for this guy, both in and out of the ring. I’m not a guy who has to sit there and run his mouth. The thing is, at the end of the day, the boxing gloves will do the talking. Apparently Berto has a chip on his shoulder. Well I have a few chips on my shoulder due to the first Berto fight. It didn’t end the way I wanted it to end and my last fight wasn’t the greatest, so my roller coaster is re-launching right now. I want to climax. I’m nowhere near ready to pull back. Not now or in the near future. It’s going to be a great fight, I will be victorious once again and I will not take no for an answer.”

When you fought Andre could you sense that he was wearing down physically in the end of the fight?

VICTOR ORTIZ: “No, not at all. It was the same Berto I trained for, actually better. The only difference was there was a beast in there with him.”

What do you need to do to match his improved strength in the ring?

VICTOR ORTIZ: “Once again it comes back that I’m the underdog. That’s the story of my life. I don’t really mind it one bit. At the same time, let’s not forget that I was a 140-pounder in the first fight. Now, I’m a natural 147.”

Victor, you say you’re always an underdog. Is the scrutiny fair?

VICTOR ORTIZ: “It’s the game. I’m just here. I’m just here to live another day and become one of the greatest boxers of all time. Obviously people go through their ups and downs, but I’m having fun and I’m enjoying every moment of going through my ups and downs. At the end of the day, I’m just trying to be one of the greats.”

Do you like being the underdog?

“No way, man. Not one bit. That’s good though. I enjoy being that person that’s always counted out.”

Why do you think people count you out after you won the first fight?

VICTOR ORTIZ: “I don’t know. That’s my only question. At the end of the day I don’t really care what anybody believes but me. I’m ready for this guy once again.”

What is your point of view of having a fight of this caliber that isn’t a title fight?

VICTOR ORTIZ: “I don’t mind it. Given the circumstances that this guy wants to fight me, I am more than willing to give him a shot. Why not? He gave me a shot.”

What do you expect different in the ring from Berto?

VICTOR ORTIZ: “I don’t really know, but I’m preparing for the best Berto there is possible along with my corner. If he’s gotten any better than, hey, that’s awesome. That’s what we’re expecting. We’re expecting the best Berto to be present and I’m ready.”

How’s your mental state of mind coming off a loss to Mayweather?

VICTOR ORTIZ: “I still believe in myself. I still see myself as a world champion.

ANDRE BERTO: “We’ve already had a tremendous camp and right now we’re going through the motions every day. We’re excited about Feb. 11 and getting to Vegas for a fight of this magnitude. It’s going to be go time.”

How important was it for you to get back in the ring and beat Jan Zaveck the way that you did?

ANDRE BERTO: “I think it was tremendously important after you go through the situations that I went through not to dwell on it for too long but to just jump back in action, and that’s what I did. I just wanted to take a little time off and put this fight together for me and I jumped right back into action.”

Did you get a lot of confidence from that?

ANDRE BERTO: “It definitely helped, but at the end of the day I know I can fight. If I had a bad night or if you have a bad day at the gym, at the end of the day you know you’re going to be able to know how to fight.”

What’s the most important thing Tony Morgan has done for your career since you started working with him?

ANDRE BERTO: “Me and Tony are pretty much like family. We started in this game together when I was like 10, 11 years old. It’s just been our dream to win a world title and to be at any type level of this fight game. He taught me a lot about loyalty, he taught me a lot about family. We had a lot of big dreams, but then again we never really thought that we’d get to this point coming from such a small town that we came from.”

How did losing the first fight of your career affect your psyche? Did it have a major effect on you?

ANDRE BERTO: “Of course. It played with my mind a bit. You get to a point where I think any fighter would be affected by that, but you just brush it off, get back on your feet and get back in there and that’s what I did.”

Did it take another fight to build up that confidence?

ANDRE BERTO: “No. In my last fight I went in there like nothing happened. I went in there and went straight to work like nothing happened at all. At the end of the day, you like to be realistic. That loss put a lot of different things in perspective. It made me get back and work hard and made me understand what kind of team and what type of family I have around me. They were very supportive. If I’m in this boxing thing or not, I still have that love from my family and my friends. Like I said, I have that support so I’m good.”

You seemed a little bit tired in that first fight [against Ortiz]. Is that true and is that something you’ve been working on since then?

ANDRE BERTO: “Of course. I believe when we trained for that fight I don’t think we trained like we were supposed to. I believe that’s something that fighters go through. You get in a situation where you have a lot of success and you stay in your own little circle, your own little box instead of trying to look out and find the best situations for you. I think I suffer from that because after that fight I found out I was anemic and I had to really reach out to find some help with that because it got to be pretty serious. I learned I needed to take a lot better care of my body.”

Do you feel that you’re past that and you’ll be in a lot better condition for this fight?

ANDRE BERTO: “Of course. We’re working hard and having our doctors checking on me to make sure my levels are up and making sure I’m getting all my vitamins that I need to continue to push to have the best training sessions. Before, we were so old school in everything. We didn’t take vitamins or protein shakes or none of that, it was just hard work, but anybody knows that if you’re a world-class athlete you have to train and you have to take care of your body like you are a world-class athlete. That’s something that we’re really getting into, and we’re trying to take all the right precautions now.”

You had stated after the [first] fight that maybe Ortiz was on some illegal substance and then you backed off. Is that something you still believe?

ANDRE BERTO: “No. Ortiz was just better that night.”

LOU DIBELLA: “That’s also not going to be an issue in this fight as both fighters agreed to drug testing and there will be drug testing on this fight and it’s not going to be an issue for anybody. Both sides have to go out there and do the right thing and both agreed to testing. I think that’s a big step to take away some of the innuendo and the problems that do exist in our sport. But all you can ask the fighters to do is say ‘okay, I’ll be tested,’ and that’s what these two fighters have done.”

When will the drug testing start?

ANDRE BERTO: “They’ve already tested me twice for this fight — urine tests and blood tests.”

How was that for you?

ANDRE BERTO: “It was different, but I went through that as an amateur so it wasn’t something completely different.”

Andre, you know that Victor had to go in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission for his actions against Floyd Mayweather. Do you see it as an issue or advantage for you?

ANDRE BERTO: “I’m not sure. I’m a clean guy when I’m in there. We just want to make sure our team watches out for any type of incidental situations.”

Are you bummed out that there is no fight at stake in this bout?

ANDRE BERTO: “Probably a little bit, but like I said, right now I’m just trying to make good fights. I’ve won two titles now and I’m just resorting back to why I fell in love with this sport, (and getting) back to the basics. This fight right here is a fight that I wanted, a fight that the people wanted. It’s going to be an exciting one and that’s the only thing that I’m worried about”

What does it say about you that you’ll take a fight of this magnitude?

ANDRE BERTO: “It says a lot about both of us. You see a kid go through a lot of success, but then again go through a lot of criticism and a lot of hate. On both sides I believe. To lose your first fight and come back and win another world title and give it up to hopefully make another exciting fight. The same thing for Ortiz – he came off a loss against Floyd, he ended up getting knocked out, but he overcame that and came back to fight another exciting fight. It shows where we come from. It’s in my heart, it’s in my passion to just put on exciting fights. When we’re done with our careers I don’t believe we’ll have any regrets.”

Is this a better chance for you or Ortiz?

ANDRE BERTO: “I think it’s a good fight for both of us. I lost the fight and came back and won a world title. I could have gone a different route but I wanted to take this one. Ortiz lost to Mayweather. Either way you look at it, you’re putting together two young guys that love to fight and put on an exciting show.”

How have things changed since the first fight against Ortiz?

ANDRE BERTO: “A lot of things. We’re definitely a lot smarter, we definitely matured a lot more. We had a chance to put a lot of different things in perspective, not just in my boxing career, but in life in general. So I think it definitely helped me for the better.”

“Repeat or Revenge: Ortiz vs. Berto II” is the highly anticipated 12-round welterweight rematch of USA Today and Ring Magazine’s 2011 Fight of the Year between former World Champions “Vicious” Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto which will take place Saturday, Feb. 11 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.  The co-featured fights will see top contenders Erislandy Lara and Ronald Hearns square off and 2011 “Prospect of the Year” Gary Russell Jr. take on Dat Nguyen. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and DiBella Entertainment and will air live on SHOWTIME at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).  A special three-fight undercard telecast will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).

Tickets, priced at $300, $150, $100 and $50, are available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase atwww.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.dbe1.com, www.mgmgrand.com, http://Sports.SHO.com, follow us on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @VICIOUSOrtiz, @AndreBerto, @OscarDeLaHoya, @loudibella, @SHOsports, @mgmgrand; or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/lou.dibella or www.facebook.com/ShoBoxing.

 By Reni M. Valenzuela

Money, for all its powerful hold on people, is a poor master but a good servant.

If money is the issue that remains to be solved in order to make The Fight come true, then it’s easy to deal with it for Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. if only they would look at money being the lesser thing which pales in comparison with their legacy, dignity, character, integrity, people’s esteem, sports standing, true greatness and the world’s appreciation or condemnation.

Few hours after my article “50-50 IN PACQUIAO VS. MAYWEATHER: LET REASON PREVAIL” came out yesterday in several boxing websites, boxing scribe Ben Thompson reacted and emailed me to clarify certain sensitive aspects of the Pacquiao-Mayweather circus, and I quote in part what he said:

“Haymon and Arum, aren’t working on the deal, then there are NO NEGOTIATIONS, as is the case right now. Manny Pacquiao is a Top Rank fighter, therefore, the only people authorized to negotiate on his behalf are Bob Arum and Todd DuBoef, so Michael Koncz has absolutely no authority to negotiate anything with Floyd Mayweather. He can negotiate with Bob Arum regarding Manny’s agreement with Top Rank, but he can’t negotiate with the Mayweather side. So at the end of the day, like I said, Floyd’s comments and Manny’s comments are irrelevant. You can’t hold something hostage if it’s not there to hold in the first place.”

My reply was both a suggestion and a challenge since Thompson is close to Mayweather, but he dismissed the idea by way of insinuation, saying:

“Arum still refuses to negotiate with the same people he originally tried to negotiate with back in 2009. He made that CRYSTAL CLEAR when he flat out turned down the offer from retired federal judge Daniel Weinstein to sit down with Leonard Ellerbe and Richard Schaefer to resume negotiations in November. If Bob Arum is not negotiating with anyone, the fight is NOT going to happen. Michael Koncz has no authority to make a fight with Floyd Mayweather. That’s like Leonard Ellerbe trying to negotiate a fight with Manny Pacquiao without talking to Bob Arum. That would NEVER happen …  If Arum is saying the fight can’t happen… then guess what…the fight WILL NOT happen .”  Sounds valid?

Thompson’s argument, though, may not hold water for long just as another sportswriter Scoop Malinowski breaks down the situation in his column today:

“Whenever Manny Pacquiao’s representatives earnestly take actions to produce the biggest fight in boxing history with Floyd Mayweather, they keep running into the same wall. Once again Floyd Mayweather is blocking, stonewalling and ducking the opportunity to negotiate a fight with Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather’s media relations mouthpiece Ben Thompson of Fighthype.com did his best to shoot down the earnest attempts of Pacquiao advisor Michael Koncz to make a deal with Mayweather. Koncz has been meeting with Mayweather for several days in Las Vegas. Writes Thompson at his site: Koncz “gives false hope to the fans who still believe that Pacquiao and Mayweather will finally face each other inside the ring.”Wait a second. It’s only “false hope” if one side wants the fight and the other side (Mayweather) is only pretending to want the fight.”  Sounds valid either.

But please don’t react publicly, Arum, Konz, DuBoef, Ellerbe and Haymon!  This is a call for Todd and Bob representing Top Rank to personally connect at once with Haymon who officially represents the Mayweather camp to make the deal in one week and finally make The Fight happen in May and so relieve the fans all over the globe to breathe freely.

“… give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.  Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, who is the Lord?  Or I may become poor and steal and so disown the name of my God.”   -  Proverbs 30:8-9

All that being said, Pacquiao and Mayweather are virtually out of the picture. The ball now is in hands of Arum and Haymon.   Get it done asap biggies so everyone can get over with it, and make celebratons! Or you get pounding of tables from around the world directed at you, this time.

renimvalenzuela@yahoo.com                                                                                                                                    26 January 2012