Gamer
01-21-2011, 04:16 PM
c/p By Rick Reeno
BoxingScene.com was informed that the ongoing negotiations to make a fight between junior welterweight Victor Ortiz (28-2-2, 22 KOs), and WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto (27-0, 21 KOs), have hit a wall over a catch-weight dispute. Ortiz's handlers have requested a catch-weight of 143-pounds. Berto wants the full welterweight limit of 147-pounds.
If the deal gets done, the fight will be part of an HBO televised, April 16, split-site double-header that will include WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan fighting from his native England in the main event.
Berto's promoter, Lou DiBella, believes the two sides are still very capable of reaching an agreement. He tells BoxingScene.com that he's confident the issue over weight will not become a deal-breaker.
"There is no reason for Ortiz to fight at a catch-weight. If you stand the two of them next to each other, Ortiz is bigger than Berto. Just look at their weights when they enter the ring...Ortiz outweighs Berto, so I see no reason for Ortiz to fight at a catch-weight. And with all due respect, Ortiz is not Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Jr. Andre Berto is the champion and there is no reason that he has to go down in weight to fight Ortiz. Having said that, I'm confident Ortiz and his camp will not break up the fight over weight," DiBella told BoxingScene.com.
BoxingScene.com was informed that the ongoing negotiations to make a fight between junior welterweight Victor Ortiz (28-2-2, 22 KOs), and WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto (27-0, 21 KOs), have hit a wall over a catch-weight dispute. Ortiz's handlers have requested a catch-weight of 143-pounds. Berto wants the full welterweight limit of 147-pounds.
If the deal gets done, the fight will be part of an HBO televised, April 16, split-site double-header that will include WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan fighting from his native England in the main event.
Berto's promoter, Lou DiBella, believes the two sides are still very capable of reaching an agreement. He tells BoxingScene.com that he's confident the issue over weight will not become a deal-breaker.
"There is no reason for Ortiz to fight at a catch-weight. If you stand the two of them next to each other, Ortiz is bigger than Berto. Just look at their weights when they enter the ring...Ortiz outweighs Berto, so I see no reason for Ortiz to fight at a catch-weight. And with all due respect, Ortiz is not Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Jr. Andre Berto is the champion and there is no reason that he has to go down in weight to fight Ortiz. Having said that, I'm confident Ortiz and his camp will not break up the fight over weight," DiBella told BoxingScene.com.