Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that IBF Welterweight champion Andre Berto will relinquish his belt and pursue a rematch with former WBC champion Victor Ortiz.
“It’s a fight that I want more than a world championship,” Berto told ESPN.com. “I love my title, but then again, I want to give the fans what they want to see.”
Lou DiBella, Berto’s promoter, told ESPN.com that Bello gave up the title begrudgingly.
“He didn’t want to and he doesn’t understand why HBO would turn down Randall Bailey as an opponent, but he also wants revenge against Ortiz,” DiBella said. “The fact is there is no American TV money to make Berto-Bailey so it couldn’t be made. We are trying to make the Ortiz rematch.”
“I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night going the other route and just skimming through,” Berto said. “Knowing who I am, and how I was brought up, and my passion for the game, that’s the route I need to go. It’s just me. I’m the type of kid that if I got in a schoolyard fight, I’m gonna see that guy and we will have to fight every day until I beat him. I know we’re going to have to scrap again.”
The report said DiBella is eyeing January 28th.
“Joe Frazier passed (Monday) night and he is remembered as a great person who fought in some of the most monumental fights,” Berto said. “He will always be remembered. I believe that’s the reason I got into the sport, by watching monumental fights. These guys have a passion for the sport and I want to continue that.
“I think that the rematch will be a tremendous fight. The first one was a fight of the year and it’s only right for me just knowing that I got into the game to be in great fights. It’s the fight everyone wants to see. We have a short time span in this game, so I every time I step in this ring I want it to be remembered, and I want people to remember me for that.”
“I definitely want it more than any other fight in my career right now,” Berto said. “I had an off night and (Ortiz) capitalized on it. It was a wake-up call for me to refocus. I’m just ready to go and lock myself in a dungeon and focus and get ready.
“Everything happens for a reason. This fight right here a second time around will be a lot bigger than the first one and a win will make me a lot bigger star. You got two fighters, Bailey and Ortiz. They are both risks, but a there’s a bigger reward to fight Ortiz, so I am ready to go.”
“My guy is coming off a title win, Ortiz is coming off a knockout loss and their first fight was terrific, so we just need to make a fair deal,” DiBella said. “It took two to make a fight of the year candidate. So I have no problem with equal footing for this fight, but I won’t be dictated to by Richard or by HBO. I’m sure when Richard and I get past the fact that we are quibbling, we can get a deal done.”
Photo by Claudia Bocanegra
