LOS ANGELES — Victor Ortiz has been in the gym
training for Andre Berto for well over six months.
He recently received a call from his manager, Rolando Arellano.
"He said 'Sit down. I need to talk to you,’" Ortiz said.
The 25-year old was in the middle of something and thought he could just put
the conversation on hold.
"Sit down, we need to talk right now," Arellano said. "Somebody
tested positive for steroids."
"I said ‘Dude I don’t take steroids. I swear. I’m all about vitamins. I
eat well. (I’m) clean,’" Ortiz said.
It was confirmed by Arellano that the positive test belonged to Berto. The
results were released last week.
The failed drug test is just the latest turn in the Berto vs. Ortiz saga
leading to Wednesday's news conference at Staples Center announcing that Ortiz
(29-3-2, 22 KO’s) will take on Josesito Lopez (29-4, 17 KO’s) for the vacant
WBC Silver Welterweight title on June 23 at Staples Center.
Ortiz was originally scheduled to take on Berto in February in a rematch of
their April 2011 fight won by Ortiz in a unanimous decision. Berto suffered a
bicep injury during training which pushed the fight back to June 23. Berto
has since been replaced by Lopez following the failed drug test.
Despite the on again, off again preparation, and the fact that Berto pushed for
and failed the drug test, Ortiz is unfazed.
“I knew he was on ‘roids the first fight,” Ortiz said. “The only questions I
had is how could you take a beating like that for 12 rounds and then turn
around (and) not give me props but blame me for steroid usage. I took it
as a compliment. You got to be on ‘roids to beat me.
“There is no frustration within me. Berto did what he had to do. That’s on
him.”
As he prepares for his June 23 bout with Lopez, Ortiz is just excited about
getting back into the ring. He hasn’t tasted a victory since he last faced
Berto.
Once the fight with Lopez rolls around, Ortiz will be nine months removed from
his last bout, a controversial one, against Floyd Mayweather Jr. last
September. Ortiz's controversial headbutt and following apology led to him
controversially being knocked out in his only defense of the WBC Welterweight
title won in the fight against Berto.
It was a setback the boxer from Garden City, Kan., says is in his past.
“No worries,” Ortiz said. “That’s a part of life. (It’s) life’s ups and
downs. I don’t ever mind it.”
He’ll now turn his attention to Lopez, who literally was just thrown into this
fight. Lopez was preparing for a June 22nd bout with Kendall Holt until he received
the call for the opportunity to face Ortiz.
He’s a local kid from Riverside, Calif., who says he “didn’t get babied up to
the top” in the sport of boxing and he has the attention of Ortiz.
“Lopez has got a lot of heart and he comes forward,” Ortiz said. “He’s in the
shoes that I was a year and a half ago which is me vs. Berto. He’s moving up
from 140 (pounds) to 147 just like I did with Berto. The difference is I’ve
actually been in the gym for six months, seven months easily working hard day
in and day out.
“There’s no possible way I’m going to let this slip. He wants the world
championship title, but so do I. I got a taste of the championship title but I
didn’t have enough of it.”
Lopez says he’s ready for the big stage.
“I came to win,” Lopez said. “I took this fight because I think I can win
and I know I can win. June 23, I’m going to surprise Victor Ortiz and I’m going
to surprise the world with me moving up to 147 (pounds).”
Also on the card is Humberto Soto (58-7-2, 34 KO’s) and Lucas Matthysse (30-2,
28 KO’s, 1 NC) for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super Lightweight title.
Chris Arreola (35-2, 30 KO’s), who’s also from Riverside, was set to fight in a
10-round bout but pulled out with an injury.
