Andre Berto Knocks Out Victor Ortiz in Rematch

By Anthony “Stacks” Saldaña (At Ringside)
Photos by Cynthia “Cindy Lou” Saldaña (At Ringside)

Saturday night at the Stubhub Center in Carson, California fans were given a night of action packed bouts and brutal knockouts headlined by the rematch between, “Vicious” Victor Ortiz, 31-6-2, 24 KO’s and Andre Berto, 31-4, 24 KO’s. Berto who waited five years to avenge his first ever defeat, did not let this opportunity pass him by as he defeated Ortiz by knockout in front of a crowd of over 7,000 inside of a packed the Stubhub Center. The 1st round seemed to be a feeling out round for both fighters until an accidental headbutt opened up a huge gash on the forehead of Ortiz. Coming out of the corner in the 2nd, Victor had the look of determination to end the fight and tried exactly that, as he floored Berto with a sharp straight left hand that caught him flush on the chin. Berto got to his feet, beat the count and recovered from that knock down. “He knocked me down, but didn’t hurt me”, Berto said.

In the 4th round Andre went to work and caught Ortiz with a solid uppercut flooring him. The dazed Ortiz made it to his feet only to be dropped again a few seconds later as Berto toppled him with a plethora of punches sending Ortiz to the canvas for the second time. As Ortiz got to his feet, he remained unresponsive as he was asked by referee Jack Reiss if he could continue. Reiss called a halt to the fight at the 1:14 mark of the 4th round. “It’s one of those punches that you don’t see coming, you know?” Ortiz said about the uppercut that led to the first knockdown. “He is not a guy that hits soft. Every punch he throws is 100 miles an hour so he is one heck of a champ for a reason.” After the fight Berto stated “I told myself, ‘I’m not going to let him recover from this one, that was my mistake in the first fight, letting him get back up. I think it’s one of the most satisfying wins of my career, just because he gave me my first loss, and it’s been looming for years”. I just felt like it was something I had to do, and it was something the fans wanted as well”, Berto said.

In the Co-main event fans were treated to a huge knockout as well as, Thomas “Top Dog” Williams, JR., 20-1, 14 KO’s stopped Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez, 28-2,19 KO’s in the second round of a light heavyweight bout. Williams stunned Edwin with a monster left hand in the final seconds of the second round causing Rodriguez to crumble to the canvas as the bell rang, and although he beat the count, referee Wayne Hedgpeth concluded the former title challenger was unfit to keep fighting. After the fight Rodriguez stated “I thought I could have continued. I didn’t know what the referee saw, but I could have kept going. I didn’t fight the fight I was supposed to. I was supposed to go in there and box, and I didn’t do it. I should’ve stuck to my game plan, and that’s my fault.” With the win, Williams put himself in position to challenge Light Heavyweight Champion Adonis Stevenson. “Adonis here we come we already got our passports, baby! See you soon,” an excited Williams said after upsetting Rodriguez. “I want the title I absolutely I want to fight Adonis Stevenson next. He’s the champ, and I want his belt.

To kick off the televised part of the event, 5x world champion Fernando Montiel, 54-6-2, 39 KO’s took on an unknown, undefeated Mexican fighter, Jorge Lara, 28-0-2, 21 KO’s. Lara who has only had two fights outside of his home country did not let the big name of Fernando, or the crowd at the Stubhub Center affect his performance. From the opening bell, Lara brutalized Montiel knocking down the former champion three times before ending the bout with a crushing overhand right that sent him to the canvas. Referee Ray Corona jumped in and waved off the fight as Montiel laid motionless. As I watched from ringside Fernando’s body seemed to be going into convulsions as he came to. He eventually got to his feet and was able to walk out of the ring on his own. After the fight I asked Lara how he felt about the victory he stated “It felt great to beat a grand champion like Montiel, in the future I would like to take on Abner Mares or the winner of the Frampton – Santa Cruz Fight”

Other Results:

Luis Bello, 7-4, 3 KO’s vs. Darryol Humphrey, 2-5 (Super Lightweight)
Result: Bello KO victory
Anthony Flores 11-0, 6 KO’s vs. Brian Jones 12-5, 6 KO’s (Welterweights)
Result: Flores by Unanimous Decision
Adan Mares 14-1-2, 3 KO’s vs. Jesse Aguinaga, 4-3-1 (Lightweights)
Result: Draw
Manny Robles 10-0, 4 KO’s vs. Rafael Reyes 7-7, 6 KO’s (Super Featherweights)
Result: Robles KO victory
Terrell Gausha 18-0, 9 KO’s vs. Orlando Lora, 31-7-2, 19 KO’s (Middleweights)
Result: Gausha by Technical Decision
Darden Zenunaj, 12-1, 9 KO’s vs. Naciff Castillo, 17-7-2, 5 KO’s (Lightweights)
Result: Zenunaj by Majority Decision
David Benavidez, 14-0, 13 KO’s vs. Phillip Jackson, 16-3, 15 KO’s (Light Heavyweights)

Result: Benavidez KO victory
Gerald Washington, 17-0-1, 11 KO’s vs. Eddie Chambers, 42-5, 23 KO’s (Heavyweights)

Result: Washington by Unanimous Decision

[si-contact-form form=’2′]