NEW YORK, NY (April 11, 2011) – World Boxing Council (“WBC”) Welterweight World Champion and undefeated star Andre Berto is experiencing one of his best training camps ever in preparation for his sixth title defense April 16 against WBC # 5 rated challenger “Vicious” Victor Ortiz in the 12-round main event headlining the “East-West Showdown” card at the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
“East-West Showdown: Berto vs. Ortiz” is presented by DiBella Entertainment, in association with Golden Boy Promotions. The bout will be televised live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing starting at 9:45 PM/ET 6:45 PM/PT. The broadcast kicks off with Amir “King” Khan (24-1, 17 KOs) defending his WBA Super Lightweight World Title against Paul “Dudley” McCloskey (22-0, 12 KOs) from the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, England.
Berto (27-0, 21 KOs), a 2004 Haitian Olympian fighting out of Winter Haven, Florida, captured the vacant WBC Welterweight World Title in 2008 by way of a seventh round technical knockout of Miguel Angel “Miki” Rodriguez. The lightning-quick boxer has made five successful title defenses against World Champions Steve “2 Pound” Forbes (UD12), Luis Collazo (UD12), Juan “Iron Twin” Urango (UD12), and Carlos “El Indio” Quintana (TKO8), as well as veteran Freddy “Riel” Hernandez (TKO1) last November.
Below are notes from Berto’s training camp in Winter Haven, Florida and his comments:
Training Camp
“This training camp has to be one of my best thus far, simply because I have been staying in shape during my off time with my strength-and-conditioning coach, Cleveland Berto. So, when training camp came around, I got in rhythm within the second week. As the weeks go on, I’m feeling stronger, faster and more conditioned. I am ready to get in the ring.”
Different Preparation for Ortiz
“I always work hard in training camp. He’s a southpaw with power, so we have to prepare and tweak a couple of things to get ready for the fight.”
Typical Berto Training Day
“I work harder and harder as fight night gets closer. We do two-a-days, swim three times a week, run and go to the boxing gym every day.”
Gameplan
“I need to do what I’ve been doing: stay sharp, smart and, of course, be the last man standing.”
Fighting at Foxwoods
“It feels good to be back on the East Coast, closer to where it all started for me. It’s a new venue so this gives two great fighters the opportunity to put it on the map because this fight will be a good one. People will remember who and where it was fought.”
Tickets are priced at $350, $200, $125, and $65 and went on sale today through the MGM Grand at Foxwoods box office. Tickets can be purchased online at www.mgmatfoxwoods.com, by calling the MGM Grand at Foxwoods at 1-866-646-0609, or in person at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods box office.
For information about DiBella Entertainment, including a list of all upcoming bouts, please visit www.dbe1.com, or follow Lou DiBella on twitter, @loudibella. Follow Andre Berto on Twitter, @AndreBerto.
For information on Golden Boy Promotions, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, on twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing or Victor Ortiz @VICIOUSOrtiz.
Follow HBO Boxing news at www.hbo.com/boxing, Facebook at www.facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter www.twitter.com/hboboxing.
