Welterweight titleholder Andre Berto and 140-pound contender Victor Ortiz are negotiating to meet on April 16.
Bob Arum said Julio Cesar Chavez could fight Brian Vera next, and eventually, Andre Ward.
Breaking news: Berto-Ortiz on April 16?
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Lou DiBella, Berto’s promoter, had mentioned the winner of the Mike Jones-Jesus Soto Karass fight or Luis Colazzo as possible opponents but neither represented the high-profile matchup Berto is seeking. Ortiz isn’t Shane Mosley or Manny Pacquiao, two fighters Berto wanted to meet, but the Los Angeles-area fighter is an intriguing opponent for the 147-pounder from Miami. An obvious issue is weight: Ortiz has been fighting as a junior welterweight (140 pounds). Both Schaefer and Rolando Arellano, Ortiz’s advisor, said they would want a catch weight. Schaefer mentioned 143 or 144. Schaefer also has no concerns about Ortiz moving up in weight, pointing to his fight against Lamont Peterson on Dec. 11 to make his point. “When they put Victor on the HBO scale the night of the fight, he weighed 156 pounds,” he said. “I think he’s also taller than Berto. And look at Berto’s last three, four fights. He usually came in at around 145. “I don’t think size is going to be a problem here.” Oritz (28-2-2, 22 knockouts) and Peterson fought to a draw. Berto (27-0, 21 KOs) is coming off a first-round knockout of Freddy Hernandez on Nov. 27, the fifth successful defense of his title. |