World Boxing News 2010-2013

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Ghost’ retains interim title in California Multi-weight world champion Robert Guerrero maybe one step closer to securing his dream bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr. after retaining his interim WBC title against Andre Berto. The 29 year-old from Gilroy, had Berto in trouble from the off, dropping him with some hard rights hands as the challenger struggled with the ferocious pace in the early stages of the contest. More accurate punches put Berto down for a second time in the next round and left the former belt holder with a closing right eye that seemed to instantly trouble him as it blew up from a straight left. From round three onwards the fight was much more competitive as the two fighters slugged it out on the inside and neither of the two warriors would give any ground for the remaining rounds. Guerrero’s early knockdowns had made the result look more one-sided than it actually was as all three judges agreed with my card of 116-...

Robert Guerrero v Andre Berto (interim WBC welterweight title ) Citizens Business Bank Arena, California, USA 10x3                                                                                              Guerrero                            Berto              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                  Round 1                   10 (1)                         8              ---------------------...

Andre Berto has been licensed by the California State Athletic Commission after completing all necessary pre-licensing requirements.   “As someone who truly believes in clean sport, I have never used any type of performing enhancing drugs. Everything I’ve achieved was the result of hard work and determination,” Berto said.  “I am excited that this whole situation is behind me, and I look forward to returning to the ring soon with another exciting performance so stay tuned.”   Berto’s positive test in May revealed extremely small amounts of a banned substance, that were inconsistent with any performance-enhancing effect and were much more consistent with contamination of an otherwise acceptable food or supplement.

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Former champion reveals suspicions Victor Ortiz is gearing up to face a new foe on June 23rd after the collapse of his rematch with Andre Berto following a failed drugs test and told LA Times re p orte r Lance Pugmire recently that he had his suspicions about his opponent in the run-up. Ortiz, 25, was filming a commercial shoot for Showtime with the former WBC and IBF champion to promote the fight and told a member of his team of his apprehension as both fighters went head to head in the promo. "I said, 'He's on something,' " Ortiz told Pugm ire .”Steroids are a bad thing, but you know, I didn't care. I was still willing to fight him. I'm not mad at him. He didn't deserve the fight, and now he's not getting it." The two fighters shared a pulsating six rounds of twelve in their first fight in April 2011 as the fight peated-out due to the ferocious pace that both fighters set and Ortiz’s grew suspici...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Rematch looks doomed following steroid find Victor Ortiz is set to miss out on his second fight with Andre Berto on June 23rd at The Staples Center in California following his opponent’s positive drug sample for the banned steroid Nandrolone. The 25 year-old, who defeated Berto in one of the fights of 2011, is highly unlikely to get another opportunity to face Berto in the near future as an investigation is launched into how the sample failed the VADA test. A replacement for the contest, to be broadcast on Showtime, is a possibility and will become clear in the coming hours and days, but Berto will almost certainly play no part in next months scheduled bout. Berto, 28, faces a painstaking process to clear his name as is the seriousness of the steroid in question and it may be months before the former two-time welterweight champion gets back in the ring to fight again. Compatriot Lamont Peterson faces a similar fate following a positi...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Rematch with Victor Ortiz in doubt Former two-time world welterweight champion Andre Berto has tested positive for the banned steroid Nandrolone putting his upcoming June 23 rd return with Victor Ortiz in serious jeopardy. The 28 year-old agreed to use the random drug testing provided by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) along with opponent Ortiz and now has questions to answer following the failed test. Berto becomes the second world champion to test positive in recent months after Lamont Peterson admitted taking testosterone pellets prior and preceding his WBA and IBF light-welterweight title bout with Amir Khan. Peterson’s scheduled rematch with Khan was then scrapped pending an investigation and a similar outcome is expected in this case, which has brought more shame onto American boxing if the Floridian is found guilty. Nandrolone is the same steroid that dogged American sprinters throughout the athletics scene in th...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Light-middleweight would accept bout ‘In a heartbeat’ 31-0 light-middleweight contender Vanes Martirosyan has thrown his hat into the ring to replace the injured Andre Berto on February 11th after the former WBC welterweight champion was forced to withdraw from his rematch with Victor Ortiz with an injured bicep. The current WBC silver champion at 154lbs, Martirosyan, 25, is ticking over with a contest against veteran Troy Lowry on February 4th in San Antonio, Texas as he awaits a shot at Saul Alvarez - but has been vocal in his desire to oppose Ortiz at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas a week later instead. “I would step in right now if they asked me for Berto in a heartbeat,” Martirosyan told World Boxing News.  “Victor knows what happens when I hit him and I'll even go down to 147.” Ortiz, also 25, has now been left in limbo with just eleven days to go until he was due to rematch Berto live on Showtime and has already reitera...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Mexican eyes third encounter with Pacquiao Juan Manuel Marquez picked himself off the canvas to stop brave Australian challenger Michael Katsidis and successfully defend his WBO and WBA lightweight titles at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Marquez, 37, laid siege to “The Great” in the ninth round, raining down unanswered blows until referee Kenny Bayless had no other option but to call a halt to proceedings and save Katsidis from further punishment. Katsidis had started well in the opening rounds and caught the unified champion with a sweet left hand to put him on the floor in the third round, but Marquez showed all his class and experience to get up and finish the round the stronger of the two. “Dinamita” recorded his 52nd victory in his 58th outing (38th KO) and now hopes to lure Filipino legend Manny Pacquaio into the ring for what would be their third fight after a draw in 2004 and a close split decision win for Pacquiao four years later. W...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Manny’s decision to fight on till 2013 means super-fight should happen After the news of WBC Light-Middleweight champion Manny Pacquaio’s confirmation that he will fight on for the next three years, it’s a distinct probability that the fight the world wants to see would almost certainly have taken place by then. Pacquaio, who turns 32 next month, pulverised Antonio Margarito earlier this month to claim the WBC 154lb title and has announced to numerous media sources in the last few hours that he will stay on in the fight game, but not after his 35th birthday in 2013. This now means that the potentially highest grossing fight of all time, still has three years to be made, news which will delight the avid boxing fan and will have the boxing media licking their lips in anticipation. With all of Floyd Mayweather's problems and the fact that Pacquiao intends to concentrate on his political career as a Filipino Congressman for the next six months, it...