By James Slater: As fans have surely read by now, former WBC welterweight champ Andre Berto failed a recent random drugs test, coming up positive for norandrosterone, and his scheduled June 23rd rematch with Victor Ortiz is now in serious doubt.
Ringtv.com reports how Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer is already talking with Showtime, trying to find a late replacement foe for Ortiz should one be needed (Berto will plead his case before the California State Athletic Commission, and that body alone will decide if he can fight as planned).
So, with us presuming for now that Berto is indeed out, who would make a great replacement opponent for the June 23rd bout set to go down at The Staples Centre in L.A? I don’t know about you, but one name instantly springs out at me: that of Marcos Maidana.
Argentine banger Maidana, now being trained by Robert Garcia in Oxnard, fought a terrific war with Ortiz back in June of 2009 – the interim WBA 140-pound title clash resulting in Ortiz’ first real pro loss as well as that year’s FOTY. Both guys hit the mat in a sensational slugfest, before Ortiz disappointingly opted to quit. Ortiz was highly criticised for his actions, yet he later redeemed himself with the great win over Berto; where he again got up from the canvas, this time to get a win.
Maidana may not have had any real success as a welterweight (he lost his last fight, at the weight, to Devon Alexander in February) but I’m sure the fans would buy an Ortiz-Maidana II at 147, simply because the first fight was so special. I’m equally convinced Maidana, 31-3(28) would have an excellent shot at beating Ortiz for a second time, despite fighting him at the higher weight. And, if he wants to further solidify his reputation (which suffered somewhat after his crazy actions on the Floyd Mayweather fight last September),why wouldn’t Ortiz, 29-3-2(22) want to get it on with Maidana again?
Really, I can’t think of a better, more exciting, more sellable, more sensible late replace foe for Ortiz than Maidana. Fans who got their money’s worth and then some in June of 2009 would almost certainly go home happy if a part-two took place. Who knows (maybe we will never know), maybe an Ortiz-Maidana II would be an even better fight than an Ortiz-Berto II?
Maidana is in shape, working on new things with Garcia, why wouldn’t he want the fight?