Ortiz vs Berto: What Each Fighter Gains from Rematch

Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto will have plenty to fight for when Berto's ruptured left bicep heals.

Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KOs) is coming off a fourth-round knockout at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr. Berto (28-1, 22 KOs) is looking for revenge after Ortiz defeated him via unanimous decision in April 2011, handing him the only loss of his career.

In the boxers' first fight, both were knocked down twice in an electric 12-round affair that was named Fight of the Year.

Ortiz's victory was a shocker. Coming into the fight, he had been vilified by the media and the fans as a quitter after he gave up in the sixth round against Marcos Maidana in 2009. He had won four carefully selected fights following the Maidana fight, but the overwhelming sentiment still existed, and very few believed he had the heart to stand toe-to-toe with Berto.

It's ironic the rematch will be a chance at redemption for Berto, because their first fight was a comeback story for Ortiz.

Berto's promoter, Lou DiBella, said after the fight, via ESPN:

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"It was an unbelievable fight. My guy didn't box and created the advantage for Victor. For Victor, redemption is a beautiful thing."

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DiBella continued, in true boxing language:

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"That was the kind of fight we needed. Props to Ortiz. He fought a f------ great fight. Ortiz won, but what a fight. You want to question his balls? There is no question about his balls. F--- that. I thought he was out [in the second round]. But he showed great balls and they killed each other in there."

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Not only was it the Fight of the Year, the sixth round will go down in 2011's annals. Berto dropped Ortiz with an uppercut early in the round, only to see Ortiz storm back and drop him with a left hand before the bell rung.

This time around, Ortiz is coming off a controversial fight with Mayweather. It was hard to see him defeating Mayweather in September, anyway, but Mayweather did end the fight with a punch in the middle of a break.

Berto, on the other hand, actually vacated his welterweight title for another chance at Ortiz. You've gotta love that.

Whenever these two finally fight again, you can bet the heart will still be there.