By Chris Williams: WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto (27-0, 21 KO’s) has been matched up about as light as a champion can get and still be shown regularly on HBO. On April 16th, the 27-year-old Berto will be taking on arguably his first real tough opponent in Victor Ortiz (28-2-2, 22 KO’s) at the Foxwoods Casino, in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

It’s unfortunate that this will be yet another light welterweight opponent for Berto instead of someone from his own weight division. If Berto loses this fight, he’s in real trouble because this supposed to be the fight that makes a name for him and helps him pave the way for shots against fighters like Manny Pacquiao.

The reason why Berto hasn’t fought Pacquiao thus far is because of the limited fighters that Berto has fought. It’s a double edged sword to be sure. By matching Berto soft, he’s been able to stay unbeaten. However, that very soft match making is now preventing him from getting a shot against Pacquiao.

Ortiz has got the power and the southpaw stance to give Berto a lot of problems in this fight. However, Ortiz has got to fight with confidence and has to take the fight to Berto if he wants to get the win. Ortiz can’t hang back and try to box Berto like Ortiz did with Lamont Peterson in his last fight and expect to be able to win a decision. That won’t happen and I can see Ortiz losing a wide decision if he tries to box Berto instead of slug. Ortiz can only win in one way and that’s by mixing it up with Berto and trying to take him out with big power shots.