2010 will not go down in the history books as an overly stellar year for undefeated WBC Welterweight champion Andre Berto but his name is still heavily in the mix. Berto was in line to have faced Shane Mosley at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas earlier this year but withdrew from the contest due to the effects from the earthquake that ravaged his home country of Haiti in January. He returned to defend his belt in April by stopping slick veteran Carlos Quintana in eight rounds and people have been waiting for his next move ever since.
In recent months Berto has stated his desires to face a big name in the sport, from rekindling the thought of tangling with Mosley, challenging Manny Pacquiao and even moving up in weight to meet newly crowned WBA Jr. Middleweight champion Miguel Cotto. The most recent reports now have the star slated as a key attraction to an HBO tripleheader on October 2nd that would also showcase WBO Jr. Middleweight champion Sergiy Dzinziruk and interim WBA Featherweight champion Celestino Caballero in separate bouts.
The two names being tossed around as potential opponents for Berto include Cornelius Bundrage and Andriy Kotelnik. Bundrage garnered nationwide exposure for his stint on the second season of The Contender and just recently captured a portion of the Jr. Middleweight crown by stopping Cory Spinks last weekend in St. Louis. On that same card Kotelnik would go life and death with IBF and WBC Jr. Welterweight titlist Devon Alexander before losing a decision that may felt should have gone the other way. The Ukrainian has defeated power-punching Marcos Maidana while losing to the likes of Amir Khan and Junior Witter.
Promoter Don King staged last weekend?s Gateway to Greatness event that Bundrage and Kotelnik were a part of and is beyond adamant about the former champion Kotelnik’s chances at upsetting Berto. The outspoken promoter would tell my colleague Michael Marley recently ?I just spoke to HBO. Kotelnik can be ready for November, no problem. Hell yes we want the Berto fight.?
Updating his followers from his personal twitter account, Berto stated that he felt Don King?s Alzheimer?s was kicking in yet again with his belief that Kotelnik could defeat him. Logic here says that the 26-year old champion would indeed be too rugged on the inside for his smaler foe and it?s not the type of fight to get one?s mouth watering despite Kotelnik’s gritty effort against Alexander.
Berto is currently in Montreal, Canada for tonight?s HBO-televised showcase between WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal and always-dangerous ?Bad? Chad Dawson. While in town Berto has stated that he has been getting mobbed by the fans and has been enjoying the French culture while taking in the excellent food that the city has to offer.
Berto is no stranger to being around the fight scene and will feel right at home with the festivities in Canada tonight. It?s always good practice for a young star to keep his face in the spotlight but you can?t help but wonder when his defining moment as a fighter will truly come. Berto is ready and willing, let’s just hope the right opponents come marching his way.
For images of Andre Berto in New York and Montreal, Canada please check out the slideshow below?
