In a recent interview with BoxingScene, undefeated WBC champion Andre Berto spoke in depth about everything his 2010 year has encompassed as well as his goals for the future. Berto claimed that he felt that he was avoided for a reason, calling himself an ?animal? in the ring, and noted that he would love the chance to face off with Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao, or any of the elite 147 pound fighters in the world.
While it is always great to see ambition in any young fighter one has to wonder if Berto would be ready for fights of such magnitude. Mayweather and Pacquiao have been fighting on a different level for many years and despite all of his abilities in the ring, Berto is still getting his feet wet in terms of big fight exposure.
I first began corresponding with Berto shortly after his fourth fight as a professional. At the time the Haitian-American was busy fighting off-TV on several of Dibella Entertainment?s undercards. While Jermain Taylor, Sechew Powell and others headlined the main events young Berto stayed busy tearing through non-descript opponents in the shadows while he waiting for his big moment.
Berto and I discussed several facets of his life from his family, his taste in music, and his love of God. Still we primarily stuck to boxing and what stood out was his modest nature and acceptance that nothing great could happen overnight. His humble and fierce mindset continued to carry him up boxing?s ladder and soon he would find himself gracing the airwaves of Showtime and HBO.
In February of 2006 Berto made his debut on ShoBox: The New Generation and disposed of Jonathan Tubbs with relative ease. Ten months later Andre paid HBO a visit and put on a terrific offensive display against Miguel Figueroa on the undercard of Taylor?s bout with Kassim Ouma. Tearing the Camden, New Jersey native apart to the body and head, it was obvious that Berto was making strides in his career and his talent was undeniable.
Over the next years Berto began raising his game and continued to flirt with appearances on the sport?s premier network. His September 2007 bout with David Estrada in particular was a rough and wild affair and Berto came away from the bout with a newfound respect for the hard knocks of the sport. Berto would adapt to Estrada and control the fight with his speed and power punching. In the 11th round Berto put an end to things as a crushing right hand dropped Estrada, with the contest being stopped moments later.
Mayweather would retire from the sport following his December 2007 TKO over Ricky Hatton, thus vacating his WBC possession. The title was soon declared vacant and it presented Berto with the chance he had been looking for as he found himself in the ring with ?Miki? Rodriguez in June of 2008 in Memphis, Tennessee with the vacant belt on the line. Berto would control the fight thoroughly, starching Rodriguez with a crippling uppercut in seventh and the title was his. While the path towards the championship wasn?t as difficult as what other fighters had experienced there was still much celebration to be had.
Berto was pushed to the limit against hardened veteran Luis Collazo in January of last year. Seemingly confused by the Brooklyn southpaw?s style, Berto seemed to have difficulty in the bout and absorbed some serious blows early on. The fight was a back and forth affair, easily one of the year?s best fights, and to his credit the champion dug down deep and finished the fight with a late surge. The ending result would see Berto walking away with a split decision verdict that some felt was unwarranted but nobody could question Berto?s heart after a fight like that.
Berto?s big moment was set to take place earlier this year as he was lined up to face ?Sugar? Shane Mosley at the Mandalay Bay on January 30th. The bout was one that would have given us the answers we needed from the 26-year old but mere weeks before the contest Berto would withdraw from the fight due to the personal grievance that had been affecting him in relation to the January 12th earthquake that struck his native Haiti. Mosley would set his sights on Mayweather, whom he lost to in dominant fashion earlier this month at the MGM Grand, and Berto was seemingly left out of the picture.
Berto did return to the ring last month at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida as he stopped crafty former champion Carlos Quintana in eight rounds. Following the solid win Berto has been far from shy about his desire to face the welterweight division?s best and the thought of him in the ring with either Pacquiao or Mayweather is certainly intriguing.
One thing you will never be able to knock about Berto is his talent in the ring. Stranding a stout 5?8, he possesses great speed and enough power to get anyone?s respect. Berto also is an excellent body puncher and has shown over the years that he is more than capable of breaking his opponents over the long duration of a fight. He always seems to be in fantastic shape while often punching in combinations and would certainly have to be looked at as a threat in many regards no matter who he faces.
But if there is one thing you can pick apart about Berto it would be the simple fact that he hasn?t faced a who?s who of opponents during his five plus years as a professional. While Berto has faced some proven veterans and former champions, he hasn?t found himself in the ring with the type of star that would put him completely in the spotlight. It looked like it was going to happen against Mosley but things changed as they often do in the boxing world and we are still waiting on that moment for Berto.
No matter how you look at either Pacquiao or Mayweather you can never take away the fact that both men have been on the grandest of stages time and time again. The bright lights have a way of revealing the truth about all fighters and both Floyd and Manny have been through those type of moments numerous times. Perhaps Berto would shine if he were to ever face either man but with no mega fights to his name you can?t help but wonder how he would cope with the vast array of weapons and experience that both Pacquiao and Mayweather possess. If that scenario ever does happen it goes without saying that we will know much more about Berto the following day then we did the night before and no matter what happens that is likely a good thing.
