Being able to take criticism is an essential part of being a professional athlete. For a professional boxer, the criticisms from mercurial fans and members of the media can wear on his psyche, or motivate him to new heights. The choice is up to the individual that finds himself in the cross-hairs of harsh critics. WBC welterweight champion, Andre Berto welcomes the critics, and is looking forward to a big 2011 to quiet the critical roar.
Berto was set to make 2010 the year in which he made his mark in boxing. He was set to take on top-rated, WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley on January 30, 2010. The challenge before him gave him a summit to scale that make his name mentioned along with the top names in the sport today. Mosley, the future Hall of Famer, held the torch, and was looking to keep the young upstart from ripping the torch from his powerful hands. However, the stars did not align in Berto?s favor, and Mother Nature threw a monkey wrench into the engine of the Berto bandwagon.
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake rocked the impoverished country of Haiti on January 12, 2010, the birthplace of the Berto name. After one week without word from any surviving relatives, Berto learned that his sister Naomi and her daughter Jessica, survived the tragedy, but were left homeless. Several of Berto?s relatives lost their lives in the quake, and after days of distraction and heartache, Berto pulled out of his scheduled unification bout with Mosley.
The fallout from Berto?s withdrawal has turned him into one of the most highly-criticized boxers not named Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr. Andre Berto?s spot at the front of the lunch line at HBO has also put him in line for intense criticism. While the criticism is justified, no one can blame a boxer for taking the best deal for himself and his family. Boxing is after all, a business first and foremost. Even the fighters that are lauded for their no-nonsense approach in and out of the ring have business at the forefront of their decision making, despite what we?re led to believe.
An up-and-down 2010 can be salvaged this Saturday night, as Andre Berto (26-0, 20 KO) looks to finish the year in impressive fashion, with his WBC welterweight title defense against Freddy Hernandez (29-1, 20 KO). A majority of the boxing media, as well as fans, have dismissed Hernandez as a viable championship contender, despite two straight KO victories over acceptable competition. Hernandez scored a highlight reel knockout over former champion DeMarcus Corley in February, before moving on to batter former champion Mike Anchondo in September.
I was recently afforded the opportunity to speak with Andre Berto. We spoke about his critics, his plans, and about his upcoming fight with the aforementioned Hernandez. Despite my less-than-flattering line of questioning, Berto?s answers were honest and forthcoming, and he was grateful for my time.
Berto knows that he has a tough task ahead of him on Saturday night. Freddie Hernandez, while he is the underdog, holds a height and reach advantage over the compact Berto. ?He?s one of those tough, tall Mexican fighters, and he has a good right hand,? said Berto, of Hernandez. ?Any time you step in the ring with a guy like that, he?s dangerous.?
Berto told me that he has studied Hernandez, and knows the potential of his opponent and insists that he isn?t looking past Hernandez. ?You can?t take guys for granted in this game because one punch can change it all. One big punch can end my night.?
After his April 10 KO victory over former welterweight champion, Carlos Quintana, Berto is looking to add another bona fide welterweight name to his resume, but will likely do little to silence the critics that rightfully examine Berto?s resume with a fine-toothed comb. As fans, the right to critically examine the resume of a fighter should be exercised without prejudice. No fighter should be exempt. Berto is aware of his detractors, and knows he won?t be able to satisfy everyone with a win on Saturday night.
?The only kind of statement that anybody can respect is to win; whether it?s a decision or it?s a knockout. Still, a lot of people will criticize and say what they say. The only thing that they can?t disrespect is a win,? Berto explained. ?Of course they want to see you in with a certain type of competition; it?s just natural. Boxing fans want to throw you in there with the sharks to see what you?re really about. The fans are ready, and they?re anxious. They want to see me in there with the Manny Pacquiao?s and the Shane Mosley?s ? guys like that. I feel like I?m at that point as well, and we?re going to handle business on Saturday night.?
Despite the constant criticisms, Berto insists that he understands and respects the voices of the fans and media. A boxer can only work with the opponents put in front of him, and politics and networks can affect negotiations, which can affect who the opponent is.
?Realistically I can?t be mad at it because I understand that?s just what the game is; that?s what the game is about. The people will want to see you in with the tough competition, and it doesn?t matter if you?re in the game for two years or ten years. If they feel that you?re in there making an impact, they want to see you with the top competition. That?s what it is, and I believe that what the fans feel,? Berto said.
While some will point to Berto as the guilty party in past failed negotiations with big-name fighters, there are two sides to every story, and as his accomplishments grow the big names will be more willing to give a little at the negotiating table.
?Some fight fans don?t understand that it?s not that easy to make these fights. They feel that at the snap of my fingers, or by me saying in an interview that I want to fight Shane Mosley next, that it will happen,? Berto explained. ?It just doesn?t happen that way. These are the harsh politics of boxing. I just have to wait my turn and continue to prove myself in the ring. I?ve been trying to get these guys in there with me for the last year, maybe even year-and-a-half, so it?s going to get to a point where they won?t have a choice,? Berto stated.
For any young boxer to become a star, the big stars must give him a chance at their crown. Having fought the necessary gatekeepers of the sport, Berto feels if given the chance, he can make a big statement to help solidify his place in boxing. ?I fought Stevie Forbes, Luis Collazo, Juan Urango, and Carlos Quintana. I fought three southpaws in a row, and I don?t know any of the top guys that would be willing to do that, because everyone hates fighting southpaws,? Berto stated.
?Now it?s about that time that I step in there with the elite guys and show the people what I?m all about. That?s the only way they?re going to feel that I really belong there,? Berto would go on to say. ?If all goes well Saturday night, and I had to make a wish list for 2011, that list would have Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, and Manny Pacquiao on it. If I can get those three fights in 2011, that would be great.?
Andre Berto hears the uproar from the fans and the media. Despite the labels he has been slapped with, he insists he is looking to change the light in which he is viewed. Like any hungry young lion, he is more than willing to step up his level of competition and make 2011 the year he takes on the best, in order to make himself one of the best.
?That?s something I want, it?s something the people want, and it?s something the network [HBO] wants. At the same time the fans will see where I?m at and they?ll see where I belong, and I?m going to do that. There aren?t too many young guys that are willing to take tough fights like that back-to-back, but I?m willing to do that because I feel like I?m ready for it, and it?s what I want to do.?
2011 should be a make or break year for this talented young boxer. Andre Berto won?t be looking back, but ahead to the mountain that will be placed before him. As my conversation with Andre Berto came to a close, he had this to say about his plan for 2011; ?I really don?t have a backup plan. I?ve just got to keep going. I think those are the fights that people want to see, to really get the respect that I deserve. If I want that respect, those are the moves that I?m going to have to make.?
