WHO IS ANDRE BERTO?
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 30 Aug 2015
Andre Berto instantly gained worldwide boxing prominence when he was picked as the next opponent for pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, Jr. for the WBA (Super),WBC & The Ring welterweight titles on September 12, 2015 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.
He was born on September 7, 1983, now 31 years old, in Winter Haven, Florida, USA and is a former two-time (WBC and IBF) welterweight champion and the current WBA welterweight interim champion. His father persuaded him to take up boxing because he was beaten up several times in school.
Berto shone as an amateur fighter, winning a bronze medal in the 2003 World Amateur Championships. He was also a two-time National Golden Gloves champion, a two-time National Police Athletic League (PAL) champion, a three-time U.S. amateur championship medalist, and also won 22 state titles in Florida.
Berto lost by disqualification during the 2004 Olympic Trials for Team USA. But he was able to join the Haiti Olympic team because his parents migrated to the US from Haiti. Berto lost in the first round to Xavier Noel of France in the Olympics.
He turned professional and on September 29, 2007 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Berto defeated David Estrada by eleventh round technical knockout to win the NABF welterweight title.
On June 21, 2008, Berto won the vacant WBC welterweight title by TKO over Miguel Rodriguez in the seventh round in Memphis, Tennessee. Berto floored Rodriguez twice in the seventh round prompting the referee to stop the bout with 47 seconds left.
He was able to defend his WBC title successfully five times against Steve Forbes (UD), Luis Collazo (UD), Juan Urango (UD), Carlos Quintana (TKO-8) and Freddy Hernandez (TKO-1).
On April 16, 2011 Berto lost his crown to Victor Ortiz by unanimous decision with four knockdowns. It was adjudged The Ring Fight of the Year for 2011.
Ortiz fought Berto in an action-packed duel right from the beginning. Berto tried his best to defend and counter the relentless attacks of Ortiz. Berto went down in the very first round. It was Ortiz's turn to touch glove on the canvas in the second round.
In the sixth round, Berto connected a big right to Ortiz sending him on his back. Ortiz got up and knocked Berto down with a short left in the same round. Ortiz was in control of the most stages of the fight convincing all three judges, 114-111, 114-112 and 115-110.
On September 3, 2011, Berto faced IBF welterweight champion Slovenian Dejan Zavec. After five rounds of a higly competitive fight, Zaveck's cornermen gave up the fight as the champion had been suffering a big cut. Berto became the new IBF welterweight champion.
On November 24, 2012, Berto fought WBC interim welterweight champion Robert Guerrero. Berto went down twice but was able to engage Guerrero in a tough clash.
Guerrero was able to gain slight advantage in a close fight and won via unanimous decision. Both of Berto's eyes and Guerrero's right eye were closed at the end of the fight.
Berto lost to Jesus Soto Karass by 12th round TKO on July 27, 2013 after knocking down his opponent in the previous round.
On March 13, 2015 Berto won the fight, stopping Josesito Lopez in the sixth round and winning the interim WBA welterweight title.
Andre "The Beast" Berto is 5 ft. 6 1⁄2 in. (1.69 m) with 70 1⁄2 in. (179 cm.) reach now has 30 wins, 23 by KOs, and 3 losses.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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