Andre Berto bounces back against a tough Jan Zaveck
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 04 Sep 2011
Biloxi, Mississippi - Andre Berto is a picture of determination when he entered the ring of the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino tonight in his comeback fight after his lost to Victor Ortiz last April. Tonight he needed more than determination against a tough belt holder in Jan Zaveck. Berto used his known hand speed and combined it with a noticeable amount of toughness to match the rugged and sturdy Zaveck who holds the IBF version of the welterweight belt.
Both fighters started strong and ready to fight but Berto's hand speed is the clear difference from the first round. Berto targets the head and the body with crisp combinations but Zaveck was ready with his arms up enabling him to block most of Berto's punches. Zaveck despite being pummeled with combinations held his own as he catches Berto with shots of his own, most obvious of it are the uppercuts that he landed on Berto's chin. He pinned Berto in the ropes on the 3rd but Berto came back with bursts of his own to take control of the round. His body shots were landing easily as Zaveck's defense was up high to protect his head .Zaveck controlled the action in the fourth round as he cornered Berto to start the round and pinned him several times in the ropes. His punches landed sharply on the former welterweight champ as Berto seemed to take a breather from the action.
Zaveck entered the 5th round with a cut already starting to bleed in his right eye as the action goes back and forth in the round. The seesaw action also produced an obvious swelling on Berto's left eye but did more damage on the champion as blood came gushing out of it every time he gets hit. At the end of the round, Zaveck's right eye is closed and his left eye has blood coming out of it too. His concerned corner debated with the game fighter to stop the fight due to the injury. Zaveck tried to argue in frustration but his unable to see made him allude to his corner's request. The fight was stopped from then on which was also advised by the physician at ring side.
With the win, Berto comes back from a career changing lost last April to then underdog Victor Ortiz to being a title holder once again. He rebounds with a good showing tonight against a tough opposition. This puts his name back in the roster of contention in the talent laden welterweight division. Zaveck meanwhile has earned admiration from the U.S. fans that saw him fight for the first time in national soil and national T.V. His plan of putting up a good second half to the fight was literally "cut" short by the cut. But his performance was not to be overlooked as he gave Berto and the fans a tough and solid showing which was clearly appreciated not only by the Slovenian crowd in the stadium but also of the fans of the sport watching him fight his first match in the States.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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