Is Andre Berto Ready for the Big Boys?
June 1st, 2009
By Simon Hirst: In the main event on HBO’s Boxing After Dark, Florida’s undefeated Andre Berto successfully defended his WBC welterweight title against Colombian southpaw Juan Urango in a 12 round unanimous decision.
However, with much better fighters than Juan Urango, still a world champion at light welterweight, is Andre Berto ready to step up a class? Before he fought, he edged a tough victory over Luis Collazo. No disrespect to Collazo, but there are better fights out for Berto to take if he wanted them. I’m sure a few fighters who are better than Collazo wouldn’t mind a crack at Berto.
Berto seems to be at a bit of a crossroads at the moment. He seems to lack the will and determination to go to the next level. Urango was never going to trouble Berto in the way Cotto, Margarito, Mosley, Clottey, Cintron would. I understand that the WBC belt is a great to have; a lot of fans regard it as the best belt to hold. At the same time, if you keep having weak defences time and time again, fans start to get frustrated, your reputation deflates and most importantly, you get used to the calibre of fighter your fighting. When it comes to stepping it up, it’ll be harder to step it up and be the underdog.
I want to see Berto purely tested against somebody worthy and above him. Maybe Cintron or Clottey/Cotto would be a good next opponent. I don’t’t think Berto would be murdered in these fights, I would even give him have a chance of winning, but unless he tests himself, he’s never going to get better as a fighter. Unfortunately, I don’t see Berto having that much motivation just yet and would be surprised if his next two or three defences are against none of the divisions best.
Tags: 10 Responses to “Is Andre Berto Ready for the Big Boys?”
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this guys and good young fighter who’s already got a world title, i think he should be tested with someone like clottey or cintron, if he beats them he’s ready to mix with the best.
I MEAN COME ON PEOPLE!!!!!THIS GUY BERTO IS 25-0 EVEN SHANE MOSLEY SAYS THIS GUY RIMINDS HIM OF HIMSELF WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER….I MEAN THIS YOUNG GUY IS A POWER OF THEM ALL. HE KNOCKED OUT HALF OF HIS FIGHTERS,,I TELL YOU WHAT PUT ONE OF THE SO CALL BIG BOYS IN FRONT OF HIM AND WATCH YALL REGRET IT…HIS THE REAL DEAL
Berto just beat a average at best urango and only jus beat collazo who is above average but no where near the elite fighters.
Berto will be knocked out by any of mayweather,pacman,mosley,cotto,margarito etc etc.
Andre Berto needs to fight Zab Judah, Carlos Quintana, Isaac Hlatshwayo, Vyacheslav Senchenko, and Cintron. If he wins then will talk about the big names. Till then he is not ready.
i think bob arum is scared to put pacquiao against this kid..
I agree that Berto did himself no favors in this fight. He did what he had to do to win, but fans don’t want to see fighters run and hold and mix it up just enough to outpoint their opponent. Berto is quick enough to match most Welters, he has good movement and some pop to his punch. He is going to have to take more risks and mix it up if he is going to make a name for himself, especially in such a deep division. This fight did not help him make that name. Perhaps a fight with Cintron would make a better match up and be an exciting fight since Cintron beat Angulo and showed that he still has some gas in the tank.
what a snoozer of a fight. berto holding more than hatton typically does. imagine berto vs. hatton????
If Berto wants to play with the big boys he is going to have to convince the matchmakers that he can be a draw. At this stage of his career playing a safety-first game is not going to win him any fans. His fight against Urango was mediocre at best. His constant holding, encouraged by his corner, was sorry to see given that Urango was there to be hit and was showing nothing. Granted he would have a good chance against Clottey who does not have much in the way of fire power, but the match-up would be a real snore-fest.
Sounded like a really decent display from Berto.
I think hes near enough as ready as hes guna be to try his luck.
Berto is starting to chery pick his opposition.It wasn’t long ago when Berto shot his mouth off stating “he was the best weterweight in the world” and The Punisher Williams called him out. His promoter had to bail his ass out because he was writing a check his ass couldn’t cash. He will have problems moving up to stiffer competition. His chin is suspect and he freezes when gets hit.