Andre Berto vs. Paulie Malignaggi on April 10th?
February 8th, 2010
By Chris Williams: Dan Rafael of ESPN is reporting that World Boxing Council welterweight champion Andre Berto (25-0, 19 KO’s) could be facing former IBF light welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi (27-3, 5 KO’s) on April 10th, possibly at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Berto, 26, was supposed to have fought WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley on January 30th, but because of the tragic earthquake that struck Haiti recently, killing some of the members of Berto’s extended family, he had to cancel the unification bout with Mosley.
It doesn’t hurt Malignaggi any that he has little power and isn’t much of a threat to beat up or stop his opponents. Berto might be better off facing someone in his own weight class, though. In Berto’s last three fights since winning the vacant WBC welterweight crown in a battle against Miguel Angel Rodriguez in June 2008, Berto has beaten the following fighters Steve Forbes, Luis Collazo and Juan Urango.
Of those opponents, two of them were essentially light welterweights instead of welterweights, and if Berto moves forward with the fight against Malignaggi, it would be Berto’s third fight against a light welterweight in his last four bouts. Berto might as well down to the light welterweight division if there are the types of opponents that he’s going to be fighting.
After all, Berto isn’t a big welterweight himself at only 5’8”, and looked absolutely horrible in his battle against Collazo in January 2009. Berto might be better off moving down to the light welterweight division so he can fight those guys without taking any heat. I think apart from Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley, both of whom I see beating Berto, I think would dominate for awhile at that weight.
At welterweight, Berto has more problems once he starts actually fighting the guys in the division instead of selecting light welterweights to fight most of the time. It’s really too bad that he didn’t fight Mosley. I think it would have been a good fight and it would have showed whether Berto has the talent to compete with a good welterweight. I don’t know that Berto would have won, but it would have given boxing fans a good indication of how good Berto is, because he would be fighting the best opponent of his career.
Mosley easily handed Collazo in the past, beating him by a one-sided 12 round decision in 2007. Berto went life and death with Collazo, and ended up winning a questionable 12 round decision. There probably should have been a rematch between Berto and Collazo, because the fight left a lot of unanswered questions about who the better fighter is.
Based on his size advantage, Berto should be able to handle Malignaggi without any problems. I don’t see this as a competitive fight, and I don’t understand what the appeal in Berto fighting a slender, non-puncher like Malignaggi.
Tags: 24 Responses to “Andre Berto vs. Paulie Malignaggi on April 10th?”
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Yep on April 10 would be good.
Berto vs. Collazo 2 what another great fight to see. Berto don’t duck the man like Ricky Hatton. Tru Champion Fights to be #1.
No people The Magic man is fighting Khan next not Berto. Paulie isn’t a WW anyway so now the table is open to see a rematch between Collazo vs. Berto 2 need to happen and Berto need a opponent and Collazo is ready for the Challange. Berto vs. Collazo 2 make this fight happen.
This is a joke! He should be fighting a legit welterweight, not a clown of a junior welter. The guy isn’t even the best junior welter, how is he even being considered?? He should be fighting Collazo again or even Quintana, this is why we need one official ranking and not 3 and 1 belt.
I dont think pulling out of the Mosley fight hurt Berto. He had tried to make a fights with Mosley in the past so hes clearly not scared. Also if he is automatically on the short list as an opponent for Mayweather or Pacquiao by process of elimination. I actually think that fact that he gives back to the community and works with charities will only help his image and popularity in the long run.
Also here is nobody that is popular at welterweight to fight. That fact is that boxing is you have to make money and he will probabally make more money against Paulie than against any welterweight that is willing/available to fight him. The fact is Aydin, Collazo, Quintanna have no fans.
Lex_fugitive: we may be “heartless coward”, at least we have a functional brain; yours is obviously a “fugitive”.
Can you give us the names of the familly casualties? How come Berto is affected when facin Mosley, and not when facing Paulie? I guess you dont see my drift…that’s what happens when a brain is fugitive.
Once again Berto is running from Collazo because Collazo ask for a rematch in a fight that the world throught that Collazo won that fight between those two. So a rematch would be good to see if Berto execpts the challenge. Collazo vs. Berto 2, make this fight happen.
It seems to me that Paulie Malignaggi is used as a whipping boy with a big name by uprising stars. I only hope this is not true for Paulie’s sake.
Malinaggi is a 140 pound fighter.
Berto, recently fought steve forbes ( a 140 fighter), juan urango ( another 140 fighter) and now he wants malinaggi.
This is absurd. COME ON, BRING BACK COTTO TO THIS FIGHT. A rematch with luis collazo can be good, cause I think collazo won the first fight. Peace people.
Malignaggi or mr big mouth NY taxi driver,he the type of boxer who is a big fan of ali,and trys to imitate him putting on a show calling out rank fighter to get ahead ,and later in his career if he gets does get a fews win he wonder why he dont get enough respect. shortcuts aren’t deserving,and altitude makes all the difference in the world.who would want something force on you.
Ness,
come on! money under the table? How can you ignore that tragic earthquake?
I think Berto will be too strong for Malignaggi, but if Malignaggi stays on the outside and takes Berto into the late rounds he might have a chance. Berto is slow on his feet in the late rounds so Malignaggi could avoid Berto’s fast hands. It would be an interesting fight and i would love to see it.
I’m wondering how much money Berto received (under the table) to step aside and let Money and Mosley do their thing!
Has no one notice that dibella did not pushed to postponed the fight a couple of weeks if not months! Do people really think that he would let such a payday go to waste, unless he got some assurance from Golden Boy that Berto will get a piece of the winner!
I’m not saying that he was not affected by the earthquake, but don’t take us for fools… Dibella would have postpone thus safeguarding Berto’s biggest payday. Instead he is once again going to safeguard his belt (by fighting another 140 pounder, and once that was recently beaten by a 135 pounder with only 5 KO’s) Come on…. Team Berto, be straight and say that you took a step aside deal… we are cool with it… either way we much rather see money vs Mayweather.
I agree with Supreme court. Haiti earthquake was terrible BUT
Berto saw a way out and took it. Either that or mayweather paid him to step aside. Either way berto used Haiti as an excuse hes a coward because he didnt want the mosley fight at all. Hes not bothered by missing the mosley fight at all. Hes probably relieved.
The appropriate thing to have done was to take the fight and send his purse over to help haiti. Now he wants to fight another light welterweight
Berto has looked bad in his recent fights, while Malignaggi looked pretty slick in beating Diaz twice in my opinion. Berto should make sure he’s mentally ready or he might just lose his “0″.
i smell something fishy…..mosley’s lawyer said that floyd jr will fight mosley either in the ring or in the court? if contract is unsigned how can they sue PBF??!!?? unless, GBP, floyd and mosley have some sort of an agreement to pay berto step-aside money so the two can meet, the only way to save floyd’s career from diving. i hope my idea is not true and i’m not complaining anyway coz this floyd-mosley match-up is a must in boxing.
Wow, people on here are heartless cowards! Sitting behind a computer screen and calling a boxing champion a coward! EIGHT OF HIS RELATIVES JUST DIED. I bet a lot of Haitians and Haitian-Americans took an extended leave of absence from work. They are probablyy cowards too though, afriad of carpul tunnel or something!!!
I can’t see how Berto could not still be mentally effected from the horrible tragedy in Haiti. I won’t give Berto heat for fighting anyone in his first match back. He should choose an easy opponent to ease him back into the ring. If after that he faces light welterweights, than I would be a little upset. But, the guy was scheduled to fight Mosley, until the worst tragedy, the Western Hemisphere as ever seen destroyed his homeland and killed 8 of his relatives. Berto will stay at welterweight for one simple reason: thats where the big money fights are at. He can fight either Clottey or Mosley after they lose their next fight. Actually, I think it doesn’t matter if Mosley wins or loses, that Berto will be his next fight after Mayweather. Who else will fight Mosley if he wins? And if he loses, it will still be a real test for Berto and show how good he really is.
Another coward!
He used Haiti’s tragedy to pull out of a beat down!
He never asked for a posponment of the fight. Right away he pulled out.
Berto , another Bum!
Bring on Cotto!!! Cotto easily handles tko’s Berto.
Gee Berto your a joke why don’y you Fight Ivan Calderon next. I bet Valero would mop the floor with you Paper Chump Champ
i’d rather see a berto vs collazo rematch.
It will be an easy win for Berto, who’s a K.O and a heavy puncher. Paulie will only last 6th round in this contest.
what a huge step down in competition for Berto. He had a chance to be a hero for his country in a time of need as well as fight a all time great, and he backed out. what a missed oppratunity!! I think thaat was a carrer defining moment for Berto.
I think a stoppage win for Berto would make big noise
and UD is just expected
Malignaggi win would put him in line for a mega fight