Andre Berto – Loss not all that bad
April 20th, 2011
By John F. McKenna (McJack): Of course no fighter ever wants to lose a fight, especially a fighter who is on the way up and appears to have the boxing world at his feet. Many times in boxing history fighters have lost when victory seemed certain.
After the Baer victory, Louis started taking his opponents lightly, thinking that all he had to do was show up and victory would be assured. He spent a considerable amount of time playing golf, which was his new passion. Training temporarily began to take a back seat. Even Louis’s trainer Jake Bladburn was not able to stress the importance of training to the still youthful “Brown Bomber” as he prepared for his fight with Max Schmeling.
As it turned out Louis was beaten badly by Schmeling and he was finally knocked out in the twelfth round. As painful as it was, Louis learned a valuable lesson in his loss to Schmeling. He went on to became a great fighter, holding the Heavyweight Championship for twelve years and defending his title twenty five times. Both of those records stand to this day. Joe started taking training seriously again and was back in the ring in three months.
When “Sugar” Ray Robinson lost his first pro fight in 1943 to Jake Lamotta after forty three straight victories, he redoubled his efforts. He avenged his loss to the “Bronx Bull” three weeks later and did not lose another fight for eight years, winning his next ninety fights in a row.
Vladimir Klitschko lost three fights early in his career after which he turned his career around. He hired Emanuel Steward and revamped his training regimen. Since that time Vladimir has not lost a fight and has become one of the most dominant Heavyweight Champions in decades. Klitschko himself has acknowledged that his loss to Ross Puritty was the defining moment when he began to turn things around.
There is a long list of fighters who have gone on to have great careers after suffering what appeared to be a devastating loss. Manny Pacquiao comes to mind as a fighter who lost three fights and went on to win not only fighter of the decade, but multiple championships along the way to redemption.
Of course it takes heart and a lot of courage to turn things around. One of the dangers for a young fighter is to start believing his own press clippings. Joe Louis noted at the end of his career that all the people who had been in his corner were now in the victor’s corner. Just like life itself, boxing is sometimes cruel. Andre Berto hopefully will rebound from his loss last Saturday night and go on to have a great career. He obviously has a lot of skill. He can use his loss to Victor Ortiz as a learning experience, albeit a bitter one.
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thats the same thing i was thinkin this loss might of help berto its better that he caught his 1st loss now then later. guaranteed berto with the proper training and focus will beat ortiz in a rematch
What´s wrong in loosing a fight? All the greatest boxers of all times suffered losses and many of them came back victorius! Look what happened to Calzaghe, he maybe retired “undefeated” but I´m certained, he himself is questioning it. Why do you think he ends up a drug addict since he retires, because of insecurity! He knows well why he is “undefeated” and that will happen to Mayweather, jr too, if he will not deal to his fear of loosing.
Andre will be back. If Ortiz can do it so can Andre!!
I look at it as a much needed learning experience. Both fighters were tested but ultimately one passed and the other didn’t. He has flaws that need to be corrected, especially in his defense. But, Berto should be fine if he learns from this fight and makes the proper adjustments. Much respect to both fighters and I look forward to seeing more of them in the future.
To POWER VCT..
“Mike Jones (who) will rule the WW division”
..are you serious? you call victor ortiz subpar but you say a man who technically got his ass handed to him by jesus soto karass twice, a person who’s going to rule division? mike jones is overhyped more than andre berto, with lesser skills than berto, berto is not only faster but jones has no power to speak of, he hasnt knocked out one quality opponent. look at his record, all spaniards who no ones ever heard of, and when he stepped up shoulda lost twice to a c level fighter in karass.
Berto is a champion this will inspire him to get back in the gym and train hard jab inside fighting and body also i think he maybe took the fight light and victor gave every think he could including peds and fought a great fight BERTO WILL BE BACK SOON OH AND BERTO KEEP THE TRAINER AND CUT MAN GET RID OF YOUR FAMILY IN THE CORNER
Berto just got exposed by a sub par fighter whom had a draw against Lamont Peterson, whom also gave PBF a boxing lesson during sparring!
Mike Jones (who) will rule the WW division. This again is exactly why Pac-A-Roid, SSM, PBF and everyone else in the WW division wants no part of him!
Great article John- I spoke to one of Berto’s siblings and I was told that Berto is going to take two weeks off and get back in the gym.That person also told me that Berto wants to get back in the ring as soon as july and Berto will make a strong statement in his return .Lou Dibella is also trying to arrange a rematch Berto vs Ortiz 2.
WHAT!!! Berto just couldn’t handdle Ortiz and Ortiz would KO him in a rematch.
@big g; back then fighters fought 2 and 3 times a month or even twice a week,soca loss isn’t that big a deal. These guys are fighting once every 5 or 6 months with video of their opponents last few fights.Why does it mean a fighter hasn’t faced anyone because they haven’t loss yet? Where is the respect for the fighter that lives cleanly and stays on his P’s and Q’s? If you lose early in your career it means you aren’t that good-plain and simple! @ dead scared; losing for Manny isn’t. Big deal since he’s been on the losing end 3 times and arguably 6 times.
Berto is a good fighter, but his not great ! I dont think he’ll be a champion again , it will take . He was being protected by his promoters , he never fougth a clasified fighter and when he did , he lost .
Maybe Mayweather can also use his loss to Pacquiao as a learning experience, albeit a bitter one. Lol.
losing isnt always the end.it can sometimes only be the begining.i dont understand wat the craveing is for unbeating guys these days usually having a big 0 beside ur name means u have yet to fight any1 dangerous yet…all the greats have no 0s on there resumes
i think berto should get a rematch,i think its just wasnt his nite
Here we go again with the theory a loss somehow makes you a good or better fighter. The great ones always find a way to win! Berto fought the worse fight anyone could put on against a lefty. Andre did every single thing wrong in the fight. This is why a smart and gifted fighter will ways beat a brute with nothing more then fighting ability to his name.Skills pay the bills,but being smart from the start is truly an art.
Berto is still going to be a punching factor as he gets back to his drawing board.
I think Ortiz and Maidana would be a great matchup. Would like to see them fight again.
Ortiz showed the heart of a lion. I think it will be a good learning lesson for Berto if he can adapt.
Berto looked good in his lose . His next fight will tell us who he is . If he’s smart and I’m sure he is . He will learn from this fight and be alot better then he was in any of his old fights . Berto to me looks like he don’t push himself as much as he could . Sometimes a lose will fix that ,and maybe he needs to step away from having family so close in training and fight night . In the ortiz fight bertos trainer couldnt even get word in cuz his bro wouldn’t shut up . IMO his training seems below par ….. I think Berto with a new gym and trainer ko s Ortiz in a rematch ……. I picked Ortiz to win a dis. last week . But didn’t see that coming lol great fight
Very good article and insight. Alot of people feel you need to loose to become an even better fighter and there are perfect examples of that all over boxing
berto finally prove that he does’nt belong to the highest level. these was bad for berto and also not really good for ortiz who did not show just he’s weack chin but also he’s fragile legs.the best was for the show , i really enjoyed these fight.
peoplr who know about boxing like roberto garcia said that victor ortiz has got the skills and power to knock berto out , as i wrote before the fight in these berto was the underdog and ortiz just fight as always, notting better , as you can see in maidana vs ortiz ,victor looked the same scared after berto only good right hand connected. ortiz only inprove on the heart part. skills , power, and weak legs are esactly the same.in the other hand berto was overrated and forced to prove something that was bigger than him. berto also lost vs collazzo does not matter what people referee and judges has said. i can see ortiz losing with anybody who has decent variety with power : martinez, wiliams , cintron , cotto ,mayweather, judah,mosley , pacquiao and i give a chance to ricardo mayorga and alvarez .
Mexicans has been kicking ass.They beat a couple of my rican fighters.Dam no hating just showing respect.They got my attention…..
B level…Berto WHO?
Berto needs a new trainer. He was going towards Ortiz strong hand all night. Even after getting knocked down. He is athletic but once he got in trouble he couldnt adjust. Hes lucky he didnt resign to fight Shane. Shane would have taken advantage of his bad habits. Hes well ahead in the game. If he gets with a good trainer he can start having real entertaining and competitive fights. Je and Ortiz will be a problem for here on out.
I think Berto gained a lot more respect in this loss. At lot of people were questioning his chin and his heart. Berto lost but he took it like a man.
he’ll be back and maybe this time he’ll listen to his trainer. as for Ortiz, just wait until he faces a pressure fighter who won’t go away and he’ll crack again. I’m not hating it’s just the truth. He’s calling out Pac but he isn’t even on that level.
GREAT ARTICLE!
What do u guys mean he didn’t look bad he was the 10 to 1 favorite victor was moving up in weight nat no catch weight fraud like pacman took the fight to berto the reason berto didn’t get knocked out was all the hugging he was doing berto is good but he’s got no boxing skills all he has is power he wants to finish his fights with that over right hand he knock ortiz down twice but when he could get m out he had no choice but to hug and try to land that same punch over and over again
Berto could of done worse,but he did good.He still going get good fights,and I look forward to see him in those fights.
Wail. U got it men! Haha. Berto
berto fought like a man…….Ortiz finally fought like a man and this time he wasn’t to be denied……………….Berto has the right people on hid side he will be ok…….as for Victor I couldn’t be happier……knowing his story
Yea Berto did look passed Ortiz meanwhile Ortiz came in a man on a mission but Berto is gun a come bak n bcome champ again
it might have bein that joe louis took max schmeling lightly but it really goes that jack dempsey was training max and he watched replays of joes fights and he seen that joe drop his left hand at certain times when throwing punches so max prepared for this and timed it to devasting effect.after joe made sure to get of this flaw and he did by destroying max later.
who’s BERTO???
Berto had a bad night and will be back, this is another case of “tonight i not my night” he will come back with a vengance
Nothing to b ashamed of. One or two more losses and Pacquiao will fight you and you will get a big payday.
It does appear that Berto took Ortiz too lightly. After the first knockdown he did not appear to have a lot left.
Berto will come back. He has all the tools.
Berto put up a good fight. He has nothing to be ashamed of!