Berto to be tested tonight against Upsher

By Boxing News - 09/06/2014 - Comments

SHOSPORTS-Berto vs Upsher-9024(Stephanie Trapp / SHOWTIME) By Dan Ambrose: Former IBF/WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto (28-3, 22 KOs) has what should be a decent test tonight in facing the light hitting Steve Upsher Chambers (24-3-1, 6 KOs) on Showtime’s triple-header from the U.S Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Berto says he’s hungry after having been out of the ring for an entire year because of a torn tendon in his right shoulder. The injury has now healed after surgery and Berto says he’s fighting better than he has before. Upsher isn’t someone that is supposed to be a difficult test for Berto, but he should at least give him and his handlers and idea of where he’s at with his skills.

If Berto struggles to defeat Upsher then it’s a good sign that he’s going to need to be taken slowly before they put him in with a solid fighter. Berto’s trainer Virgil Hunter is talking about wanting to put Berto in a major fight after he wins one more tune-up bout, but that might be a little too ambitious for Berto.

“This is going to be the beginning of something great,” Berto said. “I’m coming up hungry right now. I’ve been out for some time dealing with an injury and I’m looking forward to getting back in the ring. I’m hungry like I haven’t been in a long time.”

Berto has new self-belief because of the things he’s learned with his trainer Hunter. Berto must have had a good training camp for him to be feeling as positive as he is. He’s not been this positive in quite some time.

The things to look for tonight with Berto is how well his stamina holds up. Can he fight three minutes of every round or does he need to rest against the ropes? The other thing to look for is to watch if Berto reverts back to the shoulder roll defense that he’d been tinkering with unsuccessfully for the past few fights. Hunter says Berto won’t be using the shoulder roll, but it’s possible he may go back to it if he stops thinking.



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