Mayweather vs. Berto: Andre Could Be The One To Pull off The Upset

By Boxing News - 08/18/2015 - Comments

Floyd Mayweather and Andre BertoBy Edgar Solorzano: America’s greatest Ben Franklin once stressed, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” A quotation that best describes the possibility of Andre Berto pulling off the victory against the pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. Many fight-fans believe this will be Mayweather’s easiest battle, however; in boxing the lion can lose its strength in a split second.

The squared-circle is a bloody environment engineered for talented artists to paint the canvas with leather gloves. Art conquering violence is boxing. We call it the sweet science, where boxers can see stars in a split second with a red leather glove to the pupil rather than a telescope. Boxing has never been a sport for the weak, and it never will be.

This is a statement every boxing fan must understand. In the ring fighters like Andre Berto have the chance of ruling the world as long as the law of physics, including timing, exist. Anything that hasn’t hit reality will remain unknown till the bell opens up the show for us. No one can predict how Berto will perform against the undefeated super-star, with Berto’s athletic ability and strength; the possibility of an upset is there. It is highly likely that Mayweather may stay undefeated, but Berto must not be underestimated. Sometimes the fighters that have nothing to lose and everything to gain are the most dangerous when they step in the ring ready to conquer the world.

Lets start by educating the fight-fans who don’t believe in upsets. An upset wouldn’t be called an upset without the non-believers. Upsets are what makes the sport of boxing pure and dangerous. An upset is what made Buster Douglas legacy great when he knocked out Mike Tyson. If any fighter can pull off an upset, it will be Andre Berto, a young hungry fighter with great athletic ability, timing, and power. If Maidana was able to catch Mayweather with a punch in the 2nd round, then Berto has that same probability of landing a powerful hook with his sharp athleticism.

Floyd Mayweather is the best boxer in the world, and the chances of Berto defeating him are as small as the period in this sentence. But don’t be fooled by the probability, sometimes the smallest rock can crack the biggest window. There are three reasons why Andre Berto could be the small period that could close Mayweather’s chapter in the history books.

Reason no. 1: Andre Berto has a quick jab he likes to use to time his powerful right hooks. In his remarkable battle against Victor Ortiz, Berto did not have the greatest start, however; his jab and right hooks looked sharp and kept him in the fight. It was his defense that made him pay for his mistakes. Against a fighter like Mayweather Berto does not have to worry about being pressured, even though Money Mayweather has the ability to turn water into fire in the ring. He can switch it up whenever he feels like it. One of the reasons why Berto has a small chance of winning the battle but with his athletic ability and great combinations, he has enough to build hope. Sometimes all a fighter needs is hope to make history. After all, these are fighters who have always fought the odds. Back to the subject, Berto enjoys using the left to throw jabs. In the 2nd round against Ortiz, Berto threw nearly 30 jabs in the first thirty seconds, 3 hooks, and 2 combinations. Berto has a nice jab that creates enough distance for the right hook or a combination. The problem is he does not throw enough combinations or hooks, even if his hook is one of his most powerful weapons in the squared-circle. These patterns continued in the later rounds, throwing 10 jabs, 5 hooks, and 2 combinations in the first minute of the 6th round. A round where Berto found success knocking down Ortiz with a powerful right hook. The same hook that could hurt Mayweather if he times it right like Maidana did in the 2nd round. Chances are a right hook won’t knock out Mayweather, but it could hurt him if he lands enough of those throughout the battle. Some fighters’ take powerful right hooks like vitamins or others take them as sleeping pills. Berto needs to throw powerful combinations, one right hook won’t do much when Mayweather takes them like vitamins and punishes Berto. Berto has a tough battle, he is the under-dog, and he must give it his all in order to shock the world.

Reason no. 2: Andre Berto has a heart of a lion. Not many fighters can come back after a rough start. Berto is one of the few that can. He is the type of fighter to fight through a storm till he finds some sunshine. There is no giving up in Berto’s heart. He may end up bruised, hurt, or on the canvas a few times, but he will never give up. Fighters with that type of heart are always dangerous. The fight is never over till the bell rings you can never count them out. Berto fought a great battle against Robert Guerrero. His eye was shut down and he continued to battle with heart. Unfortunately, heart is not enough to win a boxing battle, but it is enough to earn a chance at making history. Berto has nothing to lose, and everything to gain. Young, athletic, and hungry, could be the elements to make Berto an unstoppable force when he steps in the ring against one of the greatest boxers of all times.

Reason no. 3: Floyd Mayweather has always looked sharp, age does not seem to matter when one has already mastered the art of boxing. Berto may do better against a fighter like Mayweather. It’s a complete different battle. It is highly likely that it could end up being a boring chess match for the average fan. These types of fights may be the fights that give Berto time to stay relax to time the powerful right hooks lead by the left jab. Berto does not seem to do against pressure fighters like Victor Ortiz, Robert Guerrero or Soto Karass, but a fight with a defensive fighter may give Berto more time to throw his punches and remain calm. Once again, lets not forget Berto’s chances are small. The boxing fans must understand the power of an upset, and what an upset is. Canelo, Cotto, or Pacquiao beating Mayweather would not have been upsets. It may have shocked the world for a bit, but Andre Berto defeating Floyd Mayweather? That is in fact and could be the greatest upset in boxing history. Berto knows that and he will come in ready to make history on September 12, at the Mandalay Bay arena in Las Vegas, Nev.

Boxing is the only environment where someone’s comedy show could end up being a moment of torture. On September 12, the world of boxing could witness either.



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