Is Andre Berto Ready for the Big Boys?

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.

Berto looked comfortable from the first round, using his superior speed to great effect. He threw round-winning combinations and Urango just didn’t have any idea’s of how to unlock him. In the end, with the results a unanimous decision on all three judge’s score cards (117-111, and 118-110 twice), Andre Berto improves his unbeaten record to 25-0 with 19 KO’s.

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.