By Eric Thomas: Former WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto (27-1, 21 KO’s) is taking on International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight champion Jan Zaveck (31-1, 18 KO’s) on September 3rd at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, in Biloxi, Mississippi. The 27-year-old Berto ran out of gas in his last fight against challenger Victor Ortiz last April and ended up losing his title by a 12 round unanimous decision to the 24-year-old Ortiz.

Although still a young fighter at only 27, Berto fought like a fighter in his late 30s, early 40s against Ortiz. The stamina just wasn’t there for Berto, and he was forced to fight almost the entire second half of the fight with his back against the ropes. It was like watching an old heavyweight who’s lost his legs and can no longer fight at the center of the ring.

According to reports floating around the net, Berto is blaming his poor stamina on an anemia problem. I don’t buy it. I just see the guy has having a chronic conditioning problem that has plagued him since his controversial 12 round decision over Luis Collazo in 2009. Berto is okay as long as he’s knocking someone out early or fighting a guy that doesn’t apply any pressure on him, but he’s not going to be able to fight soft opponents every time out anymore if he wants to continue to have his fights shown on HBO.

They want to see Berto face live opponents, and not just the fodder that’s been dug up for him to fight. This is why it’s hoped that Berto, if he beats Zaveck for the title, he’ll finally step it up against quality opposition to make a name for himself instead of dining on overmatched lower ranked fighters.

If Zaveck can make it past the 6th, and that’s a ‘if’, then we may see Berto floundering and gasping for breath as Zaveck takes the fight to him in the second half of the bout. It doesn’t take speed to beat Berto. All it requires is for a fighter to consistently pressure him and wear him down over time. Zaveck can do this if he makes it to the second part of the fight and makes Berto fight harder than he wants to.