By Allan Fox: Former IBF/WBC 147lb champion Andre Berto’s former trainer Tony Morgan thinks Berto could give Floyd Mayweather Jr. on September 12th if he’s 100 percent ready for the fight. Morgan likes Berto’s hand speed and punching power, and he thinks he could give Mayweather problems if he ends up getting the fight.
It would be a big upset if Berto were able to get the victory over Mayweather. It would be a shock if Berto even gets picked out for the fight, because there are arguably more deserving fighters than Berto who rate a fight against Mayweather.
Berto was a good fighter during his prime, but his performances have really dropped off in the last four years in fights against Victor Ortiz, Robert Guerrero and Jesus Soto-Karass. Berto did beat Josesito Lopez and Steven Upsher Chambers in his last two fights, but those guys aren’t in the same class as Guerrero, Soto-Karass and Ortiz.
“I think Berto could pose a problem to him. I don’t know if he will,” Morgan said to Fighthype.com. “I think Berto has natural speed, I think Berto has natural power. I think the timing is a little off as far as that fight for him, but Berto poses a problem to anybody if he’s in the game.”
Berto has the punching power and hand speed to give Mayweather a lot of problems in this fight. That’s the thing about Berto. He’s always had good hand speed and punching power. His problems have related to his stamina, injuries, leaky defense, and work rate. He’s had injuries plague him, and it’s kept him out of the ring for periods.
Berto is currently injury-free and fighting well, but he’s not been tested against a quality fighter in recent years so it’s hard to know whether he’s fixed the problems with his defense, stamina and work rate.
Berto has a very good trainer in Virgil Hunter, so it’s possible that he’s fixed his defensive issues, but it’s doubtful that Hunter will be able to do much with Berto’s poor work rate and stamina. Those problems will likely continue to plague him in the future, and if that happens in a fight against Mayweather, Berto will wind up losing by a one-sided 12 round decision.
“It’s a winnable fight, but you have to be 100% on your game,” Morgan said.
If Berto fights the best fight of his life, and Mayweather fights the worst fight of his life, then maybe I can see Berto getting a win under those circumstances, but that’s the only way I can see him winning.
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