Ringside with Raymundo 06.26.08: Berto's Road To Glory

Posted by Raymundo Dioses on 06.26.2008

The road to glory for Andre Berto, plus what's the deal with Oscar De La Hoya's December fight? Check it out on this week's Ringside with Raymundo.

The Road to Glory

On June 7, 2008 WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. decided to retire from professional boxing.

Two weeks later, on June 21, 2008 a new champion was crowned in Florida's young Andre Berto.

Berto, (22-0 19 KO's) beat Miguel Rodriguez in convincing fashion, flooring Rodriguez twice in the 7th round with head snapping punches before the referee called off the bout at 2:13. In a flash, it seemed as if the crown was relinquished, only to be sent to a new boxer in the blink of an eye. It couldn't have gone to a more humble and deserving fighter than young Andre Berto.

Berto stemmed from a family of fighters. His father has competed in mixed martial arts, along with his sisters. His brother, Edson Berto, is currently a professional mixed martial artist. Berto was highly decorated as an amateur, competing in the 2003 World Amateur Championships and receiving a bronze medal. He is a two time National Golden Gloves champion, and a national PAL champion.

He found his way onto the 2004 Olympic boxing team, but received a DQ for throwing his opponent to the canvas. After protesting, he was further allowed to compete yet fell short when the decision was reversed. He then ran to the Haitian Olympic team, but lost in the first round of competition.

He turned pro later in 2004, and racked up thirteen KO's in his first fifteen fights.

He fought decent competition in Cosme Rivera, Noberto Bravo and David Estrada. In beating Estrada in the fall of 2007 via 11th round stoppage in which he struck Estrada with blistering uppercuts and straight hands, he became the NABF welterweight champion.

I was present at Berto's fight on the under-card of the Paul Williams/Carlos Quintana shocker on February 9, 2008 in Temecula, California. He walked coolly and casually into the ring as he stepped into the ring against Michael Trabant. He bounced up and down casually, and loosened his shoulders while throwing mock punches.

Once the bell started, the domination did as well.

A bevy of punches came via combinations, and Berto seemed at ease while controlling the fight. The way he put together his punches was awesome. He would hit Trabant in his midsection, and then follow it up with a piercing uppercut.

If Trabant's head went right, Berto would follow up and send his head left with a hook.

He didn't get over aggressive with Trabant and carried him through five rounds, constantly backing up the inferior fighter with a stiff jab. Trabant could not answer the bell for the sixth round, and Berto recorded his 18th KO while remaining undefeated.

On that night, I knew I saw a serious contender in the welterweight division.

His next fight was scheduled as a WBC eliminator match, pinning the No. 1 contender in Berto against No.2 ranked Miguel Rodriguez. The bout took place in Tennessee and was a lopsided bout. After a few feeler rounds with Berto mostly circling and seeing what Rodriguez's punches packed in them, Berto started to back up Rodriguez with his jab.

The mid-rounds saw Berto using his combinations to punish Rodriguez, who lost his offensive plan very quickly and was instead on the defensive.

Rodriguez's corner pleased with him, screaming, "What the hell are you doing?" while in the Berto corner, all was swell.

The seventh round was Rodriguez's downfall, getting caught with a left and a picture-perfect right uppercut that snapped his head backward and sent him to the floor. He was down once more, prompting the referee to bring a halt to the bout and raising the young Haitian's arm in the air as the new WBC welterweight champion.

Berto's future

Much has been said since his title victory of if Berto has the capacity to stand in with the bigger names in the welterweight division. The Miguel Cotto's and the Antonio Margarito's are more known than Berto, but that doesn't necessarily mean better.

A casual boxing fan would dismiss Berto as being able to stand in with these boxers, but trust me, the boxers themselves aren't so easy in overlooking Berto.

Often, boxers watch other boxers fights.

In what Berto has exhibited, he has given other welterweights plenty to be worried about.

He has a stocky frame and is a short fighter, (5'8 ½) which allots him a punishing inside offense. Yet he also throws from the outside very well, has a stifling jab and has brought back to popularity the effective ‘uppercut' punch.

Like it or not, the 24 year old Andre Berto is our new WBC welterweight champ and sits on top of the division with boxing's most sought after belt.

So can he stand in with the more known boxers in the division?

There is only one way to find out…

De La Hoya to fight winner of summer blockbuster

The winner of the Antonio Margarito vs. Miguel Cotto bout will not only win the WBA welterweight championship, but also a crack at sending Oscar De La Hoya into retirement.

Reports this week broke that Golden Boy Promotions is in talks with promotional company Top Rank to pit the winner of the July 26th bout against DLH later this fall, a farewell fight for De La Hoya, who originally planned to fight pound for pound champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. September 20th.

Those plans were scrapped after Mayweather's retirement June 7, 2008.

Morongo this weekend

Casino Morongo, in association with "Solo Boxeo Tecate" and Golden Boy Promotions hosts yet another great night of boxing on June 27, 2008 in Cabazon, California.

The main event pits WBO bantamweight titleholder Abner Mares (16-0 10 KO's) against Colombia's dangerous Kermin Guardia.

Guardia, (37-8 21 KO's) is regarded as stiff competition for Mares. Mares is regarded as ‘coming of age' as he goes forward in his career. In his last bout, he needed only two rounds to knock out Filipino Diosdado Gabi.

Mares is currently trained by Nacho Beristain, who trains brothers Rafael and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Golden Boy Promotions, who is promoting the event, pits a pair of undefeated fighters Carlos and Juan Velasquez, (7-0) into action.

The co-main event features junior-featherweight action as Montebello's Nestor Rocha takes on Jose Beranza.

Also, in female action, Moreno Valley's Kaliesha West (8-0) moves up two weight divisions to face featherweight Elizabeth Villareal.

Of stepping up in weight, West (8-0) has said this: "She's going to be stronger than the girls I fought in the past. But I'm just going to be too fast. You can't hit what you can't see."

Looks like another action packed night in the desert!

The event will be televised on Telefutura starting at 5 p.m. PT.