^^Lucky you!
Anyone interested in this fight tomorrow? I'm going to check it out. I think it will tell us a whole lot about Berto and if he's the real deal or not, or simply not ready yet...
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]Berto biting into first big challenge
By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
Berto stepping up
Even when Andre Berto was a standout amateur, big things were predicted for him in the pro ranks. He had the speed, power and aggressive style of a pro champion written all over him.
After an appearance in the 2004 Olympics, Berto turned professional, and those expectations followed him. Now, five years later, Berto, 25, has done nothing to dissuade those who were on his bandwagon early on.
He has rolled to a undefeated record (23-0, 19 KOs); he claimed a vacant welterweight world title with a crushing seventh-round knockout of Miki Rodriguez this past June and made one defense in September, a unanimous decision against Steve Forbes, a quality fighter but a smaller man with little power.
There is little to rap Berto about, other than one thing -- when will he and his handlers step him up against another of the top names in the loaded welterweight division? Shoot, when will they step him up against a legitimate top-10 contender?
The time is now.
Finally.
"I'm a young fighter, and at the same time, I know I can fight the best and beat the best," Berto said. "I am eager to get in there with the best."
Berto will face his first top welterweight opponent when he meets mandatory challenger and former titleholder Luis Collazo (29-3, 14 KOs) Saturday night at the Beau Rivage resort in Biloxi, Miss., in the first HBO fight of the year (9:45 ET/PT).
Berto, held back more by his handlers -- promoter Lou DiBella and manager Al Haymon -- than by his own desire to fight big names, is excited at the prospect of facing Collazo, 27.
"This is definitely my toughest fight to date," Berto said. "Collazo isn't just a slick fighter, he's a slick southpaw. People know southpaws aren't the easiest to fight. That makes it even tougher, but I am looking forward to the task. People have seen my progression, and this will be a fight where people can really see where I'm at."
Collazo's only losses are a knockout defeat early in his career and decisions to Shane Mosley and Ricky Hatton.
The Hatton fight was regarded as highly controversial because many believed Collazo deserved the nod.
"Collazo is one of the top guys in the division. He's a b---- to fight. Just ask Ricky Hatton," DiBella said.
Berto, who is experienced with southpaws from the estimated 500 rounds he has sparred through the years with buddy Winky Wright, has a confidence about him but doesn't seem to get too far ahead of himself. He's not a young fighter who beats his chest proclaiming he's the best, at least not yet.
"I've been growing with each and every fight, improving my skill level in general," he said. "I made the transition from the Olympics, I've showed poise in the ring and shown off my speed and power, but I am not a complete fighter yet. In due time, I'll be a complete fighter. Right now, I'm continuing to take the steps and continue to take the classes. This fight is like a step-up class. It'll be like fighting an upperclassman because Collazo has been in with some of the best. He's supposed be here, and I know he's coming to fight."
Collazo is confident he can hand Berto his first defeat and put his name into the mix for the biggest fights in a division that features Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto, Mosley, Joshua Clottey and others.
"[Berto has] some weaknesses, but he's a really good fighter, so I don't want to take anything away from him," Collazo said. "With our styles, we both come to fight. It's going to be an exciting and explosive fight for both of us."
Although DiBella has designs on eventually matching Berto with either Mosley or Cotto, he didn't want to look to far ahead because he knows Berto is in for a tough fight Saturday.
"I don't want to jinx Saturday night," he said. "You just don't look past a guy like Collazo. He's already fought guys like Shane and Ricky Hatton, who a lot of people think he beat. Andre hasn't had the opportunity to step up like that yet. This fight is a step up in every way for Andre as a professional."
Said Berto about his deliberate road to the top: "It's a process. The true fight fans see the skills and potential, and they want to see me tested right now. Everyone goes through the process. [Oscar] De La Hoya, [Floyd] Mayweather, they had skills and people were so eager to see them fight the best. Sometimes it takes a little longer. Eventually they will see me prevail against the top guys, and it will be worth it."
