By Ryan Burton

 

WBC welterweight Champion Andre Berto speaks to BoxingScene.com about his upcoming mega unification fight with WBA champion Shane Mosley.  While he respects Mosley, Berto wasn't too impressed with the future hall of famer's victory over Antonio Margarito.  Even with the year lay off Berto doesn't expect Mosley to be rusty and knows he needs to bring his "A" game to leave the ring with the victory.  See what else the young superstar in the making has to say in this exclusive interview.

 

BoxingScene.com:  How is training going for Mosley?

 

Andre Berto:  Training is going great.  I am just working hard you know.  This is one of the toughest and roughest camps that I have had.  The results have been good and I am feeling good.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Have you done anything differently in training for the biggest fight in your career?

 

Andre Berto:  I am training hard like always but yeah its a different strategy with Shane Mosley.  He is a seasoned guy that is still fast and still strong but I still see flaws that I can take advantage of.  We are going to put the plan together and try to get it done.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Can you share any of those flaws with us (laughing)?

 

Andre Berto:  (laughing) Nooo.  Its all in the game plan man.  At the end of the day I am going to just be in there fighting and I think this is going to be a real entertaining match up.  Me and Mosley are extreme competitors and it is just going to be a good fight for the fans to watch.  It is going to be exciting.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Without giving too much of the plan away what are the keys to the fight for you?

 

Andre Berto:  Just staying consistent.  The keys to the fight are pretty much just staying consistent and staying busy.  I need to stay sharp and stay smart.  If I do that everything will just fall in place.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Fighting Shane Mosley is obviously the biggest challenge of your career.  What made you and your team decide that you are ready for this fight at this time?

 

Andre Berto:  Well Mosley has always been of the fighters I have always looked up to while I was coming through the amateurs.  It is a good situation for me.  If I am going to jump in I would rather jump in the deep end of the pool because I believe he is one of the pound for pound best fighters out there. I am not going to half step it.  I want to fight the best.

 

BoxingScene.com:  I am sure you are aware that most of the so called boxing experts are picking Mosley to win.  What is your reaction to that?

 

Andre Berto:  Well you know really that is how it is supposed to be.  I am that rising star coming up in this fight.  This is a big test.  Mosley the fans have seen fight for years and they know he has been able to overcome adversity.  They have had a lot of time to see what he is about.  I am the new kid on the scene so this right here is my time to show what I am all about.  It is going to be a transition in boxing.  Styles make fights.  A lot of the experts had Mosley losing to Margarito but he proved them wrong so I just have to get in there and go to work.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Is this going to be Andre Berto's coming out party?

 

Andre Berto:  It could be.  This definitely is going to be what I am calling graduation night. I am a student of the game and he definitely is one of the professors out there, one of the elite fighters.  This is going to be a my big test.  January 30th is going to be graduation night. 

 

BoxingScene.com:  What do you think a win over Mosley does for your career?

 

Andre Berto:  It most definitely is going to catapult my career.  At the same time it is something new for the people and something new for the network HBO to have a fresh new face out there.  A fresh new face for boxing in general because they have had the same guys the last few years beating up on each other.  Now there is fresh blood out there and I think it is just going to take everything to the next level. 

 

BoxingScene.com:  Mosley will have been out of the ring a year.  Do you think he might be a little rusty and you will be able to capitalize on that early in the fight?

 

Andre Berto.  Well maybe but like I said he is a vet.  He is a gym rat so I think he will be able to adapt pretty quickly.  I am looking for the best Shane Mosley that night.  I am not thinking about him being rusty or anything like that.

 

BoxingScene.com:  How much of his win over Margarito do you think was Mosley and how much of it do you think was the fact that Margarito knew he didn't have the plaster in his wraps?

 

Andre Berto:   (laughing)  I think it was a little bit of both.  I think Mosley having a new corner may have given him a little more confidence and he was going through a lot of personal things.  When it comes to Margarito it is just like a soldier that normally has an AK-47, [but now he is] walking out to battle with a butter knife instead.  He didn't have that same confidence and it definitely played a big part in the fight I believe.  Mosley did what he had to do and he made him pay for it and he took advantage of it.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Do you have a message for the fans?

 

Andre Berto:  I appreciate everybodys support.  We are definitely training our butts off.  Look forward to probably the best fight of 2010 to come early on January 30th.  Make sure you tune in.  It definitely is going to be a good one.

 

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