by David P. Greisman
When Andre Berto stepped into the ring in March to face Josesito Lopez, he had no expectation that a victory would open the door to him facing Floyd Mayweather Jr. on pay-per-view in what is being marketed as Mayweather’s final fight.
The Lopez fight was only his second fight back after a two-bout losing streak and shoulder surgery that had left him sidelined for more than a year.
“I just take one fight at a time. I didn’t know what would come after the Josesito fight,” Berto said on a Sept. 1 media conference call. “I don't know what the situation was but I know that my manager, Al Haymon, he has a lot of situations lined up for me. I was excited just to be back in the mix. I was just happy to be able to come back from this injury and to be hungry and focused and give a good, exciting performance. It didn't matter who it was next. I was ready just to go."
Berto was actually behind on two of the three judges’ scorecards when he knocked Lopez down twice in the sixth round, scoring a stoppage.
And now what’s next is the biggest payday of his career and the most difficult challenge he ever could face in the welterweight division.
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