Berto: I Want To Test Pacquiao's Rep as Being The Best

By Lem Satterfield

WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto (27-0, 21 KOs) battered his past two opponents in devastating fashion. There was the 27-year-old's eighth-round stoppage in April over southpaw former world champion, Carlos Quintana, of Puerto Rico, followed by November's first-round knockout of Freddy Hernandez.

Berto is one of three fighters under consideration to face WBO champion Manny Pacquiao on May 7 in Las Vegas. Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley, who is viewed as the frontrunner to get the fight, are the two other names being considered.

Berto wants to test Pacquiao's reputation as being the best fighter in the world. He wants to see how far Pacquiao can push him.

"If Manny Pacquiao is the best out there, and he's the man, I want to see it for myself. I want to see how far he can push me to the limit. I'm ready for that defining fight. I don't understand the guys he's fought not punching him back. These guys just ball up and don't punch back. I don't understand running away," Berto said.

"I don't understand doing anything that shows weakness. I'm just mentally set for a tremendous fight. I will come to fight 12, hard rounds. They know -- and I don't care what else they say -- but I know that they they know that I have something inside of me."

Berto feels that he brings certain qualities that Pacquiao's past opponents have never brought to the ring. If he can land a fight with Pacquiao, Berto expects some explosive moments.

"You would see a lot of speed, and a lot of power, and fast footwork. And that's something that Manny Pacquiao has not seen in the ring yet. I'm one of those types of guys that really likes to rise to the occasion and to the challenge of the opponent," Berto said.

"If they feel that they've seen something in the past, you know, they definitely have not seen anything like the best that Andre Berto has to offer. They've seen the speed, power, and that beast mentality. But I still have not fought anybody who I can look at and say, 'He's going to test my fortitude,' like Manny Pacquiao can."

Lem Satterfield is the boxing editor at AOL FanHouse and the news editor at BoxingScene.com. To read more from Lem Satterfield, go to AOL FanHouse by Clicking Here.