DiBella Wins Berto-Collazo Purse Bid

[egreezy]

Collazo will win this. Berto is dreadfully overrated.

I agree Collazo has been in big fights before and has size advantage. And we know who he spars with, so I can't see him losing to Berto.

[KJB]

Good fight, I could see it going either way.
This makes the most sense for both of these guys, Collazo is looking to prove me belongs back in with the big boys, Berto to stake his claim as a top guy in the division. The winner obviously deserves to be where he is at.

[dondi330]

Nice

Its the fights like this that made me love boxing...even matches...where its hard to pick a winner. Toss -up. Hope it comes through.

[BoxingScribe]

Is Berto crazy? He could have made 3 times as much if he would have jumped on the Mosley fight when Margarito passed on it.

[mspiegelo]

truly is a 'pickem' fight. saw collazo spar today. he looks amazing and lightning fast. i got lou by upset, though you know dibella and hbo will sway the cards towards berto if it is close. berto is, afterall, one of hbo pre-ordained in the tradition of jermain taylor. collazo will have to clearly win by at least 3 rounds or by ko in order to win, but i think he can do it!

[mrpain81]

Berto vs Collazo done deal for Jan 17

Promoter Lou DiBella has won a World Boxing Council purse bid for the right to stage welterweight champion Andre Berto's next title defense against New York's Luis Collazo, the WBC announced on Monday.

DiBella, who promotes Berto, told The Times the bout will occur on Jan. 17 at a site to be determined. The fight will be televised by HBO.

Berto (23-0, 19 knockouts) successfully defended his belt in September by winning a unanimous decision over Steve Forbes at Home Depot Center.

Collazo (29-3, 14 KOs) scored a TKO victory on the same night at Home Depot. He is poised to earn 30% ($202,500) of DiBella's $675,000 purse.

"It's a tough fight, but Andre's 25 years old and it's another step along his growth curve," DiBella said. "When he wins, we'll look for the biggest opponent out there."

The rich welterweight division -- which now includes Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao -- could ultimately have Berto as its unified king. The hard-punching ex-Olympian had been engaged in talks to defend his belt against Pomona's "Sugar" Shane Mosley. But Mosley is now scheduled to fight another world welterweight champion, Antonio Margarito, on Jan. 24 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2008/12/promoter-dibell.html

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Awesome news!!

People have been saying that Berto has been avoiding Collazo so now we see Berto fighting a top 10 guy. I also read at another site that Joe Greene will be fighting Peter"Kid Chocolate" Quillin in a bout between up and comers.

HBO is stepping up and putting on the fights fans want to see, well done if it all happens.

[mspiegelo]

"It's a tough fight, but Andre's 25 years old and it's another step along his growth curve," DiBella said. "When he wins, we'll look for the biggest opponent out there."

Collazo better win this convincingly if he wants to seal the deal. No way that fat **** dibella or the pigs at HBO promotions, I mean HBO, lets berto lose a close decision.

On another note, I saw Collazo spar yesterday, and he looks SHARP! Berto is gonna have his hands full, or empty rather when he's hitting air....

[Flawless 2]

If Collazo wins, will Hatton get more credit

[Pugilistic™]

If Collazo wins, will Hatton get more credit

Most likely.

i don't think Collazo will win though.

i hope its a good fight.

[egreezy]

If Collazo wins, will Hatton get more credit

Maybe in some people's eyes. But, Berto has only beaten Forbes so a win wouldn't mean much right now besides the belt. And many scored the fight for Collazo anyways with the 12th round sealing the deal.