Anyone think Berto would be more effective at 140? Poll!

[THE REED]

What do you think should be Berto's next 2 fights? he's in an interesting place right now where he's firmly ahead of the bottom of the division but clearly unprepared for the top. He may need to convince Judah to try WW again..

Judah could be possible... I think a 37 year old Mosley after a Margarito war could also be another foty candidate... Clottey would be a very tough and interesting test also...

If I were him, I would start defending the title against mandatories for awhile until he gets more tuned... And I have confidence in DiBella making the right fight decisions... The Collazo fight wasn't a mistake, they knew exactly how tough he was and what kind of test he presented.. but if your going to be champion you need to be able to beat a fighter like Collazo... I think he could win a rematch in that fight... I think it took him about half the fight to figure out what the hell to do.

The good things about Berto, is hes extremely explosive... he isn't one dimensional.. he goes to the body very well, he has a great explosive jab, a good chopping right hand.. and the best uppercut in the division.. he also has adaptability, and also his heart was extremely exposed in that fight.. and those are all great things to work off of.

If his stamina and his defense get tuned up.. he will be right there with the elite.. A new trainer isnt a bad idea...

[DrewWoodside]

Judah could be possible... I think a 37 year old Mosley after a Margarito war could also be another foty candidate... Clottey would be a very tough and interesting test also...

If I were him, I would start defending the title against mandatories for awhile until he gets more tuned... And I have confidence in DiBella making the right fight decisions... The Collazo fight wasn't a mistake, they knew exactly how tough he was and what kind of test he presented.. but if your going to be champion you need to be able to beat a fighter like Collazo... I think he could win a rematch in that fight... I think it took him about half the fight to figure out what the hell to do.

The good things about Berto, is hes extremely explosive... he isn't one dimensional.. he goes to the body very well, he has a great explosive jab, a good chopping right hand.. and the best uppercut in the division.. he also has adaptability, and also his heart was extremely exposed in that fight.. and those are all great things to work off of.

If his stamina and his defense get tuned up.. he will be right there with the elite.. A new trainer isnt a bad idea...

he's young and his time to hone his skills but IMO.. if he's going to stay WW he better start investing in boats now.. just to be on the safe side.

[THE REED]

LOL...... true that...

I think someone like Roger or Floyd Mayweather would tighten his defense... hes still young enough to learn ... he does try to adapt the shoulder roll, so someone like either of those two would be great..

The shoulder roll doesnt work to well when your fighting a southpaw which is why he got hit a lot more in the Collazo fight...

[deevel79]

I dont think Berto can make 140.

[rj_ct]

i definitely don't think berto can make 140. that's his natural build.

he is what he is: an extremely fast-handed, but not so slick combination puncher. it doesn't matter what weight he fights at. there will be guys at all weight classes that can beat him, and other guys he will absolutely dominate.

[DrewWoodside]

i definitely don't think berto can make 140. that's his natural build.

he is what he is: an extremely fast-handed, but not so slick combination puncher. it doesn't matter what weight he fights at. there will be guys at all weight classes that can beat him, and other guys he will absolutely dominate.

He has a large frame for his height but I don't think he's naturally got the build of a pitbull. Some of that is a result of the weightroom.. I guess only Berto and his team know for sure but.. Boxing scene has 5 votes for 140!

[Pullcounter]

It looks like Berto is carrying a lot of extra muscle that is really only causing him endurance issues IMO. Also, because of his height I think he will always be at a major disadvantage against the larger welterweights. I know Berto has fought even as large as Middleweight but I think he could eliminate some of his muscle and still be a very strong light welterweight and probably a bit faster. I don't think he has too bright a futrue at WW. What does everyone think? Poll to follow..

he'd be a better 140 lber because then he'd be a very big 140 lber and too strong, but i doubt he can get down to 140.

[savorduhflavor]

Cutting muscle is horrible for you. Like Reed said, having a lot of muscle isn't necessarily a good thing, but once you have it it's hard to cut muscle without adverse affects. That's the kind of **** that really makes you weak. That's what happened to Roy after he went up to HW. He gained all that muscle to be a fit 190-whatever, and than when he went back down to LHW he had to lose muscle and it totally zapped his strength and energy.

No way Berto can make 140 and be in top physical form.

My suggestion for Berto is to simply make 2009 another fairly simple year. Make a mandatory in the summer than rematch Collazo in the fall. I have a feeling that it's going to be a Floyd/Castillo type thing where the 1st fight is real close, but than in the rematch Berto's going to come out and really impress us.

Than he's ready for he big boys. He's gotta shoot for 2010 to be his year, he's still really young, and the things he needs to learn, IMO, aren't things that a new trainer will do. He's got great hand speed but he doesn't have the reflexes to successfully apply a good shoulder roll ala Floyd or Sweet Pea, it's just not in his repertoire. He just needs experience, that's all.

[Eaner0919]

He has a large frame for his height but I don't think he's naturally got the build of a pitbull. Some of that is a result of the weightroom.. I guess only Berto and his team know for sure but.. Boxing scene has 5 votes for 140!

dude have you actually not seen his father or something? He is a big dude and it looks like Dre is built the same way. You act like it's some easy task for him to drop 7 extra pounds when his frame doesn't look like it would allow it.

Also, what weight did he fight at as an amateur?

[DrewWoodside]

Cutting muscle is horrible for you. Like Reed said, having a lot of muscle isn't necessarily a good thing, but once you have it it's hard to cut muscle without adverse affects. That's the kind of **** that really makes you weak. That's what happened to Roy after he went up to HW. He gained all that muscle to be a fit 190-whatever, and than when he went back down to LHW he had to lose muscle and it totally zapped his strength and energy.

No way Berto can make 140 and be in top physical form.

My suggestion for Berto is to simply make 2009 another fairly simple year. Make a mandatory in the summer than rematch Collazo in the fall. I have a feeling that it's going to be a Floyd/Castillo type thing where the 1st fight is real close, but than in the rematch Berto's going to come out and really impress us.

Than he's ready for he big boys. He's gotta shoot for 2010 to be his year, he's still really young, and the things he needs to learn, IMO, aren't things that a new trainer will do. He's got great hand speed but he doesn't have the reflexes to successfully apply a good shoulder roll ala Floyd or Sweet Pea, it's just not in his repertoire. He just needs experience, that's all.

As a WW I agree this would be his best course(honing skills against modest competition then rematching and likely dominating Collazo after a couple fights) and I realize he has fought as large as MW but, I believe it won't be a matter of him cutting muslce as much as not hitting the gym as hard. Although he has a naturally large build, he is definitely in the gym keeping it up. He's jacked. The only other WW with a muscle build like his is Clottey. I realize he is young but I think his career has a relatively limited ceiling if he stay at WW. He generally overpowers fighters, that's his method of victory. That won't work for half the top 10 wws. Out of curiosity what does everyone see as his next stepup fight other than the Collazo rematch?