Well-Prepared Berto Seeks Less-Dramatic Encore

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Lyle Fitzsimmons - Andre Berto’s in conflict this week.

Though the WBC welterweight champion is coming off a January win over Luis Collazo that yielded the highest praise of his four-year professional career, he’s determined not to earn it again this time around.

You see, while the razor-thin unanimous verdict let him keep his 147-pound title belt and impress critics with toughness and resilience he’d not previously displayed, it wasn’t exactly a blood-and-guts impression he was hoping to leave.

In fact, as Berto admits, the tough-man effort on fight night was the product of a sub-par work ethic en route.

“I could tell things were different in the camp leading up to the fight. I was sidetracked and I allowed myself to be distracted. I kind of strayed away from the things I normally do and I didn’t feel sharp,” he said.

“It’s no one’s fault but my own and I’m not happy about it, but I guess the good things that came out of it were that I got a chance to show something a little bit different, like my heart and my tenacity. People see that in me. [details]

[Primal Instinx]

Not sure if Andre Berto is ready for the top tier names at 147 due to his questionable defense. His next opponent is not from the Welterweight division either, which doesn't make a case for him to challege the top guys. At this point Berto needs to step up to the plate himself and start calling out the bigs names and risk all or nothing. He is a young fighter in the game but he holds the belt that Mayweather always craves...could be a possible matchup in the future. Though at this point Mayweather wrecks Berto to a twelve round decision.

[DonTaseMeBrah]

u cant hide forever berto. al haymon's gonna have to let u play sooner or later with the big boys.

[DonTaseMeBrah]

Berto is the perfect example of making a star before making a great fighter.

It should be the other way around.

[Ch@mpBox@PR]

Berto is the perfect example of making a star before making a great fighter.

It should be the other way around.

Co sigN!!!!!!!!!!!

[Samadafish]

I don't see berto beating any of the welters mentioned in this article, probably won't get passed urango.

[MANGLER]

The Urango fight should be decent. I think berto wins a UD. If he impresses, maybe he gets a fight wit the Cotto-Clottey winner, tho I think he'd lose.

[Samadafish]

Not sure if Andre Berto is ready for the top tier names at 147 due to his questionable defense. His next opponent is not from the Welterweight division either, which doesn't make a case for him to challege the top guys. At this point Berto needs to step up to the plate himself and start calling out the bigs names and risk all or nothing. He is a young fighter in the game but he holds the belt that Mayweather always craves...could be a possible matchup in the future. Though at this point Mayweather wrecks Berto to a twelve round decision.

Yep & mayeather does love to pick the weakest link. I would love to see Cotto releave berto of his WBC & then we'll see if floyd steps up to Cotto

[Nesty]

Berto is the perfect example of making a star before making a great fighter.

It should be the other way around.

Couldn't put it better!

Nowadays we have champions that are still learning how to box while holding a belt....! My opinion is that once you have a title you don't get freebies... you fight the best and the thoughest! PERIOD!

Berto has talent..... good pedigree and has HBO backing him up.... but as a champion he is still to prove that he deserve to be mention along the lines of those in the top.

[RoyJonesJrp4pno1]

Berto is the perfect example of making a star before making a great fighter.

It should be the other way around.

Me and you call stars different things.