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Ten days before welterweight titlist Andre Berto was scheduled to face Shane Mosley in a unification fight on Jan. 30, Berto withdrew from the bout after eight of his family members were killed in the massive earthquake that struck Haiti.
Now, after weeks of mourning and taking part in a relief mission to the ravaged Caribbean nation, Berto is ready to resume his career.
Berto (25-0, 19 KOs) will make his fourth title defense against former titleholder Carlos Quintana (27-2, 21 KOs) of Puerto Rico at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla., on April 10 in the main event of an HBO "World Championship Boxing" card, promoter Lou DiBella told ESPN.com on Wednesday.
A news conference to announce the card, from which a portion of the proceeds will go to benefit Haitian relief, is scheduled for March 3 at the Fontainebleau South Beach Hotel in Miami Beach.
"Andre is energized and ready to fight again," DiBella said. "The working title of the card is 'Fighting for Haiti.' There will be a lot of charitable elements to the event."
DiBella said there would also be appearances by celebrities and musical acts to help raise money for Haitian relief.
Berto's parents are from Haiti, and although the 26-year-old was born in the United States and raised in Winter Haven, Fla., he represented Haiti in the 2004 Olympic Games.
In the televised co-feature, light heavyweight titlist Tavoris Cloud (20-0, 18 KOs) will make his first defense against mandatory challenger and former champion Glen Johnson (50-13-2, 34 KOs), who is also from South Florida.
"Cloud and Johnson, stylistically, can't miss," DiBella said.
Quintana is no Mosley, but he is an experienced and accomplished pro. He's also a southpaw who will have a slight height advantage against Berto.
"Obviously, Mosley being the huge name that he is presented a big opportunity for Andre, but I believe this is a good test for him," said DiBella, who promotes Berto and Quintana. "He is fighting a guy who is 1-1 with Paul Williams and who is clearly one of the 10 best welterweights in the world. Quintana is an excellent fighter. This fight is no walk in the park. People want to see Berto with a real quality welterweight. This guy is a real quality welterweight. It's a difficult fight. Quintana is a tough fighter. Just ask Paul Williams."
In February 2008, Quintana, 33, upset Williams to claim a clear decision and a welterweight title. In the rematch four months later, Williams, who is regarded as one of the best fighters in the world pound-for-pound, regained his belt via first-round knockout.
Since the loss, Quintana has won two bouts in a row, most recently a cut-induced, third-round TKO of Jesse Feliciano, who knocked him down, on Dec. 5.
"Carlos is very slick and capable of being an excellent offensive fighter," DiBella said. "He's got a good skill set and he's tricky. I don't think there is a welterweight out there who would view Quintana as a day at the beach.
"Quintana has wanted a big fight for a long time and Berto has been a guy who has always come up as a possibility because he views fighting Berto as a big fight. So I am happy for Carlos that he is getting the opportunity. I think Berto knows he has to focus on the fight and be at his best because he's fighting a damned good fighter," he said.
Although his bout won't be televised, welterweight prospect Antwone Smith (17-1, 9 KOs), 23, of Miami will appear on the undercard, DiBella said.
Now, after weeks of mourning and taking part in a relief mission to the ravaged Caribbean nation, Berto is ready to resume his career.
Berto (25-0, 19 KOs) will make his fourth title defense against former titleholder Carlos Quintana (27-2, 21 KOs) of Puerto Rico at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla., on April 10 in the main event of an HBO "World Championship Boxing" card, promoter Lou DiBella told ESPN.com on Wednesday.
A news conference to announce the card, from which a portion of the proceeds will go to benefit Haitian relief, is scheduled for March 3 at the Fontainebleau South Beach Hotel in Miami Beach.
"Andre is energized and ready to fight again," DiBella said. "The working title of the card is 'Fighting for Haiti.' There will be a lot of charitable elements to the event."
DiBella said there would also be appearances by celebrities and musical acts to help raise money for Haitian relief.
Berto's parents are from Haiti, and although the 26-year-old was born in the United States and raised in Winter Haven, Fla., he represented Haiti in the 2004 Olympic Games.
In the televised co-feature, light heavyweight titlist Tavoris Cloud (20-0, 18 KOs) will make his first defense against mandatory challenger and former champion Glen Johnson (50-13-2, 34 KOs), who is also from South Florida.
"Cloud and Johnson, stylistically, can't miss," DiBella said.
Quintana is no Mosley, but he is an experienced and accomplished pro. He's also a southpaw who will have a slight height advantage against Berto.
"Obviously, Mosley being the huge name that he is presented a big opportunity for Andre, but I believe this is a good test for him," said DiBella, who promotes Berto and Quintana. "He is fighting a guy who is 1-1 with Paul Williams and who is clearly one of the 10 best welterweights in the world. Quintana is an excellent fighter. This fight is no walk in the park. People want to see Berto with a real quality welterweight. This guy is a real quality welterweight. It's a difficult fight. Quintana is a tough fighter. Just ask Paul Williams."
In February 2008, Quintana, 33, upset Williams to claim a clear decision and a welterweight title. In the rematch four months later, Williams, who is regarded as one of the best fighters in the world pound-for-pound, regained his belt via first-round knockout.
Since the loss, Quintana has won two bouts in a row, most recently a cut-induced, third-round TKO of Jesse Feliciano, who knocked him down, on Dec. 5.
"Carlos is very slick and capable of being an excellent offensive fighter," DiBella said. "He's got a good skill set and he's tricky. I don't think there is a welterweight out there who would view Quintana as a day at the beach.
"Quintana has wanted a big fight for a long time and Berto has been a guy who has always come up as a possibility because he views fighting Berto as a big fight. So I am happy for Carlos that he is getting the opportunity. I think Berto knows he has to focus on the fight and be at his best because he's fighting a damned good fighter," he said.
Although his bout won't be televised, welterweight prospect Antwone Smith (17-1, 9 KOs), 23, of Miami will appear on the undercard, DiBella said.
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