(Winter Haven, Fla.) – Welterweight prospect Andre Berto (Winter Haven, Fla.) had been preparing for an HBO match-up with Ben Tackie (Bronx, N.Y./Ghana). Yet problems with Tackie’s visa have caused a late opponent change. He will now face Contender semifinalist Norberto “Nito” Bravo (Tucson, Ariz.) in a 10-round welterweight match-up, February 17 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, N.Y. on HBO’s Boxing After Dark..
The welterweight battle will be Berto’s second straight fight on HBO following on a December 9 dismantling of Miguel Figueroa on HBO’s World Championship Boxing. The victory brought Berto’s record to a perfect 16-0 with 14 KOs, and he looks to continue that winning streak on HBO’s airwaves on February 17. Bravo advanced to the semifinals of ESPN’s The Contender before losing to eventual champion, Grady Brewer.
Despite the late change in opponent, Berto plans to put on another masterful performance in his first fight of 2007. “I was looking forward to Ben Tackie, but this fight is just as important to me now that it will be Norberto Bravo, and I still plan on getting 2007 off to a great start by putting on a good show,” Berto said.
Although Berto has been focused on his upcoming fight, he has planned time for his community prior to leaving for the Big Apple. He will host several youngsters from the Citrus Center Boys and Girls Club at the Winter Haven PAL Boxing Gym on February 13. The event will be the first of what Berto believes will be an ongoing relationship with the Citrus Center Boys and Girls Club. The 23-year-old believes that the Boys Club played a critical role in his upbringing and he wants to ensure the youth in his community have the same opportunities he enjoyed as a child.
In addition to the personal meet and greet, Berto will be auctioning autographed gloves from his February 17th fight on www.andreberto.com with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the Citrus Center Boys and Girls Club.
In addition to earning ESPN.com’s 2006 Prospect of the Year honors, Sports Illustrated recently named Berto to their Best Six Boxers You’ve Never Heard of list following a stellar seven knockout year. The HBO after Dark showcase will be Berto’s first fight of 2007. Berto’s fight with Bravo will lead off HBO’s Boxing After Dark broadcast at 9:45 p.m. EST live from New York.