Winter Haven, Fla. – WBC Welterweight World Champion Andre Berto (Winter Haven, Fla.) (22-0, 19 KOs) will take the ring for his first title defense on September 27, facing former World Champion Steve “Two Pounds” Forbes (Las Vegas, Nev.) (33-6, 9 KOs). The 12-round welterweight title bout will be contested at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., the site of Forbes’ recent match-up with Oscar de la Hoya..
The welterweight clash, which highlights the under card of Shane Mosley and Ricardo Mayorga’s junior middleweight match-up, will be broadcast on HBO’s World Championship Boxing.
“I feel good, I’m confident. I’m in tremendous shape and ready to turn in a good performance on September 27,” Berto said. “Fans can expect the same Andre Berto speed and power, and I’ve been bringing in smaller guys and slick boxers. We are working on speed and boxing for this fight.”
The Florida native opened training camp on August 19 in his hometown of Winter Haven. He and trainer Tony Morgan made the decision to conduct his training camp in central Florida, and he is preparing for the fight at the Winter Haven Police Athletic League gym, the same facility he trained in as an amateur. His Winter Haven training camps have become popular with fellow fighters, including Curtis Stevens and Andre Dirrell. Rising middleweight prospect Daniel Jacobs is currently training for his upcoming fight in the small Florida town as well.
Berto won his first major world title in June with a seventh round technical knockout victory over Miguel Angel Rodriguez, claiming the belt vacated by Floyd Mayweather, Jr.’s retirement. The win marked Berto’s 17th knockout in his last 18 fights, and adds a second belt to his NABF title.
Forbes, a former super featherweight champion, has moved up the scale over his 12-year career, and went the distance with De la Hoya in his last fight on May 5. Known for his slick boxing style, Forbes will provide a new challenge for Berto. The 31-year-old veteran has never been stopped, but the same statistic didn’t deter Berto from becoming the first to knockout his two recent opponents.
The fight will be Berto’s first in the Los Angeles area, but he has spent a great deal of time in the area and looks forward to performing in front of his Southern California fans. Tickets are currently on sale through Ticketmaster and the Home Depot Center box office and range from $50 to $350.
PRESCOTT KO’S TRAINER – SAYS KHAN IS NEXT
Breidis Prescott jetted into the UK last night after breaking the finger of one of his coaches during his final training sessions.
The Colombian hot shot has knocked out 17 of his 19 victims – and his reign of terror now extends to his own gym.
“I was throwing my punches with lots of speed and power and it was all coming together nicely when I let go a big right hand to finish and the next thing I know is my trainer is on the floor in agony,” said Prescott who takes on Khan this Saturday at the M.E.N Arena.
“We took him straight to hospital and the doctor said he has a fracture in his middle finger bone. It’s not good because he was due to fly with me to England but will now come in later this week. I have my other trainer with me working on the pads until the fight with Khan. This just shows the power I have and what I will do to Khan.”
The Colombian performed a media work out for the press today in Manchester, and vowed to KO unbeaten Khan in just four rounds.
“That’s all it will take,” boasted Prescott. “It’s going to be another win for me and a very painful night for Khan.
“This is my chance to secure my legacy, and the future of my family back home.
“Khan is a very good fighter but he won’t know how to handle my power.”
Hayemaker hold press conference to announce Haye at the O2
David ‘The Hayemaker’ Haye’s eagerly-awaited heavyweight debut will be officially announced on Wednesday, September 3rd at Greenwich’s magnificent O2 Arena.
The Hayemaker Boxing press conference – open to both the press and any members of the public wishing to attend – will commence from 11.30 AM. Present at the conference will be former undisputed world cruiserweight champion David Haye, as well as head Hayemaker honchos Adam Booth and David Coldwell.
Haye’s heavyweight curtain raiser will be screened live and exclusively by Setanta Sports and will mark the second of Hayemaker Boxing’s 2008 promotions.
The inaugural promotion arrives on September 20 in Sheffield, when Ryan Rhodes headlines ‘The Rhodes-show’ in a defence of his British light-middleweight title against Scotland’s Jamie Coyle. An intriguing chief support contest sees the pairing of featherweight contenders and Hayemaker team-mates Derry Mathews and Martin Lindsay in a British title eliminator.