Reigning WBC Welterweight World Champion Andre Berto (Winter Haven, Fla.) made his first successful title defense on Saturday, winning a unanimous 12-round decision over former World Champion Steve “Two Pounds” Forbes at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The fight opened with an entertaining first round as both boxers looked to establish the early momentum. The second round was a chess match between the young, hungry Berto and the crafty veteran Forbes. Yet Berto grabbed control in the third and would not relinquish it throughout the fight. He found his comfort zone in the fifth round, landing an astonishing 50% of his power shots to connect with 19 punches..
He continued to dominate through the next three rounds, more than doubling Forbes’ output. His efforts culminated in the eighth round with a thundering uppercut to send Forbes’ mouthpiece flying into the lights at the Home Depot Center. The 25-year-old champion went on to win a unanimous victory with two judges favoring Berto by an overwhelming 118-109 margin and a single judge scoring the fight, 116-111.
“It was a good fight tonight,” Berto said. “I have much respect for Stevie Forbes. He’s been in the game a long time and I learned a lot from him tonight. He can handle a punch and keep ticking.”
Berto came into the bout knowing that he was stepping in the ring with a slick fighter and a different style than he was used to seeing, but adjusted his game plan to his opponent. “I think I showed a lot of versatility tonight. I think I showed that I can punch and at the same time, I can box,” he said. “I went to class today and I learned a lot. I appreciate Steve, he taught me a lot tonight.”
The 2004 Olympian was taken a full 12 rounds for the first time, but maintained his strength throughout the contest. The co-feature with Shane Mosley’s fight with Ricardo Mayorga, the Berto-Forbes match-up took place in front of 5,798 enthusiastic fans at the Home Depot Center. Forbes was competing for the second straight time at the outdoor venue, following his May match-up with Oscar de la Hoya.
The fight will be Berto’s final of 2008 as the reigning World Champion weighs his options in the stacked welterweight division. “I’m definitely going to come back strong at the top of 2009 and just come harder and stronger. I’m hungry and I’m coming so I’m going to keep working and keep learning,” Berto said.
The victory moves Berto’s record to an unblemished 23-0 with 19 KOs and marks his first defense of the WBC Welterweight title he won with a seventh round TKO over Miguel Angel Rodriguez in June.
Andre Berto is the World Boxing Council Welterweight World Champion and maintains a perfect 23-0 record as a professional. An accomplished amateur with numerous national titles, Berto represented Haiti in the 2004 Olympic Games. A Haitian-American, Berto comes from a fighting family. His father, Dieusuel competed as an Ultimate Fighter before a devastating car crash ended his career and brother Edson and sister Revelina are professional MMA fighters.
FIGHTERS WANT MALONEY CASH AND THE FANS CAN GIVE IT TO THEM
FRANK MALONEY is set to splash the cash handing a £500 bonus to the ‘Boxer of the Night’ on each of his shows.
The winner will be decided by ringside fans as well as tv fans that will be able to vote by text, logging on to www.frankmaloney.com or by posting a coupon from the show’s programme.
And big-hearted FTM plan a £2000 prize to the victor in their ‘Boxer of the Year’ competition which will run until the end of the current season in July 2009.
Maloney launches his latest brainchild at York Hall, Bethnal Green on October 17 when Ian Napa challenges Carmelo Ballone for the European bantamweight title.
Any boxer on the bill can win the money and there of plenty of all action brawlers besides Napa who will fancy topping up their bank balances next month with a knockout performance.
Number 3 ranked WBC light-welterweight contender Ajose Olusegun, Graham Earl, Henry Castle and heavyweight rookies Tom Dallas, Larry ‘The War Machine’ Olubamiwo and David Howe all feature on the star studded night.
Maloney’s innovation is another FTM first and he explained: “Boxers always want to earn more money and here is a great chance to top up their purses.
“It also involves fans who can help the most impressive boxer get the extra reward he will no doubt richly deserve.
“I’m sure it will cause plenty of debate because boxing is such a subjective sport.
“York Hall is the spiritual home of British boxing and there couldn’t be a better place to launch this new concept.”
Full rules and conditions for the competition that will become the talk of Brit boxing will be released next month on www.frankmaloney.com and the programme at York Hall on October 17.
Tickets for the show called ‘Dapa Napa’ are available from www.frankmaloney.com or 0871 226 1508
Al Bernstein Boxing Channel to Cover Live Pre & Post Dawson/Tarver Fight
Weigh-in Also Broadcast LIVE Over iBN Sports Network
Foothill Ranch, Calif. – September 29, 2008 – iBN Sports, a premier Internet-based broadcast sports television network announced that its Al Bernstein Channel (ABBC) will provide live weigh-in along with pre and post fight coverage of the October 11th light-heavyweight title match between Chad Dawson and Antonio Tarver from the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Al Bernstein and the iBN Sports team will be on hand to cover the weigh-in on October 10th, will also do reports before the match on October 11th and provide full coverage of the post fight press conference. All of this can be seen at www.ibnsports.com.
The Dawson/Tarver coverage represents the first in a series of up to the minute pre and post coverage of premiere matches that the ABBC will offer to fans throughout 2008. The lineup will include Kelly Pavlik vs. Bernard Hopkins on October 18th, Vic Darchinyan vs. Christian Mijares on November 1st, Ricky Hatton vs. Paulie Malinaggi on November 22nd, and finally Oscar DeLaHoya vs. Manny Pacquiao on December 6th. All broadcasts can be viewed live at www.ibnsports.com
“This will be the first time in years that this kind of LIVE coverage will be been done at major boxing matches,” said Bernstein. “I was an integral part of the live ESPN coverage for these kinds of matches for many years, and I know it provides fans with information that really helps them enjoy big boxing matches. Boxing fans have been underserved in recent years, but not anymore. We will give them the live pre and post fight coverage that will enhance their enjoyment of the fights. iBN Sports and the ABBC will be there to capture these exciting and interesting moments,” said Bernstein.
“The iBN Sports team is truly excited by this venture with Al,” said John Mudge, CEO of iBN Sports. “Al brings so much knowledge, energy and professional weight to everything he does. We believe this channel is unique and will provide an insider’s perspective that only someone like Al can bring. Our fans will benefit from his indomitable passion, keen insight, and breadth of knowledge for the sport and we are extremely proud of this association with the ABBC,” said Mudge.