By Jason Bey: Ladies and gentleman, what we have here are two hungry young lions in 27 yr. old WBC Welterweight Champion Andre Berto and 20 yr. old NABF Welterweight and WBC Silver Super Welterweight Champion Saul Alvarez. I think their promotional companies would have no problem getting boxing fans to come to the zoo if these young lions were let out the cage on one another.
Both are considered to be the future of professional boxing and both are undefeated. After fighting their way to the top they are on the cusp of garnering a fight with the big names in boxing and cementing their place in the sport. The only hitch is actually getting one of those big names to sign the contract and get in the ring with them. Berto did have a scheduled fight with Sugar Shane Mosley get canceled due to the tragic aftermath of the 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti, Berto’s native homeland. I commend Andre for his actions during and after the tragedy, but now I fear that it will be very difficult to get another opportunity like that again.
Andre Berto is promoted by Lou Dibella and advised by Al Haymon, while Alvarez is a Golden Boy fighter. Haymon is also advisor to Golden Boy affiliate Floyd Mayweather. Considering Al Haymon’s relationship with Berto and Golden Boy, it should be easy to put together a king maker type event for the two young superstars to engage in. Boxing needs events like this and both fighters need both a big fight and more recognition too expand their fan bases. This could be the answer. If Top Rank only wants to showcase in house boxing matches and refuses to pit it’s fighters against the best up and coming fighters out of other promotions, then Golden Boy and Dibella promotions can lead by example and show the fans how good boxing can really be, when fighters are willing to fight any and everybody. I know it is asking a lot of the young champs to put it all on the line against another young star, instead of a bigger fight with a more established name in the game but hey, no guts, no glory right. Plus I think if promoted right, the winner will be automatically catapulted into the dream match they’ve been working so hard for.
“El Canelo” as Alvarez is affectionately known as in Mexico already has a cult following in there. He already sells out 10,000 seat venues in Mexico and is often compared to the regions most beloved boxer, the great Julio Cesar Chavez. It’s no secret that if you get “El Canelo” in the ring with the right counterpart, willing to meet Alvarez in his own back yard, the event could easily have a record setting live attendance well over 50,000 people. I think these two fighters are perfect for one another to meet up at this particular time because they seem to have a lot in common.The red headed Mexican champion is 5’9, with a 73’ reach and ample power that has enabled him to amass 35-0-1, 26 by knockout.
The “Beast”(Berto) may not have the following here in the states that Alvarez has in Mexico but he is a legitimate up and coming superstar. However he has been labeled untested by some boxing insiders, and avoided thus far by fighters with bigger names. Personally I think Andre is always in exciting fights and I look forward to his performances. He shows improved power and speed each time he comes out and seems to be putting everything together with more and more confidence. Andre is 5’8, with a 72‘ reach. Berto is 27-0 with 21 K.O.s
Since both of these young lions will find it difficult to get fighters like Miguel Cotto and Shane Mosley to fight them, I think the best thing for their promotions to do is to come together and put a fight on between the two cubs to see who is the next leader of the pride. The winner will have a very big win under his belt and a legitimate claim to challenge a bigger name in the sport. Most importantly boxing fans will get to witness two hungry lions at very similar stages in their careers get it on, which is something that boxing needs right now. Who knows, the fight might be so competitive that a classic rivalry could be born, making way for a big rematch and super paydays for them later on down the road!