Andre Mike Berto
(born September 7, 1983) is a Haitian American professional boxer, who represented Haiti at the 2004 Summer Olympics. On June 21, 2008, Berto became the WBC welterweight champion by defeating Miguel Rodriguez by seventh round technical knockout.
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ANDRE BERTO TICKETS
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Personal life
Raised one of seven children in
Winter Haven, Florida, Berto was introduced to boxing by his father Dieuseul, who competed professionally in
mixed martial arts and taught the sport at a school in Winter Haven. For Berto, the sport of boxing became a solace to stay out of trouble. His brother,
James Edson Berto, is a professional mixed martial artist. Berto is often called "Mike", his middle name.
[1]
Amateur career
As an amateur, Berto won a bronze medal in the 2003 World Amateur Championships. He was also a two-time
National Golden Gloves champion, a two-time National
PAL champion, a three-time U.S. amateur championship medalist, and also won 22 state titles in Florida.
2004 Olympics
Berto was an odds-on favorite to breeze through the 2004 Olympic Trials and qualify as a member of the US Olympic boxing squad. Those dreams were dashed in the opening round of the trials, when he was disqualified for throwing Juan McPherson to the canvas. Berto was winning the fight, before McPherson bumped into him before being pushed to the canvas, and was deemed in no condition to continue. The act was ruled a flagrant foul, and Berto was disqualified. A protest was ruled in his favor, as he was declared the winner and advanced to the next round. Berto won that bout as well and prepared for the finals before a follow-up meeting the night before reverted back to the initial ruling, eliminating Berto from the tournament. Because his parents emigrated from Haiti, Berto was able to keep his Olympic hopes alive, qualifying for Team Haiti, and subsequently granted Haitian citizenship alongside his American nationality, an exception the island country awarded the Olympian.
[2] Berto lost in the first-round to
Xavier Noel of
France.
Professional career
from December 2004 to October 2006, Berto won 15 fights, with 13 coming by way of knockout. On December 12, 2006, at the
Alltel Arena in
North Little Rock, Arkansas, Berto stepped up in competition and fought Miguel Figueroa. Berto put together a one-sided destruction of Figueroa, eventually forcing the referee to stop the fight in round six. He was named
ESPN.com’s 2006 Prospect of the Year. His next fight took place on February 17, 2007, at the
Hammerstein Ballroom in
New York City, New York, against
Norberto Bravo of
The Contender
. Berto defeated Bravo by first round technical knockout after Bravo was knocked down three times, triggering the three knockdown rule. On May 19, 2007, Berto defeated Martinus Clay by seventh round technical knockout.
[3]
On July 27, 2007, at the
City Center in
Saratoga Springs, New York. Berto fought
Cosme Rivera. Berto was in full control until he was down for the first time in his career in round six. He was able to recover and open up a bad cut over Rivera's right eye in the seventh round. Rivera stood his ground in the remaining rounds to test Berto, but Berto won by unanimous decision.
[4]
On September 29, 2007, at
Boardwalk Hall in
Atlantic City, New Jersey, Berto defeated
David Estrada by eleventh round technical knockout to win the
NABF welterweight title. Rounds three and eight were described by BoxingScene.com as "round of the year" candidates as both men went toe-to-toe with flush power shots. The end came when Berto dropped Estrada with an uppercut that was followed up by a huge right hand. Estrada made it to his feet, but could not defend himself as Berto attacked with more damaging shots that prompted the referee to jump in and stop the fight.
[5]
On February 9, 2008, at the
Pechanga Resort & Casino in
Temecula, California, Berto fought Michael Trabant in his first defense of the NABF welterweight title. Trabant stayed on the defensive for the entire fight with Berto landing a variety of punches from all angles. In the fifth and sixth rounds, Trabant was barely able to land a single punch, as he was frequently taking punches to the head. Trabant told the referee after round six that he was no longer willing to continue with the fight. It was the first time that Trabant had ever been stopped.
[6]
WBC welterweight title
On June 21, 2008, Berto captured the vacant
WBC welterweight title by defeating Miguel Rodriguez in the seventh round by technical knockout at the
FedEx Forum in
Memphis, Tennessee. Berto knocked Rodriguez down twice in the seventh round, before the referee stopped the bout with 47 second left as Berto continually hurt Rodriguez with right hands.
[7] Berto's first title defense of the WBC welterweight title occurred on September 28, 2008, at the
Home Depot Center in
Carson, California against
Steve Forbes. Berto consistently outpunched Forbes, winning the fight by unanimous decision with scores of 118–109 on two of the scorecards and 116–111 on the third scorecard.
[8] Berto made the second defense of his title on
January 17,
2009, at the
Beau Rivage in
Biloxi, Mississippi against former
WBA welterweight champion
Luis Collazo. Berto got off to a rough start as he was hurt in the first round and had a point deducted in the fourth round for holding Collazo's arm. In round seven, Berto opened a cut over the left eye of Collazo. Berto managed a comeback with a solid effort in the last two rounds as Collazo appeared tired in the end of the fight. Berto won the fight by unanimous decision with scores of 114–113 on two of the scorecards and 116–111 on the third scorecard. On Friday 5th June Berto fought Juan Urango for the WBC welterweight title and beat Urango in a unanimous decision.
[9]
References
- Andre Berto: New Star in Town
- Andre Berto Prepares For Phase Two of His Career
- Andre Berto Bio
- Andre Berto Gets Off The Deck To Beat Rivera
- Andre Berto Stop David Estrada in a Thriller
- Andre Berto Batters Michel Trabant in Six
- Berto blasts through Rodriguez to claim WBC welterweight belt
- Berto retains WBC welterweight crown over Forbes
- Berto barely beats Collazo to keep WBC welterweight title