Andre Berto: Not Spectacular, But Gets Job Done

By Lee Payton

Photo © Marty Rosengarten / Ringsidephotos.com

Welterweight contender, Andre Berto, won a unanimous decision over tough Juan Urango last night with superior speed, movement and some other less than stirring tactics that sucked much of the drama out of what looked to be a fun match-up.

He won, but compared to his last fight against another southpaw, Luis Collazo, it was a dull 12 rounds.

Despite all of his advantages, Berto seemed content to lay back, explode with a right hand and then fall into a clinch for most of the evening. When referee Tommy Kimmons let him know he was going to take a point for excessive holding, he chose to run around and pot-shot. He won, and that's about it.

We've seen Berto as a speedy offensive force, a gutty warrior, an inside counterpuncher, and now we know he can stink it up if wants to. So what kind of fighter is he exactly?

To me, it's all about his blinding speed. Without it, he becomes merely a solid contender who could never threaten the top level. Solid in most departments, special in none.

They say "speed kills". Well, in Berto's case "speed spoils" is probably more accurate. He's not the type of fighter who will use his quickness to overwhelm top opposition, but he does know how to keep the other guy from having things his way most of the time.

Maybe that's enough, for now, but what happens when he steps up?

The guys on top at 147 aren't exactly tortoises. As it stands, you pretty much have to favour the elite of the division over Berto, though I feel like his natural athleticism would make all those proven hands less than comfortable.

Based purely on styles, perhaps his best chance would be against Miguel Cotto. He has a significant edge in quickness, especially in the feet, and he can counter on the inside with some dangerous looking stuff, including a right uppercut that would likely find it's way to the Puerto Rican's jaw. Of course, Cotto can change things with a few well-placed whacks to the ribs.

I can see why this most recent performance could turn fans off. Yeah, the fight was a total bore, and maybe he's been a little over-hyped, but the kid has a few things going for him and there's no way fans should give up on him just yet.

He was in with a really tough, dangerous guy, who just keeps on coming. It's not the first time Urango has convinced a more celebrated fighter to just get the 'W' and move on. A prime Ricky Hatton also decided to take the safe route once he realized Urango wasn't going anywhere. It should also be pointed out that he was following his trainer's instructions, which is what the fighter is supposed to do.

Perhaps the war with Collazo raised some impossible expectations. I don't know how many more pier 6 brawls he wants to be in. Actually, you may recall that after a few rounds, a point was deducted from Berto for holding. From there, he was basically forced to fight. Perhaps referee Keith Hughes deserves much of the credit for what turned into a great fight. I wish Tommy Kimmons had done the same, as it may have brought out the best in the young man, rather than the cautious fighter we saw.

I still remember how deep he dug in the final round of the Collazo fight. You can't fake guts. It seems like we learn something new about him every time out. I'll be watching to see what he does next.

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Live Blog: Berto vs Urango, Angulo vs Cintron

Welcome to The Boxing Bulletin's live blog coverage of tonight's HBO Bad double-header.

Coverage will start at 9:45 PM EST.

Up first: Alfredo Angulo (15-0) vs Kermit Cintron (30-2-1) ---- 12 rounds at 154 Main Event: Andre Berto (24-0) vs Juan Urango (21-1-1) ---- 12 rounds at 147 If you are here early, check out Michael Nelson's preview of tonight's fights: Berto vs Urango & Angulo vs Cintron Previews

Refresh this page often as updates will be frequent 9:30... 15 minutes until show time. Updates will start at 9:45. 9:47... Boxing After Dark is on the air. The venue is the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Bob Papa, Lennox Lewis and Max Kellerman will be calling the action. 9:49... Right now they are showing some highlights of Angulo from HBO's Ring Life. I assume the fighters will be making their way to the ring shortly. 9:51... Angulo didn't start fighting until he was 16. He preferred baseball as a kid. The switch in interests not surprisingly didn't please his mother. 9:56... Fight night weights according to HBO's unofficial scales -- Angulo is 159 and Cintron 169. 9:57... Cintron is making his way to the ring. 9:58... Angulo is on his way in. 9;59... According to Bob Papa and Lennox Lewis, there are rumors that Angulo was sick in the days leading up to the fight. He missed the press conference and was late getting into the event. 10:00... Jimmy Lennon Jr. with the intros. 10:01... Wearing gray trunks with red and white trim, with a record of 30-2-1 (27 KO)... Kermit Cintron. 10:02... Wearing black trunks with silver trim, with a record of 15-0 (12 KO)... Alfredo Angulo. 10:03... We are underway. 10:03... According to Bob Papa, Cintron claims to be in the best shape of his career. At 169 tonight, he's certainly bigger than he's ever been. Lennox says he likes the way Cintron is using his jab, but he'd like to see him step into it a little bit more. 10:05... "Measured approach from both." - Papa. Both using their jab. There was one exchange at the 1:30 mark, where they both threw hooks. Cintron landed a jab, and Angulo countered with a hard right hand. About 50 seconds to go in the round. 10:06... Angulo with a hard right hand that backs up Cintron. He's got Kermit retreating a little bit here as the round comes to a close. Cintron with a jab as he backs away. Round 1 is in the books. 10:06... Angulo's corner is telling him to throw the uppercut. Cintron's corner... "Stay busy with the jab, but feint him." 10:07... Harold's got it 1-0 for Cintron. I'd give it to Angulo. 10:07... Kellerman comments that boxing to Angulo is second nature, while Cintron seems to have to think for a second before he makes his move. 10:08... Cintron's doing well early in the 2nd. He also had a good start to the first. Angulo is steadily coming forward though. 10:10... Cintron is using his jab. Angulo with the guard up, follows, also flicking out his jab and trying to follow up with power shots. He lands a nice hook to the body. Angulo just landed a nice right hand over the top with about 20 seconds left. Cintron is standing his ground though, and he lands a nice hook. Angulo comes back and whacks the body as Cintron backs away. Good round. Good fight so far. 10:11... "jab, jab, straight right hand." - Angulo's corner. 10:12... Cintron is circling to his left, flicking the jab out. Angulo coming forward, misses with a hook. Cintron stops and fires off a combo, but Angulo blocks most of it. Angulo steadily keeps coming forward, but Cintron is landing the clean shots so far. 10:14... Lennox likes what he sees from Cintron. Cintron lands a nice left hook that got Angulo's attention with about 45 seconds left in the round. Cintron lands a nice right between the guard. Good stuff from Kermit here. Angulo keeps coming though. There's the bell. Very good round for Cintron. 10:14... Angulo's corner is telling him he's got to throw more punches and move his head. 10:15... Harold has it 3-0 for Kermit. 10:15... Kermit with a chopping right in close. Lennox comments that Cintron looks nice and relaxed. Kermit working the jab, moving backwards and to his left. Angulo's looking a bit slow in there. Makes you wonder if he really might be a little sick. 10:16... Angulo's hurt. Kermit catches him with a big right hand. Angulo's backing away. Kermit composed here as he goes after him. I think Angulo's got his legs though. 1:30 to go in the round. Nice combo by Cintron. 10:18... 1:00 left in round 4. Been a big round for Kermit so far. Angulo is following him around, throwing one shot at a time and eating counters. Angulo with a body shot on the belt line and is cautioned for it. Kermit with a nice right hand. Lennox wonders how many of those Angulo can take. There's the bell ending another good round for Cintron. 10:18... Cintron has a nick over his left eye just below the eyebrow. His corner tells him it's nothing and not to worry about it. 10:19... 4-0 on Harold's card. 10:20... Lennox comments that Angulo is just pawing with his left jab, which allows Cintron to counter with his right hand. Lennox says he needs to throw some double jabs on the way in. Cintron with a nice counter right, and Angulo takes it and keeps pressing. Nice jab from Cintron. Angulo with a chopping right and then missing with a right. 10:22... Angulo is moving forward all the time, but Cintron is looking very comfy. A good exchange there where they both threw power shots. Papa comments that Cintron's getting a little lazy with the jab. There's the bell. 10:23... 4-1 on Harold's card. He gave the 5th to Angulo. 10:23... The 5th was a better round for Angulo. Cintron didn't really use his jab as effectively as he had in the first few. 10:25... Angulo coming forward behind the jab. Cintron backing up, but he stops and throws a shot to the body before moving again. Kellerman again comments that Angulo didn't look good at the weigh-in. 10:25... Not too much happening other than Angulo following Cintron around, and getting tagged by counters. 10:26... Round 6 is done. Angulo really needs to do something big to turn this around. He's looking sluggish and well beaten so far. 10:27... 5-1 on Harold's card. "I love what Kermit's doing with that jab." 10:28... Full credit to Cintron for the disciplined job he's doing in there, but Angulo really does look poor. 10:30... Angulo keeps walking forward though. He lands a decent right hand with Kermit along the ropes with 1:20 left in the round. Cintron took it well though. Cintron backing up a bit and now he clinches. Angulo back on the attack. He switches southpaw as he comes forward. "He's trying everything." Lennox. He catches Cintron with a hook. Angulo showing a lot more urgency now and he's having more success. He catches Cintron with a right hand along the ropes, but Cintron roars back with a combo. There's the bell. 10:31... 6-1 on Harold's card. I think Angulo got that one though. 10:31... Kellerman says being generous Angulo may have won 3 rounds. 10:32.. Angulo pressing to start the round. He digs a hook to the body with Cintron along the ropes, and Kermit gets out of there. Not a good spot for him. Angulo pressing with the same kind of urgency he showed late in the last round, but eats a right hand as he comes forward. 10:34... 1:30 to go in round 8. Angulo with a right hand that lands. Cintron doing a good job though of standing his ground when he has to and countering effectively. Lennox comments that both fighters are a bit weary. Angulo pressing Cintron here along the ropes. The ref calls time with 11 seconds left in the round. A bit of loose tape on Angulo's glove. There's the bell. 10:35... Angulo's corner telling him he's losing the fight and needs to press. 10:35... Harold has it 6-2 now. 10:37... Angulo coming forward, Cintron circling to his left. Cintron with a combo, both were blocked though. Cintron now flicking the jab. Angulo coming forward, trying to work the body. Kellerman comments that he's now making a concerted effort to go downstairs. 10:38... 1 minute left in the 9th. Angulo with a left to the body and Cintron ties him up. Cintron flicking out the jab, now slips away to this right. Angulo not as active as he was in the previous round. There's the bell. We're done 9. 10:39... Round 10 delayed slightly due to the tape on Angulo's gloves. Harold has it 6-3. 10:40... Harold comments that Cintron's mouth is wide open and he's looking tired. 10:40... Angulo's corner told him between rounds that he needed a knockout to win. 10:41... Angulo is plugging away. Cintron throwing the jab. Both fighters are looking tired. 10:42... Lennox comments that Cintron's hands are coming down a bit. He's tired, but so is Angulo. Cintron with a little hook on the inside. Angulo fighting out of the southpaw stance again. He lands a hook to the body. Cintron flicking the jab and on the move. Angulo with a right hand over the top. He lands another decent right. Cintron backing away here. There's the bell. 10:43... This is the first time Angulo's gone past 10. 10:43... Harold now has it 6-4. 10:45... Cintron with a jab, and a right hand, and then ties Angulo up. Angulo with a long right hand over the top that lands. Cintron dances away to his left, and now to his right. Angulo comes forward and Cintron ties him up. Kellerman comments that even though Angulo's coming on a little over the last couple rounds, Cintron has remained focused and hasn't let the fight get away from him. 10:46... Cintron puts his shoulder into Angulo's chest and holds him. Angulo didn't appreciate it. Angulo pressing forward, Cintron flicking the jab out. Angulo with a right hand. Cintron backing away constantly now, but I don't know if Angulo has the energy to do anything about it. Angulo with a hook to the body. There's the bell. 10:47... "Forget the body, go for the top. This is the last round. Put everything into it." - Angulo's corner. 10:47... "This is the last round, keep your hands up." - Cintron's corner. 10:47... Now 6-5 on Harold's card. 10:48... A tired looking Alfredo Angulo going after a tired looking Kermit Cintron here. He lands a hook to the body. Cintron grabs a hold of him. Angulo pushing forward. Cintron fires a left and backs away. Angulo just misses with a right hand and Cintron holds him again. 10:49... Angulo with a couple short shots in close. 1:30 to go. Angulo with a hard right hand. That looked like it hurt a bit. Cintron backing away. He tries to hold again. Angulo tries to fight through Cintron's clinches. 10:50... 1 minute to go. Cintron is warned for holding. "1 more time and I'll take a point." Angulo trying to pour it on. Cintron is looking completely spent as he backs away. Angulo with a hard right hand. Cintron backing away, flicking out the jab and fires a right hand. Angulo comes back with his own right, and he digs the body. Gutsy stuff from both fighters here. Cintron backing away but firing still. Angulo keeps pressing. There's the bell. Really great finish. 10:52... Harold has it 115-113 for Cintron. He gave Kermit the last one. 10:53... Jimmy Lennon Jr. with the scores. All 3 judges have it 116-112 for Kermit Cintron. 10:56... Cintron is now with Max Kellerman. "This is my best performance to date in my career. We had 8 weeks in training camp... I tell you what, I give credit to my team." 10:57... "Is this redemption for the Margarito fights?" - Kellerman. "No, not at all, the past is the past." 10:58... Cintron says he feels he can still fight at 147. 11:03... Kellerman is going over the welterweight picture while we wait for the fighters. 11:05... Berto is 155 tonight, while Urango is 150. 11:06... Urango is getting ready to make his entrance. 11:08... Berto is on the way in now. There are stairs leading from the dressing rooms to the arena, and Berto's just got to the bottom of them. 11:11... Jimmy Lennon Jr. with the intros for the main event. 11:11... The ref is Tommy Kimmons. 11:13... "The challenger on my right in the blue corner, wearing black trunks with multi-colored trim... his record stands at 21-1-1 (16 KO), moving up in weight... known as Iron Twins, Juan Urango." 11:13... "Wearing white trunks with black trim, with a record of 24-0-0 (19 KO), the undefeated Andre Berto." 11:14... Final instructions have been given. We're ready to get this one underway. 11:14... Papa comments that Urango's a natural righty, but just felt more comfortable boxing as a southpaw. 11:16... Urnago moving forward, with his head going from side to side, gloves up. Berto flicking the jab out, as he circles to his left. He jumps in, lands and holds. Cautious stuff to start from both fighters. We're about half way through round 1. 11:17... A small clash of heads. That's going to be a worry with the southpaw Urango moving forward. They exchange again, and another clash of heads. Urango edging forward. Berto with a jab, and a right. Not sure either landed though. Berto flicking the jab out and they clinch. So far it's looking like the mesh of styles might not be so great. Several clinches and a couple head clashes. There's the bell. 11:18... Berto's corner telling him when he uses the jab, slide over, wait for Urango to reach in and then counter. 11:18... 1-0 Berto on Harold's card. 11:19... Berto jumps in with a right hand, and then clinches. He's looking to beat Urango to the punch and tie him up in close. That's not going to make for pleasing action. 11:20... Berto landed a right hand, and Urango caught him with a right hook, and Berto stumbled a bit, but it looked like he got his foot tangled with Urango's. Some more clinching. Berto with a counter right, and Urango with a shot on the inside in response. 1:00 to go in the round. 11:21... The ref warns Berto that when he tells them to break, to let Urango go. There's another clinch, this time Urango has his arm wrapped around Berto. Berto with a clean right hand, and they clinch again. Berto with a combo just before the bell. 11:22... Two in the books. This is kind of messy stuff so far. 11:22... They clinch immediately to start the 3rd round. 11:24... 2-0 on Harold's card. More clinching. Urango comes forward with a lunging left hand that misses. He misses another one. More clinching. Berto now circles to his right, and slips underneath a hook from Urango. Another clinch. Urango misses with a hook. 1:30 to go in round 3. 11:26... Urango misses, and they get tied up again. Urango comes in, and their feet get tangled and he goes down. It's not a knock-down and the action resumes immediately. That's the second time their legs have got tangled like that, with Berto almost going down in round 1. Messy stuff. 10 seconds left in the round. Urango lunges in with his left and Berto easily makes him miss as he backs away. There's the bell. 11:26... Urango's corner is telling him he needs to lets his hands go on the inside. Berto's corner tells him, "Only hold for a split second, so he won't call that." 11:27... Harold has it 3-0. 11:27... "Juan Urango just has to get busy and punch on the inside." - Harold 11:28... Berto catches Urango with a hook on the way in. He's landing the clean shots here, although clean shots are less common than the clinches so far. Urango lands a hard left, and Berto with a hard right hand. A real good exchange there. About time we've seen one. 11:29... Berto with a right hand. He makes Urango miss, and lands another one. Nice stuff there from Berto. The gap in hand speed is huge. 11:30... Lennox comments that he doesn't like the way Berto throws his combos and then looks to hold. Nobody does, Lennox, but it's working for him. There's the bell to end round 4. 11:31... Round 5 underway. Harold has it 4-0. Kellerman has it a shut-out as well. 11:32... Berto on the move, Urango catches up to him, and Berto grabs him. He releases and catches Urango with a left. He then lands a shot to the body and holds again. I got to say I absolutely can't stand the hit and hold tactics of Berto tonight. I'm a fan of his and usually enjoy his fights, but this isn't good to watch. The ref from the Collazo fight warned him about it early, and we got a much better fight because of it. 11:33... Berto flicking the jab, and then lands a combo. Urango tries to counter, but is a little slow to respond. Berto moving away to his left, and Urango follows, only to be held again. Berto times Urango with a nice uppercut. Lennox says Berto should be pushing Urango back in close, rather than holding. Berto with a jab, and then slips away. There's the bell. 11:34... Urango's corner telling him to use the uppercut in close. 11:35... 5-0 on Harold's card. 11:36... Berto circling away, as Urango follows. Berto tries to time Urango with an uppercut but misses. Urango misses a hook and Berto moves away to his left. Berto with a jab. Urango misses with a hook. 2:00 to go in round 6. 11:37... Urango with a decent uppercut in close. Berto with a right hand, and they clinch. Berto with a right hand, and slips Urango's counter hook. Urango following, trying to get in close, but Berto stays out of range and fires a combo. The ref tells Urango to work out of it, after Berto ties him up. A good exchange, as Urango lands a hook, and Berto lands a right. 11:39... Round 7 is underway. 6-0 on Harold's card. 11:39... Urango backs Berto into the corner and throws a couple of hooks. Berto ties him up, and gets out of trouble when they re-start. Harold says he doesn't know why Berto holds so much, but it's up to Urango to do more when Berto grabs him. 11:40... Harold also commented that Berto is almost back handing his jab. 11:41... This is not thrilling to watch. 11:42... "Urango continues to plod forward, while Berto dances around." - Bob Papa 11:43... Round 8 underway. 7-0 on Harold's card. 11:44... Urango tries to get inside and rough Berto up, but Berto ties him up. "Berto's holding and doing a very effective job of holding." Lennox. 11:45... There's really not much to say about the action. It's dull. Berto's too quick, and when Urango does get close, Berto grabs him. 11:45... "For Urango, it's basically you can't hit what you can't catch." - Papa 11:48... Berto on the move. He goes left. He goes right. Urango follows. Berto going left again. Right again. Bob Papa asks Lennox what Urango can do to make a fight of this. Lennox has no answers. In fairness, there's not much he can do. Berto's too quick, and if he can hold in close all the time, there's little Urango can do other than get a bit dirty. Perhaps getting a bit dirty is the answer though. 11:49... The crowd is starting to boo. 11:50... In between all Berto's dancing about, Urango landed a few shots. 11:50... Urango's corner tells him that when Berto holds, he needs to throw the uppercut. 11:51... Round 10 is underway. Thankfully, only 3 to go. Harold has it 9-0. 11:52... Harold said Tommy Kimmons should have taken a point away from Berto by now. That would be nice. Kellerman says that the ref might do Berto a favor by taking a point away for the holding, since it would make Berto fight more and he's the better fighter. 11:54... The 10th round of this ordeal is over. Only 2 more to go. 11:55... 10-0 on Harold's card. 11:57... Berto landing some jabs. Moving. Lands a right. Urango misses a hook. Some nice moves there from Berto. If he did more of that, and less of the hit and hold, we might have had a better spectacle. Berto with a nice combo. He can fight when he wants to. He's on the move again. Urango following. They hold. "Let him go." Tommy Kimmons. Urango lands a shot just before the bell. 11:58... "Don't change anything." - Berto's corner 11:58... Urango's corner tells him he needs a knockout. 11:59... 10-1 on Harold's card. 11:59... I'm struggling to pay attention here. I'm tempted to flip the channel and watch some basketball and hockey highlights. I'll hang in there though. 1 more round to go. 12:02... Urango pressing and trying to land something big. Not having any luck, although he's landed to the body a bit. Time is running out though. It's not going to happen for Juan tonight. There's the bell. 12:02... Lennox just said that Berto's getting better with every fight. This was not an improvement in my book. 12:03... 118-110 on Harold's card. Berto is pleased with his work. He's chatting away to the cameras. He got the job done. He won easily, but this was not a crowd pleasing performance. This was really not much fun to watch. 12:04... Jimmy Lennon Jr. with the scores. 117-111, 118-110, 118-110 for Andre Berto. 12:07... Berto tells Max Kellerman he was trying to stick to the game plan and not get into his fighting mode. 12:09... "Kermit Cintron was the story of the night." - Max Kellerman 12:10... That's it from The Boxing Bulletin for tonight. We'll be back in a couple of weeks for the next live blog event when Miguel Cotto and Josh Clottey go at it.

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HBO Bad Predictions: Andre Berto vs Juan Urango; Alfredo Angulo vs Kermit Cintron

HBO BAD has a good looking double header tomorrow night. Alfredo Angulo takes on Kermit Cintron at 154 pounds in the opener, while the main event features Andre Berto going against Juan Urango at 147.

Make sure to check out The Boxing Bulletin's live blog coverage of this event.

The Boxing Bulletin writers give their predictions after the jump...

Andre Berto vs Juan Urango

Berto is going to war with Urango, no doubt about it. Andre's speed should dominate the exchanges, but Juan will rock him a few times. Urango showed some nice body work in his last fight. I can't recall anyone really attacking Berto downstairs. I'm not going to lie, I was one of Berto's biggest detractors, but he won me over during that war against Collazo. I still don't think he is in a class with the very best in the sport and I honestly doubt he ever will be. He is one of the most exciting fighters in the world, and I expect another sizzling battle, with Andre winning an 8-4 type decision. - Mark Lyons

Urango is a 140 title holder, but he'll be right at home at 147. This is going to be some fight. I think it will go the full 12 rounds, and whoever wins the decision will have worked hard for it. Berto will use his speed to beat Urango to the punch with right hand explosions, but I do have some concern for Andre in exchanges, where I think he'll get caught and hurt. The Colombian is underrated when it comes to counter-punching skill. It's always hard to go against an undefeated fighter. You tend to think his management team knows what they're doing, but it's clear that Berto doesn't like southpaws or body punches. I'll pick the upset. Urango take's Berto's 0 by close, gutty decision. - Lee Payton

Berto vs Urango should be a good fight. I think Berto’s speed will give Urango problems early on and he’ll win the majority of the early rounds before surviving a late surge by Urango to take the fight by a comfortable points decision. - Dave Oakes

Berto/Urango is interesting, and I consider Urango a fairly live dog. His body attack will be a stern test for Berto. But that can be somewhat neutralized by clinching on the inside, which Berto had no problem doing against Collazo before the referee forced him to fight in close by taking a point away. And in previous fights, Urango hasn't worked inside of the clinch as often as he should. I think the hand and foot speed advantages Berto have will get him a competitive decision in a fight where he has to survive some rough moments. - Michael Nelson Check out Michael's preview of the fight: Berto vs Urango & Angulo vs Cintron Previews

Berto by 117-111 scores. The rounds will be competitive, but I think Berto's edge in hand speed will allow him to consistently do just a little bit more. - Andrew Fruman

Alfredo Angulo vs Kermit Cintron

I don't expect Angulo to have any trouble with Cintron. He will punish him from the jump and score a stoppage within six rounds. Lets say four. - Mark Lyons

Cinton doesn't have the stuff to hang with Angulo. He has no defense and absolutely nothing inside. He's going to get ripped to shreds. I'll be surprised if he goes 6. - Lee Payton

I think Angulo v Cintron could be a bit of a war depending on Cintron's frame of mind. Angulo is open to straight rights and I believe that Cintron could hurt Angulo early with that punch. My main worry is that Cintron gets caught and decides he doesn’t fancy getting involved after that. I think that is probably the most likely scenario and think Angulo will win via late stoppage. I wouldn’t rule out a shock Cintron win though. - Dave Oakes

I agree with Mark and Lee about Angulo/Cintron. Angulo's too big, too strong, and too much of a body puncher for Cintron. Cintron will get his licks in en route to getting taken out within 5 rounds. Should be a nice appetizer before the main dish. - Michael Nelson

It's not impossible that Angulo walks into a big right hand early in the fight, but I think once Cintron feels Angulo's power, his determination to stand in and land one of those fight changing punches will drop dramatically. Angulo by stoppage inside of 8 is my pick. - Andrew Fruman

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Berto vs Urango & Angulo vs Cintron Previews

Next Saturday, quick handed Andre Berto will be putting his undefeated mark on the line against junior welterweight strap holder Juan Urango, while up and coming junior-middleweight bruiser Alredo Angulo takes on big hitting Kermit Cintron.

Michael Nelson has the preview of the HBO double-header.

Photo © Marty Rosengarten / Ringsidephotos.com

Andre Berto's path to his WBC title was paved with scrupulous care. In 2009, starting with a fight of the year candidate against Luis Collazo in January, the paving had become rocky and the navigation system had long indicated that he was on his own.

He has reached uncharted territory; the section of a promising fighter's career where true champions emerge. He is now facing world class opposition that know his weaknesses and have the talent to exploit them.

Still, the physically gifted Berto will enter the ring May 30th as more than a 3-1 favorite over the hard-nosed Juan Urango.

It's easy to see why. Stepping up to the Welterweight division, Urango won't enjoy the same size and strength advantages he had over most of his opponents at 140 pounds. And while his sturdy punch has produced some spectacular knockouts, it hasn't resulted in stoppages over the best fighters he has faced. The most accomplished opponent in his career, Ricky Hatton, earned a lopsided decision over him. In fact, three other southpaws - Eamonn Magee, Luis Collazo, and of course Manny Pacquiao - had far better success in the ring against the British star.

But there's a devastating aspect to Urango's game that makes those odds a bit misleading. It's why Ricky Hatton felt threatened enough to invoke the punch-and-grab spirit of John Ruiz for much of the second half of their bout, and it's why Herman Ngoudjo (who was also favored over him) took several deep, pained breaths during their encounter earlier this year.

Juan Urango is a crushing body puncher. And, well, Berto isn't fond of receiving body punches.

Andre looked worn in the late rounds against Collazo, a side product of Collazo's dedicated body work throughout. He had to dig deep to gut out the last round in an effort that won him a host of converts. Moreover, while the final stretch against Cosme Rivera a year and a half earlier was kinder to Berto, he spent the closing minute of the fight with his arms at his waist, smarting from a left hook to the liver. A series of uppercuts landing solidly against Rivera's bloodied mask made sure his discomfort went unnoticed by many observers. But make no mistake, he was hurt.

Urango's a far more resolute body puncher than either of those men. You have to wonder how Berto's going to fare in rounds six, seven, and eight if Urango's still in his face slamming right hooks into his rib cage.

Juan will likely have to eat a healthy diet of uppercuts to get a taste of Berto's ribs though. Andre shoots punches from underneath quickly and violently, jolting an opponent that gets too comfortable on the inside. How Urango fares in the early rounds against those uppercuts and the significant hand and foot speed disadvantage he'll find himself with may tell the story of the fight. Barring an early KO or knockdowns, he'll have to drop rounds in the first half of the fight against his more explosive foe. Fatigue and body punishment should start to slow Berto in the middle rounds, and Urango will have his best opportunity to snatch a hold of the fight thereafter.

Regardless, Berto will no doubt have his fill of tough southpaws after May 30th.

On the undercard, rugged KO artist Alfredo Angulo - who sports a dog collar into the ring - appears to have an easier assignment. His opponent Kermit Cintron lacks the durability and the unwavering focus of a Juan Urango, having been blown out twice by Antonio Margarito (who many have deemed to be a smaller, more accomplished version of Angulo) and essentially knocked out by southpaw cutie Sergio Gabriel Martinez in his last outing. The beneficiary of a very charitable count, Cintron came away from the latter with a disputed draw.

Meanwhile, Angulo is much like Urango; slow, but strong, with staunch punching power and a tenacious body attack. His last 11 opponents have folded under the duress of his pressure within the distance.

Cintron can hang his hat on the fact that he's no slouch when it comes to punching power himself. Boasting a 90% KO ratio, Kermit had an explosive right hand as a Welterweight. Whether he carries enough of that that power to Jr. Middleweight to stop a bull like Angulo is questionable, but he'll have his opportunities to make his right hand felt.

Otherwise, you don't have to wear a dog collar to sniff out a early to mid-rounds knockout victory for Alfredo.

e-mail Michael Nelson
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Welcome To The Hurt Business, Andre Berto

By Lee Payton

Luis Collazo let Andre Berto know what being a professional prizefighter is all about last night. For 12 rounds the two welterweight contenders exchanged painful blows in front of a lively crowd at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino, in Biloxi, Miss. The action was fast and fierce from the opening bell, to a finish that saw the best of both men emerge. One fighter confirmed what most of us already knew about him, while the other was forced into answering his toughest set of questions yet. Luis Collazo is back and Andre Berto has some tiger in him.


Entering the ring as a significant underdog did not seem to fluster the gutsy southpaw from Brooklyn, as he took his time in the opening stanza before pitching a sword-like straight left down the middle that sent his opponent falling backward into the ropes. He jumped on the youngster, but couldn't finish the job. After holding on to catch his legs and clear his head, Berto was able to stay out of trouble until he could get his own speedy licks in to close the round.

He seemed a little lost after 3 rounds. For the first time he wasn't able to overwhelm the man in front of him with his own impressive bursts of offense and athleticism, so he found himself getting roughed up on the inside whenever he stopped working. When the referee took a point away from Berto in the 4th round for excessive holding, it looked like the wheels were coming loose on the little hot rod, given that he also lost the round while searching for answers.

Despite all these new problems, the young man gutted out some of the middle rounds on work and desire, but couldn't put together anything consistent and had yet to hurt his man. Luis was feeling a bit gassed, so he took the opportunity to catch his breath and show off some cute defensive moves. Feeling like he may be leaving the door open, Colazo's corner urged him to let it all hang out down the stretch.

The 10th round was the worst 3 minutes of Andre Berto's career. He was outworked from start to finish and was the recipient of a lesson on in-fighting, given by his more experienced challenger. The Florida native was pressured steadily and battered around the ring. To his credit, he never stopped swinging, but was just trying to keep Collazo off him at that point.

Even when he did land something big during one of the numerous exchanges, he would just get swatted with something right back. In taking his licks and fighting back, Berto showed that he is no softy, but it wasn't looking great for his undefeated record. At this point I had it 96-93 in favour of Collazo.

Though the title belt that was on the line doesn't mean Berto is the welterweight champion, he certainly fought like one in trying to keep it. He took advantage of a winded opponent by letting his hands go enough for him to take the 11th and set the stage for what felt like a winner-take-all final round.

It had been a spirited contest that left both men weary and busted up. This kind of combat was something entirely new to the expertly guided young pug, but he passed the ultimate test when he put together a scintillating assault that showed how bad he wanted the fight. He slashed Collazo with power shots from everywhere and never stopped. Amazingly, his punches still had a lot of zip on them, even after the fantastic pace of the previous 11 rounds.

All of Berto's work finally paid off when a body shot folded Collazo with about 30 seconds left in the fight. Only his heart and and courage kept Luis from going down as he was clearly hurt and exhausted.

Both sides had good reason to believe their man took the fight and they let the two warriors know how much they appreciated what they just saw. When all was said and done, the only thing you could complain about was the hideous card of judge Bill Clancy, who somehow saw it 116-111 for Berto. It was made meaningless by two reasonable scores of 114-113 for Berto, who was awarded a unanimous decision.

With the loss, collazo falls to 29-4-0, but he proved his worth as a top fighter at 147 lbs, and showed that he won't lay down for anyone. Both fighters agreed to a rematch in the post-fight interviews and I'm sure boxing fans would tune in for a second go. Either way, I'm sure we'll see him again soon.

For Berto, he remains undefeated and surely learned more in this one fight than he had during his previous 23 combined. The bad news for him and his management is that fans will expect him to fight at this level from now on. He was just pushed to a new limit by a guy who everyone wants to see him fight again, and it's not going to get any easier for him at 147 lbs. While he definitely showed his massive fighting heart, he's got to tie up some loose ends on defense if he wants to give himself the best chance to be successful against top competition. It will be interesting to see how much he takes from this painful introduction to the hurt business.

There is extra pressure on Andre Berto to perform because he has been in the public eye more than most young fighters, and that's fair to an extent, but it would be a shame if TV dates, management, title belts, and defensive flaws made us lose sight of what makes this kid someone to keep an eye on. None of that other stuff matters when the fighter gives it everything he has in the ring.

Lee Payton
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Berto vs Collazo Predictions

When top welterweights Andre Berto (145.8 lbs.) and Luis Collazo (145.6 lbs.) step into the ring on Saturday night much more than Berto's title belt will be on the line for the two fighters. The winner likely gets another fight on HBO, while the loser gets back in line and waits for another opportunity. However, it may not be that simple when all is said and done, as the veteran southpaw Collazo brings more to the table than the betting odds reflect.

Read on for predictions from the Boxing Bulletin staff.

If boxing followed a script, Berto would win this fight in impressive fashion to fulfill his potential as a star and set up big events with the likes of Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito or Shane Mosley, but chaos reigns supreme in this game. 43 year old greats aren't supposed to humiliate 26 year old undefeated champions. 7 foot, 320 lb monsters should be performing in professional wrestling rings, not wearing pro boxing gold. Old, erratic veterans have no business pounding on promising, young pugs...but it happens.

Despite Berto's world championship and all the big time exposure, he is still unproven against high level opposition. Collazo, on the other hand, has shared the ring with former world champions, Mosley and Ricky Hatton. Even though he lost both fights, he showed no fear in going head to head with a pair of elites, and that has to give him an edge over his somewhat green opponent. You get the sense that there is nothing Berto can do in there that the New York lefty hasn't seen before. The reverse may not be true.

That said, the current title holder has a few things working in his favour going into this fight, as well. The heavily tattooed Collazo hasn't been in a meaningful fight since he lost to Mosley in early 2007. He's been in the ring twice since then, but not against anyone who was there to give him anything more than a chance to work off some rust. It's unclear what kind of fighting condition the challenger will be in based on recent opposition, but he has had ample time to prepare for this fight, so he should be ready to go.

Another of Berto's supposed advantages is a wide-spread perception that Collazo is just good enough to beat the guys he is supposed to beat, but can't get over the hump against the best fighters around. That may be the case, but to be completely fair, Berto hasn't shown that he is on the level of Mosley or Hatton, who both held significant edges in experience over him at the time. This time around, he is the grizzled one.

All things considered, this may be a closer fight than many are forecasting. I'm not convinced that Berto should be considered on the elite level, nor do I think he is going to be comfortable against a strong southpaw who should still have some good work left in him. I think Berto's style is more suited to conventional fighters that will trade with him on the inside, where he can let go with his flashy bursts as leads or counters. For the first time in his career he may have to step outside of his usual style and just fight, if he wants to stay undefeated.

The Boxing Bulletin Staff Predictions:

I think Luis Collazo is going to push the youngster to places he's never been in his professional career, and show that he still has work to do, while raising his own profile. However, I also believe that there is substance to go with the hype surrounding young Berto and I suspect he's got enough fight in him to do the things necessary to convince the judges that he did just enough after 12 rounds.

In a fight that could go either way, I'm predicting that Berto scrapes by with a razor-thin decision. Some fans will turn on him, and calls of "overrated hypejob" will be plentiful, but the kid will have learned plenty by the time it's all over and the veteran will be invited back, so neither loses too much

-Lee Payton


I favor Berto to win a close decision.

-Michael Nelson


A lot of people are counting Collazo out, because of his showing in the Mosley fight, but he's better than that, and I wouldn't be too surprised if he pulled the upset. That said, I think the most likely outcome is Berto by a hard fought decision (7-5, 8-4 type scores).

-Andrew Fruman


This will be a very close fight. I feel that Collazo is the better fighter but he hasn't faced a live body in quite sometime. While Berto's competition isn't much for a champion, it has still been better recently.

Collazo will land the cleaner punches and Berto will throw more. In the end I think Berto's flash will get him a controversial SD over Collazo's substance. Andre pulls it out by the skin of his teeth.

-Mark Lyons
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Berto vs Collazo Preview

by Lee Payton

When Andre Berto takes on mandatory challenger, Luis Collazo, January 17, he will be taking a significant step up in competition. The New York based veteran southpaw has proven his worth in tussles with elite fighters like Shane Mosley and Ricky Hatton, and should provide some answers for the many questions surrounding the untested youngster.

What's At Stake

For Berto, keeping his undefeated record and momentum should be motivation enough, but there is also pressure to keep the interest of those who call the shots at HBO. They sign the big checks and have shown some interest in him at this early stage in his professional career. A slip against a lower top ten welterweight, who is solid, but mostly unheralded, would set him back considerably and raise doubts about his standing as a top fighter. I suppose I should mention that his title belt is also on the line.

For Collazo, it's a chance to make a name for himself as something more than just a stern test for the best guys out there. He's never been the favourite going into a fight with a name guy, and was only ever really an option because he once held a strap himself. His title is now gone, he hasn't had a significant fight in 2 years and a loss would just throw him back into the shuffle where there aren't too many opportunities for tough lefties to make any real money. He needs this one.

The Styles

The Floridian, Berto, is a squat, thickly-muscled fighter who does his best work on the inside with his quick hands and tight delivery. He has average power, but can deliver blazing combinations in close with some pop. That's what we know about Andre. What isn't as clear is how he handles southpaws. Especially one with the seasoning of the guy he's about to face. Will he be able to find his comfort zone against a left hander who can fight on the inside and at range? Is he mature enough to adjust on the fly if something isn't working? How will he react if he finds himself behind at some point?

Many fans of the sport have described the young man's chin as fragile based mostly on a knockdown he suffered at the hands of fringe contender, Cosme Rivera, but that shouldn't be much of an issue here, as Collazo's record isn't that of a banger. That said, I'll bet Ricky Hatton remembers the left hands he tasted. Actually, he'd probably like to forget that fight ever happened.

Collazo is tough, strong and well schooled to go with the trickery of his backward fighting stance. He's proven to be a fearless fighter who can do a little bit of everything in there, but for this fight he may just have to make up his mind. I've seen him go forward all night, like he did with Mosley. I've seen him get rough and bang, like with Hatton. I can also recall times, against lesser fighters, when he got cute in there. You never really know what you're going to get from Luis, other than an honest effort.

What To Expect

It's a tough fight to pin down, because the style match-up is a bit awkward and we don't have a ton of footage from either guy on the world class level. However, I think we can count on the more experienced man to take the fight to the upstart early on to see just how wet he is behind the ears. I don't expect Berto to back down from a fight, so we could see a real scrap on Saturday night.

I'll say that Collazo's southpaw stance, quickness and will are enough to open Berto's eyes and welcome him to a higher level of boxing. It will be Andre's own speed, energy and flash that will make this fight a virtual toss-up on the cards after 12 rounds. I'm looking forward to a pretty good fight between two real fighters. Let's hope the winner gets the "W" because he won the clash of wills and not the clash of heads.

prodigious1@hotmail.com
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Betting On Boxing

by Michael Nelson

Thinking about laying down some cash on the Berto vs Collazo fight? Here are some things to consider before you put your money on the line...

Andre Berto Vs. Luis Collazo (January 17)

Betting Line: Andre Berto: -525 Luis Collazo: +400
My adjusted line: Andre Berto -210 Luis Collazo +165

Luis Collazo is by far Andre Berto's biggest test in his professional career. We haven't seen Andre in with a solid southpaw opponent before, and you should expect the quick-handed, fairly durable, experienced Collazo to give Berto fits. The lopsided line is almost certainly due to Shane Mosley's surprisingly easy victory over Luis two years ago. But given how little Collazo threw his straight left during the second half of that bout, I suspect his claim of an injured hand suffered in the early going was an honest excuse. Collazo has the skillset to touch Berto's face up, and in all likelihood, that's exactly what he'll do.

The main advantage that Andre Berto has is that his most glaring weakness is something that Collazo may not have the ability to test: his chin. Collazo has shown flashes of power in the past - like when he had Ricky Hatton skating around the ring - but he has never been considered a legitimate KO threat. He probably has the ability to stun or hurt Berto; whether or not he can finish him is another story. Moreover, Collazo's penchant for taking rounds off will mean easy points bagged for Berto, who throws the more emphatic, showier punches that'll catch the attention of the judges.

I favor Berto to win a close decision. As a betting man, however, that's not where my money would go, as I can easily envision Luis winning despite the odds suggesting he doesn't have much of a chance.

Recommendation: Throw some change on Luis Collazo, but don't bet the farmhouse. The odds will tighten up as the fight nears so put in early. Read more!