Andre Berto vs. Cosme Rivera - Friday Night Fights - July 27th This is a fight Berto should have been having on HBO instead of bs fights like Berto-Bravo and Figueroa. • Rising welterweight star Andre Berto (18-0, 16 KOs), the 2006 ESPN.com prospect of the year, will substantially step up his level of opposition when he faces former world title challenger Cosme Rivera (30-10-2, 21 KOs) in the July 27 "Friday Night Fights" main event (ESPN2) at Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Promoter Lou DiBella had hoped to match Berto with another former title challenger, Carlos Quintana, but the fight didn't come together. The only time Rivera has ever been stopped was in 2005 by then-undisputed welterweight champion Zab Judah. Thoughts? Apparently the Quintana fight didn't happen because he (Quintana) felt the pay wasn't up to par. Would have preferred to see that fight, but I like this fight too. It should at least answer a few questions about Berto.
Berto is definitely stepping it up, I just don't like Rivera's style. I think the guy is tailor made for Andre, but I heard Rivera gave Julio a hell of a time and many people thought he actually beat Julio, so we'll have to wait and see. If Rivera makes it out of the first couple of rounds, it may get interesting as Berto's stamina may be put to the test.
This is also the channel he should be fighting instead of on HBO. I'm not a believer in Berto, but he will likely get fast-tracked into a title fight where he'll probably fight a weak belt holder or contender for a vacated strap and become a champion. I don't buy into the style comparisons with Lacy, but I think his career path - if navigated correctly - might be similar. I think the longer he fights quality fighters the more evident his lack of depth will become.
REED is GLAD the Quintana Fight ISN'T Happening Yet...Quintana's a TRUE Welter,a GOOD "Boxer" & a SOUTHPAW... REED Admires Berto's Ambition & DiBella's CONFIDENCE N him (which is a 180 degree Change from how DiBella's Handling Jermain Taylor Lately),but REED thinks a Quintana Fight is a Wee Bit PREmature...By @ least 6 Months or So... Despite Being Dominated by Cotto,REED considers Quintana a "Player" @ 147 Still...He's NOT Gonna just Fade N 2 "Bolivian"... Rivera's a Decent Enough Test for Berto @ this Time... REED
agREED... and I'm sure DiBella agrees as well, otherwise Quintana would've been given a more enticing offer. Rivera is more than good enough for now. I said as much elsewhere, but Rivera now, someone on the level of Quintana or even Julio later in the year then start looking at legit Top 10 contenders in 2008.
I'd like to like him since he's one of the few marketable prospects in boxing but I can't get really excited over Berto. I just think he's limited, wide open and stiff. I think Rivera will give him troubles. He might stop him because Rivera isn't a very defensive fighter but I think he'll make a fight of it while it lasts. If it goes to decision, my bet is that it will be very close.
yes. but implicit in here is the fact that DiBella, once again, has tried to fool the public. in this case, i agree with everyone who says that Quintana would've been too much too soon. but why pretend?
the public should know better by now, though. I mean, does anyone HONESTLY believe that both Pavlik and Miranda turrned down legit offers to fight Taylor, and instead fight each other?
yeah really. the guy's full of shit! and i'm sure that was behind Pavlik's remarks following the fight, which was basically that he wanted to fight Taylor but that if he couldn't, he couldn't and he'd move on. i'm sure that was a direct reference to the B.S. offer that was made him.
It's a good fight, 'smiling' Rivera is a test....I remember seeing Rivera come over here and completely outclass James Hare, a british welterweight who some were getting a little too excited about... Judah made him look ordinary (One of Judah's best recent performances) as would any elite fighter....if Berto can put on a similar display then maybe he is going places. There is talk about moving on Berto quickly...i think this fight will tell us if he is ready to be pushed or if they should hold back a little
