He seems to get a lot of shit here. I have serious questions about his chin and opposition but he has an extremely high level of skill. He has already shown more potential than Zab Judah ever did. He is fun to watch and likes to fight. Forbes is a solid fighter, not a champion but solid, skilled and durable and Berto raped him. I am not on the bandwagon yet but he at least has an upside.
Zab Judah didn't struggle with Cosme Rivera, and Berto got put on his ass by the guy. he also got hit way too much by David Estrada
Berto is a good fighter and matched with the right opponents, maybe better than that. He's going to get roasted at the top though.
I disagree he has shown more potential than Judah did. Judah was a much better talent potential wise. Still, Berto isn't getting killed on the boards. He's getting about the amount of respect he's earned, which isn't very much. But he'll get his chance to prove himself. I remember early in Cotto's career people questioned him every now and again too. All prospects go through this kind of thing and Berto should expect it with him getting dropped and hit a lot. Berto looked good in the Forbes fight, but Forbes hits like there aren't any hands inside his gloves. I couldn't believe that motherfucker only has 9 career KO's. I'm not sure if Spinks has that few.
Berto vs. Collazo should be NEXT.....that should be a good fight...Collazo gave Hatton HELL...but then got beat by Mosley.....but apparently he had a injured hand or something....
Collazo should be a good test. Berto likely has the faster hands by a smigin, but Collazo has the better foot movement and should have some success.
You're concerned about how much respect a fighter is getting on a message board? Seriously? This is something you've taken the time to think about?
So what? At least it presents us with a new thread to have discussions about. If the rest of you would just post your minds instead of wondering what your fightbeat bretheren would think about you we might finally get this forum moving.
BULLSHIT... He has a "High Degree" of SPEED, but that's about It...He's Also a Pretty Good COMBO Puncher, But Only when his Opponent ISN'T Firing Back... Berto was Actually OUTJABBED by Forbes, he CAN'T INFIGHT to Save his Life & his Chin is PUTRID...Forbes COULDN'T Hurt a Gradeschool GIRL w/a CHEAPSHOT, yet his "Power" EARNED Berto's Respect Last Night... Berto has Apparent TALENT, but his Level of SKILL is LACKING... He's a KO WAITING to Happen... REED:kidcool:
He's in the same level of david reid, jeff lacy and the sorts... potential that you know will get nowhere.
The thing about Berto and his handlers is that they want it both ways. You can't in the same breath claim to be a world champion, but still progressing and not quite ready for the division's best. If anything, he's further proof of how irrelevant alphabet belts have become, as was yesterday's fight. Forbes was on the losing end of almost every round of a glorified sparring session against DLH, yet somehow "earns" a welterweight title shot out of it. Berto's good, perhaps very good, but we're not seeing any career progression, just a series of lateral moves that put him in position to pick up a cheap title. That Luis Collazo will represent far and away the toughest test of his career whenever that fight takes place is pretty damn telling. Take away the belt and he's probably about where he should be, but not exactly a bona fide Top 10 contender.
