By Ian S Palmer
Boxing fans can tune into Spike TV in North America on Friday March 13 as Andre Berto of Winterhaven, Florida will take on Josesito Lopez of Riverside, California in a Premier Boxing Champions broadcast. British fans can also catch the action by tuning in to BoxNation. The 10-round welterweight bout will be taking place at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California and should be a pretty good action fight for boxing fans.
The 31-year-old Berto is a former IBF and WBC World Welterweight Champion and it appears he hit his peak a few years ago. However, he still has enough left in the tank to be a legitimate contender and could possibly work his way to another title shot in the next year or two. He’s been set back by injuries over the past 24 months and is eager to get back into the spotlight. He’s undergone shoulder surgery and finally ready to lace up the gloves again to take on a legitimate opponent.
Berto will enter the ring with a record of 29-3 with Kos to his name and he’s fought 183 rounds since turning pro back in 2004. After two straight losses to Jesus Soto Karass and Robert Guerrero he beat Steve Upsher Chambers by a 10-round unanimous decision in September. Berto will find Lopez is a lot better than Chambers as he’s got decent power and more size. Berto has a decent chin, but Karass stopped him in the 12th round in July of 2013. His other loss was a 12-round unanimous decision to victor Ortiz in 2011.
The 30-year-old Lopez has a mark of 33-6 with 19 Kos to his name and is best known for stopping Victor Ortiz back in and breaking his jaw in the process. Lopez turned pro in 2003 and has 227 rounds under his belt. Lopez has also taken on Saul Canelo Alvarez and Marcos Rene Maidana, but didn’t last the distance as Alvarez halted him in five rounds and Maidana stopped him in eight. Lopez was beaten by stronger and bigger opponents in those losses and should fare better against Berto.
Guerrero showed that the best way to beat and frustrate Berto is to crowd and smother him while fighting on the inside. This doesn’t allow him to extend his arms and get much power in his shots. Lopez would be smart if he used similar tactics in this contest. Lopez has been stopped twice so far, but his chin isn’t too bad. He’ll enter the fight with a three-inch height advantage over Berto and a half-inch edge in reach.
Garcia +400 porter -600
Prediction
Both boxers have faced Grade A opponents in the past, but Berto has the edge in power and in his chin. Lopez is an exciting fighter who doesn’t leave anything in the ring and this should result in an entertaining match. If it goes the distance or ends with a late stoppage, look for Berto to be the winner in either scenario.
