This Saturday Andre Berto 26-0(20) makes the fifth defence of the WBC Welterweight title against Freddy “El Riel” Hernandez on the bumper “Warriors” promotion from The MGM Grand Garden Hotel Casino, Las Vegas, NV. Berto 27, is one of Boxing’s brightest young stars who hopes to win and win imressively and catapult himself into a fight with one of Boxing’s biggest names. It almost happened back in January when he was scheduled to fight Shane Mosley, but with a heavy heart he pulled out when 8 of his relatives lost their lives in Haiti in the earthquake. Now Berto who now resides in Winter Haven, Florida fights in their memory. We spoke with Berto briefly prior to his work out at The Extreme Couture Gym in Las Vegas, here’s what he had to say.
Hello Andre, welcome to 15rounds.com
Anson Wainwright – On Saturday you’ll be fighting Freddy Hernandez what do you know about him and what are your thoughts on this fight?
Andre Berto – Freddie Hernandez is a good, tough Mexican fighter that’s going to come to win. He has a good right hand. He’s going to come and try to win that title Saturday night.
Anson Wainwright – Where did you train for this fight? How did it go? How long for?
Andre Berto – We trained down in central Florida. We were there for 8 or 9 weeks. We had a tremendous training camp, I had great sparring partners and I think we’re ready.
Anson Wainwright – Originally it was hoped you may fight mandatory Selcuk Aydin, what happened with that fight? Do you have to fight him after Hernandez if your successful?
Andre Berto – Umm you know i’m not sure. I don’t think there’s any fight I have to take at all next. We tried to get it done for this fight but I feel his team for some reason didn’t want to do it at the last minute so we just took the next best thing.
Anson Wainwright – This will be only your second fight in Las Vegas, can you tell us what it’s like to be back in the Boxing capital of the World ahead of the fight?
Andre Berto – I’m excited, I love Vegas and this is a mecca for a lot of huge fights right now. I’m just excited to be a part of it.
Anson Wainwright – You looked to step up with the Mosley fight that was cancelled, obviously you have to take care of Hernandez Saturday but what is your plan for 2011?
Andre Berto – You know 2011 I want big fights, people want to see. It’s about that time, we’re going to try to take care of business Saturday night. Hopefully opportunity’s open up in 2011.
Anson Wainwright – It’s well documented what happened in Haiti and your sad loss of family, can you tell us a little about that and how are things at the moment over there?
Andre Berto – Things are still rough over that way, you know there still going through a lot of tremendous loses, first with the earthquake situation and now they have Cholera situation, they can’t catch a break right now. You know it’s up to us to continue to bring that awareness and do all we can. We have our foundation Berto Dynasty Foundation, that’s in full effect. We’re in partnership with other foundations like Project Medishare, Bill Clinton Foundation and in 2011 we’re looking forward to continue to putting things together and put together a major plan to make a difference.
Anson Wainwright – It has been said that you get over paid by HBO for fighting second tier guys, can you respond to that?
Andre Berto – At the end of the day these people need to understand that this is something we love but at the same time we’re risking our lives everytime we step in the ring. I basically put myself in the situation and surrounded myself with a team that really recognise that and recognise my challenge and we try to do all we can to handle business inside the ring. I have a tremendous team who handle the business for me outside the ring so you know. We have to make sure it all equals out.
Anson Wainwright – Is there a fight that you particularly crave?
Andre Berto – I mean anybody right now, we’re just focused on Saturday night. I believe all the big fights will be there come 2011
Anson Wainwright – How do you look at the Mayweather-Pacquiao superfight? What are your thoughts on that?
Andre Berto – It’s a fight everyone wants to see, I mean if Floyd Mayweather, actually he’s been in the game for about 15 years and Manny Pacquiao has been dominating the scene the last couple of years. There the top guys in the world so it’s only right that people want to see them fight each other.
Anson Wainwright – Do you have a message for your fans?
Andre Berto – Just continue watching, i believe it’s the greatest sport in the world and don’t feel there’s anything like it. I know not everyone can do what we do. So continue to support it.
Thanks for your time Andre, good luck with your fight Saturday.
Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com
What a great weekend of fights there’s the HBO Championship Boxing card headlined by Marquez-Katsidis with Berto-Hernandez & Caballero-Litzau in chief support. Also appearing are Nate Campbell, Erislandy Lara, Keith Thurman and prized prospects Michael Finney & Bastie Samir…Showtime will show Abraham-Froch on tape delay and Ward-Bika…Wow I never knew it got so cold in Las Vegas, it seems I brought the British weather with me!
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