Andre Berto Vs. Luis Collazo Welterweight Title Fight Preview

Can Andre Berto Continue on His Quest to Become a True Champion?

The Andre Berto and Luis Collazo Welterweight Title fight will take place on January 17, 2009 in Mississippi. Andre Berto has long been viewed as one of the most talented up and coming fighters in any division in boxing. He has an unmatched blend of speed, power and athleticism. However, despite being the WBC Welterweight Champion, he has been largely untested through this point of his career. Enter Luis Collazo, former welterweight titleholder. Collazo is a top ten welterweight and while he isn't the toughest fight out there, he is certainly a step up in class for the protected Berto.

Collazo lost his two biggest fights, against Ricky Hatton and Shane Mosley. Against Ricky Hatton he suffered an early flash knockdown which ultimately helped to cost him a close decision. He almost had Hatton knocked out in the later rounds but was unable to finish him off. Losing to Shane Mosley is no shame, but the two fights combine to show that Collazo, despite his slick boxing skills is not an elite fighter.

He does have the potential to ruin Berto's coming out party though and he will be a good litmus test to see how Berto will hold up against some of the upper echelon names in the division, such as Antonio Margarito.

Meet the Boxers

Andre Berto - 23 (19) - 0 - WBC Welterweight Champion

Big wins: Steve Forbes, UD; David Estrada, TKO 11

Luis Collazo - 29 (14) - 3 - Former WBA Welterweight Champion

Big wins: Jose Rivera, SD

Notable losses: Shane Mosley, UD; Ricky Hatton, UD

Prediction for Berto Collazo

Collazo is a tricky southpaw boxer with a good reach and solid defensive skills. Like most "tricky southpaw boxers" he lacks a big punch. That is one of the reasons that he got the shot to face Berto, a fighter whose chin is still questioned by many. To win the fight, he will need to be able to control the distance that the fight takes place at. That means using his quick jab and doubling up on it to halt the smaller Berto's advances.