ANDRE BERTO BLASTS QUINTANA: MAKES THE HAITIAN PEOPLE PROUD

Andre Berto TKO 8 Carlos Quintana TIME: 2:16
RETAINS WBC WELTERWEIGHT TITLE

You could tell that Andre Berto had some ring rust after his long layoff. Quintana, a cagey veteran didn't make the fight easy for the young Berto. He was clinching, hitting behind the head, and overall just making the fight rough. He caught Andre coming in with a punch in the first round behind his ear that caused him to hit the canvas. It was ruled a slip, and even though the punch was borderline illegal it should have been scored a knockdown. Carlos was even deducted a point in the 3RD round for hitting Berto behind the head on the break. Either way it didn't matter because Berto was too fast, too young, too strong, and too explosive for Quintana. It seemed like Berto was too close to Quintana and was smothering his own punches, and allowing Quintana to clinch. By the 5Th round he was able to give himself a little more room. Then he started to land the explosive power shots we have grown accustom to expect from him. Another reason that he seemed off last night was due to a left bicept injury he got in the 2ND or 3RD round. He finished the show in the 8Th round as he was able to land his explosive combination punching on the slower, older veteran. Referee Tommy Kimmons had to step in as Quintana was being battered all around the ring. The final straw came when Berto landed a thunderous right hand while Quintana was against the ropes. This was a tough test for the young Berto who wants to fight the elite of the welterweight division. He was originally scheduled to fight Shane Mosley but had to pull out due to the disaster in Haiti. He lost 8 family members in the horrible earthquake. His parents were born in Haiti and since the disaster he has even grown closer to his heritage. He and his brother went to Haiti to help with Triage, and were knee deep in the disaster. This young fighter has great character, and that will severe him well if he plans on rising to the top. His father was in martial arts, who fought back from a near death experience when he was struck by a car. His brother fights in mma, so the Berto family is born to fight. I don't quite think he is ready for the best boxers at 147 lbs, but he is very close. I think he will loose to and of the top three right now but if he continues to grow he will surly be a problem for anyone in the welterweight division.