By Brad Young
iamus21@hotmail.com
Miguel Cotto 35-2 (28 KO)
vs.
Andre Berto 26-0 (20 KO)
Perhaps promoters have been reading my mind or maybe…just maybe…one fight the people would love to see will happen this year. Undefeated Andre Berto 26-0 (20 KO) and his camp are looking for a Fall 2010 bout after negotiations failed with “Sugar” Shane Mosley by demanding a 50-50 purse split. After Andre Berto showed true heart and character by walking away from a star making bout against Mosley in January 2010 to tend to his family who was affected by the devastating earthquake earlier this year, Berto returned to the ring to easily dispatch former titleholder Carlos Quitana. Although injuring his left bicep and showing a little ring rust, Berto dug deep to press Quitana and finish him in the eight round.
While still searching for the star making bout, any fight fan would know that a bout with Shane Mosley now would have far less effect. With the title unification out the window, along with Mosley losing a lopsided decision to Floyd Mayweather Jr in May, Berto will definitely have to look elsewhere to put his name on the map. Although Shane Mosley, a great fighter, nearly dropped Mayweather in the second round of their bout, the rest of fight began to show his age. Never say never in boxing as Shane Mosley will return to HBO PPV in September to face former champ Sergio Mora in the Jr. Middleweight Division.
On the other side of the spectrum, Puerto Rican superstar and newly crowned WBA Jr. Middleweight Champion Miguel Cotto 35-2 (28 KO) is also without an opponent as he looks for a bout this Fall. Losing decisively in a 12th round TKO to Manny Pacquiao, Cotto returned under new trainer Emmanuel Steward to dominate and stop once undefeated Yuri Foreman in Yankee’s Stadium this past June.
Sources have revealed that talks are most definitely underway to make Cotto vs. Berto in what would promise to be an excellent fight. With Berto seeking to establish himself and Cotto seeking to re-establish himself, what better bout could there be? While both are good boxers, history has shown that they don’t mind slugging it out and their KO records speak on that note. The biggest obstacle on the table will obviously be just whose title will be on the line; Berto’s WBC Welterweight Title or Cotto’s WBA Jr. Middleweight Title?
Either way, this fight would give the other the career boost that they want and need at this point in their careers. Only one thought comes to mind when thinking of this bout: “Make it happen.”
