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Next Test For Winter Haven's Berto – Luis Collazo

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By EDDIE DANIELS

edaniels@tampatrib.com

Published: January 17, 2009

TAMPA - You can count on one hand the number of Southpaws Andre Berto has faced in his career.

Three.

You can also count the same number of left-handed boxers the WBC champion from Winter Haven has knocked out.

He stopped Jonathan Tubbs in the third round of their 2006 bout. One year prior, Maurice Chalmers suffered a TKO in the third. And in Berto's professional debut in 2004, Michael Robinson suffered the same fate – a third round TKO.

"We do well," Berto's trainer Tony Morgan said of their experience against left handers. "We have so many rounds sparring with Winky Wright. We grew up sparring Winky. You really don't get a better look than Winky Wright. Winky is like the epitome of left handers. … He'll teach you how to get punched hard in the body, he'll teach you how to get hooked, he'll teach you a straight left. He'll teach you everything."

Former WBA champion Luis Collazo (29-3, 14 KOs) is the latest leftie to step in the ring against Berto (23-0, 19 KOs). This time, Berto's WBC welterweight title is up for grabs.

The two will headline HBO's Boxing After Dark, which airs live tonight at 9:45 p.m. from the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Miss.

"It's always difficult to fight a slick fighter, but a slick southpaw makes it a little tougher," Berto said. "But we put in a lot of work in camp and at the same time, I've already put in a few hundred rounds with guys like Winky Wright and Sharmba Mitchell, so I don't think it will be too, too difficult a task to get into a rhythm."

This is the second WBC title defense for the 25-year-old. In September, he collected a 12-round unanimous decision victory against Steve Forbes at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Collazo has put in work against Shane Mosley and Ricky Hatton, losing both fights. Some account had Collazo pushing Hatton around the ring, despite being dropped 15 seconds into that 2006 bout. Hatton took Collazo's WBA welterweight belt with the unanimous decision win.

The following year, Collazo faced Mosley, and was dominated.
In preparation for Collazo, the Berto camp brought in four southpaws, including former IBF light middleweight champ Kassim Ouma.

"Kassim is a different type of dude," Berto said laughing. "He literally, at times, ran, chased me and threw punches at the same time. Trying to get right into my space at all times. He definitely doesn't stop. He works you."

Considering Collazo is ranked as the No. 1 contender for Berto's title by the World Boxing Council, every bit of work and experience may come in handy tonight.

"We've got a tough task on our hands, but it's what we've got to do to get to where we need to be," Morgan said. "No love lost to Luis, but he's just the person in the way of our goals, so we just have to go through him. It's what we have to do."

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214.

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