Berto Looks Toward Bright Future

TAMPA - You can almost compare Andre Berto's boxing career to a stint sitting in front of a monitor while holding the controller for a video game.

Each time Winter Haven's Berto (18-0, 16 KOs) steps into the ring, the opponent's competition level is amplified.

Tonight at Saratoga Springs City Center in Saratoga, N.Y., Berto isn't facing flame-throwing dragons, cranky turtles or man-eating plants like those in Super Mario Bros. Instead, in the ESPN2 'Friday Night Fights' co-main event, it's Cosme Rivera (30-10, 21 KOs).

The match will air live at 9 p.m.

In his most recent fight, in October, the 31-year-old Rivera lost a split decision against WBA Fedecentro and WBO Latino welterweight champion Joel Julio. He also faced Zab Judah in 2005, losing that bout for the undisputed welterweight championship.

'Actually, it feels good,' Berto said of climbing the ranks. 'It's been a lot of hard work. I hopefully have matured. I'm in the pros now, so there are a lot of high expectations. It feels good and makes you want to fight harder.'

Because of the proximity of the match to the historic Saratoga Race Course, the 23-year-old Berto has been tabbed a young thoroughbred. It's a comparison the welterweight doesn't mind.

'I'm one of the youngest top prospects out there, so I see myself as a thoroughbred,' he said. 'I work hard, and I always come to each fight. Just like they do in the race, I put my all into it. And at the same time we have a lot of high expectations because we are young and we're strong.'

Of Berto's past seven opponents, six have fallen to technical knockouts, none going beyond the seventh round. Two of those foes, Norberto Bravo and Roberto Valenzuela, were knocked out in the first round.

If there is an early stoppage to tonight's bout, trainer Tony Morgan expects it to come in the fifth round.

'He's way faster and way stronger than this guy,' Morgan said of Berto. 'What could pose as a problem is Rivera throws a good straight right hand. ... But still, I think Berto's going to walk through this guy. I think it's going to be a tough fight, I see us getting rounds, but I think Berto is going to pull through.

'I actually wouldn't be surprised if Berto got him within five. If he doesn't get him within five, then it very well could go the distance.'

Also fighting are heavyweights Chazz Witherspoon (18-0, 12 KOs) and Fernely Feliz (29-8, 16 KOs) as well as Shannon Miller (14-3, 8 KOs), Wayland Willingham (11-0, 6 KOs), Brandon Mitchem (25-4, 8 KOs) and Tommy Rainone (7-0, 2 KOs).

Whether it goes the distance or not, it's clear that Berto, named Prospect of the Year by ESPN, has his sights set on advancing to new levels.

'Growing up as a young'un, I always had the vision that I would be world champ, and I never strayed away from it,' said Berto, a 2004 Olympian. 'I stayed focused and continued working hard, and I just started seeing slowly, but surely everything is just coming to light.

'I think I have a huge future. I have to stay focused and keep doing what I'm doing and continue to be blessed, and everything else will fall into place.'