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HBO Boxing After Dark Recap

June 21, 2008

FedEx Forum-Memphis, Tennessee

WBC Welterweight (147 pounds) 12-Round Championship Match:

Andre Berto (21-0, 18 KO's, 146 pounds) vs. Miki Rodriguez (29-2, 23 KO's, 145 pounds)

This title is currently vacant. The previous champion was Floyd Mayweather, Jr., who has vacated the championship to "retire".

This match was originally scheduled to determine the mandatory contender for this title. At the beginning of this month the match was changed to an interim title match, because the WBC realized Mayweather was never going to face either of these boxers even if ordered by the WBC. Then with Mayweather announcing his retirement, the WBC decided the full title would be on the line in this match.

Berto had a stellar amateur career. He was the entire Haitian boxing team at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympiad. Berto suffered a controversial disqualification in his attempt to qualify at 152 pounds for the United States team for the games. However, Berto used the fact that his parents were Haitian citizens, before moving to the United States to go to the Olympics for a country he had never visited before becoming one of their Olympians.

Berto is the son of former pro wrestler and one of the original mixed martial artists, Dieuseul Berto. However, HBO has conveniently forgotten the elder Berto's time as a pro wrestler in the Florida territory and Japan. (Thanks to Dave in San Jose.) Andre's brother is current top MMA prospect Edson Berto, who is trained by their father. Dieuseul was forced to miss Andre defeating Cosme Rivera via 10-round unanimous decision on July 27, 2007 at City Center in Sarasota Springs, New York to corner Edson that night versus KJ Noons at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California. (Edson was knocked out in that match by a knee from Noons, 45 seconds into round 3.)

Berto's last match was the first defense of his NABF Championship at 147 pounds, which he has since vacated to go after this title. The Miami, Florida native was dominant appearing to win every round against Michel Trabant on February 9, 2008. Finally after round 6, Trabant told the referee he quit on the way back to his corner. The most telling stat of Berto's dominance was that Berto landed 61 power punches to only 17 for Trabant in the abbreviated match. You can read the full original recap of that match at my new website number1contender.net.

Berto is unranked by The Ring, but the number 6 ranked boxer at 147 pounds by boxrec.com.

Rodriguez had a solid amateur career compiling a record of 85-15. He had a chance to qualify for the Mexican Olympic team by winning a qualifier in Puerto Rico. However, in perhaps the oddest reason ever for failing to qualify for the Olympics, Rodriguez lost his plane ticket to Puerto Rico and missed the competition.

It is a mystery how Rodriguez has been ranked up to the number 2 contender by the WBC. Rodriguez had a relatively close unanimous decision loss to Carlos Baldomir: 116-112, 116-112, 116-113. However, that was match was on May 21, 2005. Since then Rodriguez has only been in the ring to compete officially 3 times in the last 3 years.

Rodriguez knocked out the 3-3 Francisco Villanueva at 1:28 of round 5 on December 10, 2005 in Mexico. Then, Rodriguez took nearly 11 months off and knocked out James Webb at 2:02 of round 1 on November 4, 2006 at Chase Field in Phoenix Arizona.

Rodriguez' last match was a 10-round unanimous decision victory over the 11-6-1 Jerome Ellis on September 29, 2007 at Arco Arena in Sacramento. Ellis came in out of shape for that match, missing the contracted weight by over 2 pounds, and off of 2 losses.

Rodriguez is unranked by The Ring, but the number 48 ranked boxer at 147 pounds by boxrec.com.

Berto at 24-years-old is 7 years younger then the 31-year-old Rodriguez. Rodriguez holds the height advantage standing 5' 11" tall, while Berto is 5' 8.5" tall. The veteran has the reach advantage with a 23.5" arm length, compared to the 22" arm length of Berto. Both boxers have gained a huge amount since, the weigh-ins. They will both enter the ring unofficially weighing 162 pounds. Both boxers will employ the orthodox stance.

The judges keeping official score of this match from ringside are from Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The referee is Lawrence Cole.

Berto lands more clean hard punches to win round 1, 10-9. Round 1 was contested at a slow pace, which is unusual for Berto who tends to work at a high pace. Lederman scores round 1 for Berto, 10-9. Berto's power overwhelmed Rodriguez in round 2 and had the boxer from Rodriguez hurt several times. The Winter Haven, Florida resident wins round 2 easily on Lederman and my scorecard, 10-9. Very close round 3 that Berto may have won, 10-9. Berto leads on my scorecard after 3 rounds, 30-27. Lederman scores round 3 for Berto, 10-9, and has him ahead in the match after 3 rounds, 30-27. In a joyous announcement, this match will feature open scoring. That means every 4 rounds, the official judges scorecards will be read to the crowd. That terrible "innovation" has been written about several times in these recaps. Email me for a chance to read the rant, again.

Berto wins round 4, 10-9. In round 4, Berto began to smile at Rodriguez, because he was having such an easy time with the Mexico City, Mexico resident. This has become almost a signature move of Berto's. Lederman scores round 4 for Berto, 10-9. The open scoring has Berto ahead after 4 rounds on all the official scorecards: 40-36, 39-37, 39-37. Berto wins round 5, 10-9. Lederman scores round 5 for Berto, 10-9. Berto dominates round 6 and wins it easily on Lederman and my scorecard, 10-9. In round 6, Berto landed 32 of the 53 total punches he threw, for a 60% total connect percentage. Conversely in round 6, Rodriguez landed 13 of the 45 total punches he threw for a 29% total connect percentage. After 6 rounds, Lederman my scorecard have Berto ahead, 60-54.

A huge right uppercut sends Rodriguez to the canvas with 2:37 to go in round 7. Rodriguez successfully answers the referee's count and is allowed to continue with 2:35 to go in the round. A right hand sends Rodriguez down for the second time in the round with 1:10 to go in the round. Rodriguez has never been knocked out in his career, but it is not looking good for him here. Rodriguez is allowed to continue with 58 seconds to go in the round. The 3 knockdown rule is not in effect. However, the referee will probably stop it should Rodriguez touch the canvas again in this round. Berto starts unloading with power shots on Rodriguez in the center of the ring, when the action resumes and the referee has seen enough. He stops the contest with Rodriguez standing with 48 seconds to go in the round. Rodriguez was trying to punch back, however they were arm punches that had nothing on them. In addition, Rodriguez was dropping his head, and it was only a matter of seconds before Berto put him on the mat, again.

The official outcome from Michael Buffer is that: at 2:13 of round 7 the referee has called a stop this contest making the winner by technical knockout, still undefeated, and the new WBC Welterweight Champion of the World, Andre Berto. The win moves Berto to 22-0 with 19 wins coming by way of knockout.

The final punchstat numbers show Berto as not being that active, but extremely accurate. He landed 163 of the 312 total punches he threw for an astounding 52% total connect percentage. Berto landed a ridiculous 110 of the 174 power punches he threw, for an insane 63% power connect percentage. Rodriguez landed 79 of the 320 total punches he threw, for a 25% total connect percentage. The Mexico City resident landed 45 of the 160 power punches he threw, for a 28% power connect percentage.

Berto said in his post match interview that he felt nervous at the start of the match, and that was the reason for the slow start. The new champion said he is not looking for anyone in particular, but it is now time for him to take on the elite of the division.

The uppercut from Berto that scored the first knockdown, was among the best uppercuts thrown this year. Kellerman and Lennox Lewis, who was also doing color commentary of this event for HBO, debated whether it was fantastic or tremendous. Berto's defense was substantially improved from his last match to this match. However, Berto still gets himself in trouble when he gets his back against the ropes. A very good next potential match up for him would be Zab Judah. Judah is a natural 140-pounder who boxes at 147 pounds. It would help define Berto's place in the division, and it would not force Berto to face a significant size disadvantage.

Rodriguez in losing did not look bad. He was in with one of the top boxers at 147 pounds, and cannot compete at that level. Rodriguez is about 2 notches below that, and appears capable of having good matches with boxers at the prospect level.