Andre Berto vs. Josesito Lopez
Photo by Carlos Baeza/Thompson Boxing
Tony Calcara, Staff Writer
Both men are fighting for their collective lives after injuries and losses. This matchup has the potential for a real fight to break out.
I’m concerned with Josesito Lopez’s 30 year old legs. I anticipate his ability to move well early will be gone after a few rounds. He has bounced back after a pair of losses and won his last three fights.
Standing and slugging with Andre Berto, 31, is not a good idea. I like Berto, most likely by a KO.
Prediction: Berto
Brandon Glass, Contributing Writer
Coincidentally I just wrote about Andre Berto. He would have been one of the 47 to try and crack the “MayVinci Code” had Ortiz not got the best of him in a bout Floyd Mayweather himself was ringside for.
That was the beginning of the decline for Berto. Ironically, the “Riverside Rocky,” Josesito Lopez upset Victor Ortiz’s applecart for a potential Canelo fight by breaking his jaw in the fifth round, resulting in Ortiz requesting to stop the fight before the ninth round.
Here we are three years later and now this is like a battle of gatekeepers. Berto has the edge here based on athleticism and power, where as Lopez is not overly talented in any area but is game fighter that heart and luck got him further than most of his caliber.
Lopez seems like a nice guy, but it’s hard to conceive this being a victory for him unless lightning strikes twice and he happens to break Berto’s jaw. Haymon knows this and Berto is taking baby steps back to the top since Jesus Soto Karass ended up being a bigger bite than he could chew.
Prediction: Berto
Alex McLeish, Staff Writer
This is the toughest fight of the weekend to predict. Two limited fighters who are in the midst of trying to resurrect their careers. The loser will turn into a stepping stone for future stars, while the winner will get another shot at a big name.
Andre Berto’s shoulder problems will be a factor in this fight, if he’s healthy throughout, he should be able to out-box the slightly more limited Josesito Lopez. Lopez on the other hand, should be trying to use his size as much as possible by jabbing his way inside, and banging into Berto with his body, making it an ugly fight, and trying to remind Berto of that bad shoulder.
I see this fight being similar to Berto vs. Soto Karass, only Berto will take a slightly bigger lead into the final round, and this time won’t get caught.
Prediction: Berto
Lou Catalano, Senior Writer
Andre Berto and Josesito Lopez headline the PBC broadcast on Spike TV Friday. It’s a battle of the underachiever vs. the overachiever.
Maybe that’s not fair to Berto, who has the look and speed of a world champion but the ring I.Q. of Ricardo Mayorga on mescaline. But the fact is that he was paid handsomely by HBO for years to fight stiffs, and he was never able to rise above fringe contender status.
Prediction: Lopez
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Tough one to call here. I see both guys as having one foot in the grave–career wise–and a victory, no matter how thrilling, will not prove much.
I don’t like the way Josesito Lopez’s balance and coordination have looked as of late, and I fear the wars with Jessie Vargas through Marcos Maidana have taken nearly everything out of him.
Andre Berto just can’t get right. He’s either injured, fighting the wrong style, or a combination of both. As long as Berto remains healthy, I think he’ll win a decision–likely a sloppy one.
Prediction: Berto
Juan Carlos Galvez, Photographer
Andre Berto by decision.
Prediction: Berto
