Andre Berto vs. Jose Manuel Lopez

This will be a SLUG-FEST of a welterweight crossroads match-up, headlining the inaugural Premier Boxing Champions on Spike TV card on Friday the 13th.

Neither can afford to lose. Careers are on the line.

Both have looked shaky lately:

Andre Berto hasn't dominated anyone in almost five years, since his quick blowout of Freddy Hernandez in late 2010 - subsequently losing his WBC title, his zero, and his network darling status to Ortiz in their war, testing positive for a PED and dashing their planned rematch, escaping with a cuts victory over Zaveck when the momentum looked to be possibly turning against Berto, losing back to back to Guerrero & Soto Karass, and looking unspectacular in a drab outpointing of Steve Upsher Chambers.

Josesito Lopez hasn't dominated anyone in nearly as long, since he his upset knockout of then-unbeaten Mike Dallas Jr. in early 2011 - subsequently losing to Vargas (albeit controversially), breaking Ortiz's jaw while down on the official scorecards (though it was actually closer and Lopez fought well before he injured Ortiz), suffering back to back stoppage losses to Canelo & Chino, struggled unexpectedly with shot Mike Arnaoutis before a bailout TD in a situation very similar to Berto vs. Zaveck, and his LOC has dropped in each outing since.

They have each been dropped by 3 of their last six opponents. (Ortiz/Guerrero/JSK, Alvarez/Maidana/Arnaoutis)

Both can bang and both can be hurt (likely by the best each other can dish out) and neither is shy to brawl, though both can box.

:bbb

 

Berto is, shockingly, a 1/8 favorite.

 

:roll:

Nobody said either of them is going anywhere or poised to get the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao winner.

This isn't about either being an elite, so much as two routinely exciting guys sure to be hungry and mutually desperate to prolong their dwindling time in the limelight and secure a few more paydays.

You seriously don't want to watch this fight? :huh

 

Talent being the operative word.

Berto never lived up to his talent's potential. He isn't the complete package.

Algieri, while less athletically gifted & talented - might just outbox him. Berto never honed down his boxing skills; he was always basically just a fast slugger. A cruder Mosley.

 

Both are managed by Al Haymon - so the question is, which guy does he think he's "feeding" to which? :think

You could make the case for them being equally damaged by the last few years; hard to say whose long-term upside would be enough for Haymon to gamble on.

 

Shouldn't even be televised, huh? :roll:

This isn't the main event of a PPV, it's basic cable. Your standards are pretty high if a former champ vs. a perennial contender with a clash of styles that guarantees fireworks isn't your cup of tea.

 

Oh, okay.