Anyone see Rodriguez in action before? Im not too familiar with him. What do you guys know about this guy. Any good? I dont know about you guys, but I'm getting kind of tired of watching Berto blow out amature to C to B tier competition. With him being in such a hot and competitive division in welter, I think it's time he steps it up and faces better competition who will bring out the better man in him. In checking out Rodriguez's record, it doesn't look to shabby. 29 wins, 23 by ko, only 2 losses coming by way of decision. The question is, what opposition has he faced.
I wish he would fight someone like Luis Collazo who is not a power puncher but a good enough competitor for Berto to build his name and resume upon.
Could we add Cintron to that list, and perhaps the winner of Clottey-Judah?? I would really like to see him agaisnt one of those guys to have a better messuring stick of how he will do against the bigger names of the division.
Berto's people are smart enough to know when he gets in with a world class fighter the show is over. Berto is fun to watch but he is way too raw for a Clottey, Judah or Cintron, he would get blown out in a few rounds.
I think Berto could be seen as being at Cintron's level. I dont think he would necessarily get blown out by Cintron, it would be a matter of which man lands first and hurts the other. Both have leaky defenses with good KO power. I think a good match-up would be Berto vs Cintron. IMO, Berto is more lethal and effective with his offense than Cintron. The way Berto battered Estrada for example; he did it IMO more convincingly than Cintron did. Anyhow, I certainly do think he is ready for a step up... One final thing.. I think Berto's achelles heel at this point would be having a leaky defense, while appearing to not have a solid rock chin. Fighters that are able to be successful while not having the best defense usually compensate with effective pressure and rock solid beards (Margarito, JCC).
carefull now, rodriguez is no walkover!!! he is one of those talents that don king likes to bury on his undercards. while not flashy, he is one of those typical world class mexicans that come off the assembly line: tough as nails, well schooled and a pretty good puncher. to me, this is by far the best guy berto ever faced. sure, berto is the favorite, and i can see him winning a decision..........but i would not be shocked if there would be an upset.
I got no problem with Berto's level of opposition becuase he is not out there claiming to be the best. His promoters are not out there talking about how this guy or that guy is ducking him. I'd rather him develop at a decent pace so that when he does step it up, it's worth it. Guys like Estrada, Rivera and now Rodriguez are exactly who he is supposed to be fighting right now. Look at Cotto's first 21 fights you'd be surprised to see that the resume is not any more impressive for him at that point.
In Cotto's first 21 fights he was the WBO light-welter champion and had faced Kelson Pinto, Lovermore N'Dou, Victoriano Sosa, Carlos Maussa etc. Much more impressive than Berto's resume so far. I agree entirely he needs to step up a level.
I don't know anything about Rodriguez either but i'm hoping that he shocks the world and pulls off the upset against Berto. He's Mexican and i'm sure that he has great endurance and a good chin ... he's only lost 1 time ...
Not true at all Cotto fought former champions like Justin Juuko(9th fight) Cezar Bazan(13th fight) Randall Bailey (21st fight) and 2 top ten contenders in Lovemore Ndou(19th fight) Carlos Maussa(17th fight) and won vacant WBO title against Kelson Pinto. So basically Cotto first 21 fights is wayyyy better than Andre Berto first 21.
Listen I'm a cotto fan so don't take this as a knock on Cotto but anyone with a decent promoter can get a WBO strap these days. As far as Pinto goes, I really don't understand why people mention his name when talking about good Cotto opponents. The guy was undefeated and had beaten Cotto in the amatuers but he had fought no one of note, had no title, nothing and has never been considered elite either going into or coming out of the Cotto fight. The other ones that you mentioned were solid competition for an up and coming fighter similar to what Berto has been facing. Rivera and Estrada are both solid guys that had challenged for world title. You fight those guys to show that you can beat the guys that the champions can beat and to expose yourself to guys that have faced the level of opposition that you hope to some day face. It's like I said. The day Berto starts talking **** about how he is the number one guy and everyone is ducking him or anythign along those lines I will agree he needs to step it up. In the meantime let the kid develop.
I've said it before, Berto is a HBO fighter. Step up in class? They are now fighting for the WBC belt which I knew was going to happen due to PBF not wanting to waste his time fighting someone like Berto. I said it exactly how it is happening. Berto will fight someone no one knows and it will be for a vacant title. This is not the WBO, but the WBC. The most respected belt. Maybe Rodriguez is like another member just mentioned, a fighter King buries in his undercards. Remember Mayorga?
Well, he is possibly going to start talking once he beats Rodriguez for the WBC title. Again, I have never seen Rodriguez fight and he could be another Mayorga.