WBC welterweight titlist Andre Berto came into the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, Miss., to face the toughest test of his young career. Former welterweight titleholder Luis Collazo made the fight live up to that hype.

Berto was able to adapt and overcome just enough to squeak out a tight unanimous decision victory over the somewhat snakebitten Collazo, who is now 0-3 against perceived elite opposition. He was robbed, some would say, against Ricky Hatton, and when he fought Shane Mosley, he got hurt. This time, the 12th round was the difference, as the stronger Berto fired on a winded Collazo for the entire three minutes, sealing the victory.

Official scores were 116-111 and two cards of 114-113. Berto had a point deducted in the fourth round for repeated holding. The scorecards reflected what I saw, which was the fight being up for grabs in the 12th and final round, which Berto unquestionably dominated.

It was a hell of a good fight that boiled down to a few bullet points.

• At distance, Collazo was no match for Berto. Berto's natural athletic gifts were too much for Luis, who had to rely on timing and wits in those situations. In those instances, it sort of resembled Yuriorkis Gamboa's fight against Roger Gonzalez last week.
• Inside, Berto was outgunned by the rugged, steel-chinned Collazo. Collazo did a ton of body work meant to slow Berto down, which worked beautifully. When he got him in close quarters, he took Berto's rhythm completely away.
• It was a fight with great ebb and flow. And it was a hell of a battle that will unfortunately be semi-forgotten, I assume, as the year rolls on and bigger fights litter the landscape.