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Andre Berto v. Chad Ochocinco: Bengals wideout calls out welterweight titlist

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco says he wants to fight welterweight boxing titlist Andre Berto, whom he outweighs by roughly 50 pounds. Berto says he'll give the football star "the beating of his life." (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco says he wants to fight welterweight boxing titlist Andre Berto, whom he outweighs by roughly 50 pounds. Berto says he'll give the football star "the beating of his life." (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Well, this was unexpected. For anyone that's been watching HBO's "Hard Knocks" this season, covering the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals in training camp, you've probably seen outspoken wide receiver Chad Ochocinco use boxing as part of his personal training.

But now he's talking about fighting welterweight titlist Andre Berto.

"I want to fight Berto,'' the Cincinnati Bengals' Pro Bowl wide receiver said after a recent pre-season game against the New England Patriots. "I've been training for a while. We've been going at it on Twitter. I may even tweet him from the end zone.

"We can do it for charity. It would be just like tonight. I kick an extra point and people say ‘I didn't know you could kick!' After I beat Berto people will say, ‘I didn't know you could fight!' I'll knock him out. People would pay to see that.''

This is absolutely ridiculous. Look, first things first, Andre Berto is 5'8 1/2" and fights at 147 pounds. Ochocinco's Yahoo! Sports page lists him at 6'1", 192. Even though he'd be grossly overmatched from a skills standpoint, he's not even picking on a guy near his own size.

Why not jump on the train and challenge Roy Jones Jr.? He's a man. He's 40.

Famed trainer Freddie Roach spoke about Ochocinco's boxing in the same article, penned by Ron Borges of The Sweet Science:

"I didn't work with him but I watched,'' Roach said. "Kevin [Kelley] was training him. He's obviously fast of course and a good athlete and all but he's not a boxer.

"He said he wanted to fight Manny and I told him ‘Calm down. We'll fight you at heavyweight.' He's a great guy but he talks some s---."

Berto responded, of course, and made his feelings very clear:

"Chad Johnson, Ochocinco, or whatever his name is, the two of us have been going back and forth for a while behind the scenes," Berto said. "I'm here to say that when his season is over, which should be before the playoffs start, I'll give him the beating of his life. . . . By the time I'm done with him, he'll want to change his last name to No Mas."

We can argue about how good Berto might be when he faces elite boxers, but let's be real here: Andre Berto, even undersized, is a world-class boxer. Chad Ochocinco is a football player that has tooled around in the gym with Kevin Kelley and Ricardo Williams Sr.

There is not a comparison between the two as boxers. Berto would embarrass Ochocinco. In a lot of ways, I'd love to see it happen.

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One thing for sure… no one should ever pick a fight vs a world class boxer unless they want a world class beatdown…

Oh… and Berto isn’t really that small… he prolly walks around 170 when he isn’t all cut up for a fight…

Got to love the attention whore seeking Chad 85….

"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."

by Zocalo on Aug 24, 2009 10:10 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Berto walking around at 170 — which means he’s not in his prime fighting shape — still means he’s 25 pounds and four and about five inches shorter than Johnson.

by SC on Aug 24, 2009 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ricky Hatton at 180 can give Chad a world class beatdown…

"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."

by Zocalo on Aug 24, 2009 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well Berto would beat Chad’s ass — why mince words? — but I find it funny that Chad is calling out a dude this much smaller than he is.

by SC on Aug 24, 2009 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'd take Hatton over Chad

And that’s not a testament to Ricky’s skills. Is this a by-product of these ridiculous “crossover sports” reality shows? Not cool. Unless some “agreement” is made in advance, these boxers will tear open new assholes inside regular assholes. Frankly, its a little dangerous and doesn’t do anything for the sport.

"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb

by jrok on Aug 24, 2009 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Berto fought at 165 in the amateurs

So I’m guessing he probably walks around north of 170.

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by Brickhaus on Aug 25, 2009 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

It’s funny. I’m usually willing to entertain ideas like this. But if it delays a fight with Mosley, Collazo, Hlatshwayo, etc. by a single day, it’s a disgrace to the sport.

by SeanBS on Aug 24, 2009 10:11 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

It’s got my $50. I would love to see Berto destroy Chad.

by lcollins1 on Aug 24, 2009 11:05 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

was shocked that he even knew who berto was before i actually read this piece. this is pretty hilarious

The Dude Abides

by battle axe of doom on Aug 24, 2009 11:55 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

sorry that i missed that brick.

The Dude Abides

by battle axe of doom on Aug 25, 2009 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Chad wants to do it for charity and the guy is a hype machine

It gets both guys names out and brings boxing more into the public spotlight. If Berto smokes him and they tap gloves when Chad wakes up so what? You want Chad to cut, (which he’s likely never done before), to 175 and fight Bad Chad or something. Let the unskilled athlete get smashed by the skilled smaller guy for charity dollars. Shit its not that big a deal. I respect Chad for being willing to have his shit pushed in. I’m sure he knows its gonna happen.

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Aug 25, 2009 2:12 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

You want Chad to cut, (which he’s likely never done before), to 175 and fight Bad Chad or something.

Actually, no, I want him to leave professional boxing to the professionals and play football.

by SC on Aug 25, 2009 2:31 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

If its for charity

they will probably have head gear and sparring gloves on. The money could help a good cause but it just a dumb idea. Why doesn’t he try to box the NFL commissioner that fines him all the time I would pay to see that and I rarely pay to see PVP shows.

by TXroyal on Aug 25, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I probably would pay to see this fight but I would pay twice as much to see him fight any top five welterweight.

by Drunken cutman on Aug 25, 2009 12:33 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I have a hard time imagining myself paying to see Berto fight anyone.

"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb

by jrok on Aug 25, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Chad promotes himself!!Just like theT.O.s, the Randy Moss’s orany other big mouth ego feeding freak we see in professional sports.Quit feeding in to these guys bullshit.I’ll still take Andre Berto over him!!

by killah27 on Sep 1, 2009 9:03 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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