Jan Zaveck vs Andre Berto Show in Development

by Scott Christ on May 16, 2011 1:55 PM EDT in Boxing News Analysis

Andre Berto looks likely to face Jan Zaveck next. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

BoxingScene.com reports that a DiBella Entertainment-centric show is being worked on for a possible August date. The main event would be a welterweight trinket fight between Jan Zaveck and Andre Berto.

Berto (27-1, 21 KO) lost his first fight as a professional on April 16 to Victor Ortiz, and is looking to come right back and claim another belt. Zaveck (31-1, 18 KO) holds the IBF title, which he won 2009 from Isaac Hlatshwayo. While Zaveck may be considered a weak titlist -- and his last defense was pathetic -- it's hard to argue that his wins over Hlatshwayo and Rafal Jackiewicz are really any worse than Berto's pre-Ortiz schedule had been, and fairly easy to argue that those two wins are better than what Berto has done.

In other words, it's a good fight. Zaveck is a legitimate welterweight and while he might not have any name value in the States, it's at worst a more legitimate fight than many of Berto's past HBO mismatches.

The co-feature would see Peter Manfredo Jr. (37-6, 20 KO) face Brian Vera (18-5, 11 KO), which would at least likely be a fun fight to watch given that Vera is almost always fun to watch. Welterweight contender Randall Bailey (41-7, 36 KO) could also be on the card. Bailey is currently the IBF mandatory, but is willing to step aside with a guarantee that he gets first crack at the Zaveck vs Berto winner.

Now aside from the news, let's talk about this a little. I'm not lying when I say I think that Zaveck vs Berto is a very fine fight, but I also get this little nagging feeling that this is DiBella and Berto looking to step back into "he's a champion! Really, he's got a belt and everything!" like before by picking off the "easiest" titleholder there is at 147 who is willing to fight Berto, as I doubt Vyacheslav Senchenko is really looking for a move to the States, while Zaveck seems enthusiastic about just that.

And while Bailey is dangerous against anyone because of his rocket right hand, the design of setting up Berto to beat Zaveck, then face Bailey, does seem a bit, well, Berto-ish. It's not even that I think it's all that bad, because I don't. I'd be happy to watch either fight. But they're definitely not pushing for a rematch with Ortiz, you know what I mean? It's more back to business as usual for Berto and DBE, and I guess you can't really blame them.

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Who else is he going to fight at welterweight, though? Obviously, he’s not fighting Manny or Floyd. Would you rather him fight the corpse of Shane Mosley? Honestly, Zaveck and Bailey are perfectly reasonable opponents for him at this stage.

by The Boxer Rebellion on May 16, 2011 2:02 PM EDT reply actions

Well as mentioned they could work to set up a rematch with Ortiz in the not too distant future.

by Sammlung on May 16, 2011 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Is that the only photo of Berto available on the Interwebz? I hate that picture, he looks like a giant douche there. I think that picture is probably the main reason I don’t like him hahaha.

Bob Arum would promote Lucifer himself if he could put asses in the seats.

by Apprentice on May 16, 2011 2:08 PM EDT reply actions

that and he has made millions of dollars fighting bums on HBO :)

by Sammlung on May 16, 2011 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions

yes, that too… but mostly the picture hahaha! ;-)

Bob Arum would promote Lucifer himself if he could put asses in the seats.

by Apprentice on May 16, 2011 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Is that the only photo of Berto available on the Interwebz?

No, but it’s one of a few that won’t get us in trouble via copyright claim.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on May 16, 2011 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Ah I see. Interesting. So you only have access to a limited set of pictures you can use?

Bob Arum would promote Lucifer himself if he could put asses in the seats.

by Apprentice on May 16, 2011 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

We have Getty and AP licensing. I do have access to the Getty archives, but it’s a pain to use and there’s really not that much Andre Berto available anyway, since Getty hasn’t exactly made a point to cover Berto fights, and they haven’t been at his last few fights. The Berto photos in our editing tools right now are from the Mayweather-Mosley weigh in. We also get stuff from Showtime or promoters sometimes, and press packet-type stuff here and there.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on May 16, 2011 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Whatever they fix Berto up with now (titles, easy fights, etc) at least he’s not undefeated anymore and everyone saw his bubble get burst by Ortiz.
I’m just glad he’s been exposed for being a good fighter, but nothing special and not as good as HBO valued him.
Of course most of us knew that already, but now everyone knows it.

by Matt Mosley on May 16, 2011 2:12 PM EDT reply actions