As it's just the two of us this week, I was going to call this "Scott & Dave Pick the Winners: Masterlock Challenge," but I failed to secure overnight sponsorship from Masterlock for that, so just a normal title will suffice. As I noted before, I'll be on the road part of Friday, but will be around in a limited role this weekend as I hit Small Town Lake for a four-day Labor Day vacation. Hot dog. (And hot dogs!)
Dave Oakes
This is a good comeback fight for Berto following the defeat to Victor Ortiz, Zaveck is a solid fighter but can't match Berto in terms of speed and skill, nor does he possess the power to knock Berto out. Zaveck will be aggressive, he'll come forward trying to pressurize and grind Berto down gradually, but will leave himself open to counters in doing so.
Berto should be able to out-box and out-speed Zaveck but I'm not sure whether or not he can stop the hardened Slovenian. I can see Berto winning a lopsided decision after twelve entertaining but one-sided rounds.
Scott Christ
I'm seeing the same matchup that Dave is, basically -- Berto has the physical gifts that Zaveck does not, but Zaveck is a tough, solid fighter and a good comeback matchup, one of the better fights that Berto has taken in his oft-criticized career. I do think Andre will be way too fast for Zaveck, and I sort of envision this looking a bit like Arthur Abraham against Carl Froch. I don't think Zaveck will get stopped, but it wouldn't shock me. I'm looking at Berto by 117-111 type scores and thinking that's a strong bet.