Don’t Expect Berto To Have Too Much Trouble With Zaveck…WOODS

Ortiz was a raging, snorting specimen on this night, who would not be denied. Zaveck is no bum, but on his best night, he is no match for Berto. (Hogan)

Andre Berto looks to get back on the bucking bronco, when he takes on Jan Zaveck this Saturday in Biloxi, Mississippi.

This test is Berto’s first since he had his undefeated record, and WBC 147-pound belt wrested from him by a raging bull, Victor Ortiz, on April 16, in Connecticut.

The Boxing Channel’s Al Bernstein offered his analysis of the Berto-Zaveck tangle. Watch it here: http://boxingchannel.tv/analysis-of-andre-bertos-return-to-the-ring-after-loss-al-bernstein-gives-keys-to-victory

Bernstein said the 35-year-old Zaveck is a “solid fighter,” with a style “eerily similar to Berto.”  Al says Zaveck will need to jab a bunch, land the right hand, and not square up. The 27-year-old Berto, Al said, needs to land his right hand, and like, Zaveck, not square up.

Al mentioned that it could have been Berto (27-1 with 21 KOs) fighting a lottery bonanza bout against Floyd Mayweather on Sept. 17.

Instead, he will take part in something of a moderate risk/low reward bout.
How risky? The Slovenian hasn’t fought outside of Europe, and hasn’t really met foes who would help us assess his chances to beat Berto.

“Zaveck is so unknown in the US, many fans might be expecting a Berto blowout win,” Al said. “While that is possible, it’s not at all inevitable. If ever there was a trap fight for a fighter, this is it for Berto.”

I will go out on a limb, based on the fact that Zaveck has been fed semi softies Rodolfo Martinez, Raf Jackiewicz and journeyman Paul Delgado since he won the IBF welter bout from Isaac Hlatshwayo on Dec. 11, 2009, that Berto won’t have too much trouble on Saturday. One figures the sting from the Ortiz loss will have made him work that much harder in camp, and I see him taking out lingering disappointment on the Slov. I see Berto handing the 31-1 Zaveck his first loss by KO, in round seven or eight. Zaveck tends to look like a pole, straight up and immobile, at times, and Berto should have not too much trouble having good luck with accurate power shots. You could well see left hooks to the body making him wince, as he puts up the earmuffs and leaves his lower torso open for business. Berto will have no problem finding him, as he likes to mix it up, work in tight, and isn’t afraid to trade a bit.

TSS Universe, please get yourselves into the Forum, and offer your take on the bout.