Berto Edges Collazo in Slugfest
Punch Stats: Total Punches: Berto - 266 of 682 (39%); Collazo - 222 of 812 (27%). Total Power Punches: Berto - 203 of 415 (49%); Collazo - 194 of 602 (32%).
Let's go to the videotape: The most confusing part of HBO's coverage was Bob Papa mentioning - on at least five occasions - that Berto had to rally back from a first round knock down. The only problem is that Berto was NOT knocked down in the first (or any other) round. Staggered, yes. Knocked down, definitely not. It's understandable for an announcer to make a mistake but - after the fourth or fifth time - couldn't someone have corrected him?
If you missed the fight, check your local TV listings over the coming week and try to catch one of HBO's several replays - you won't be sorry. Also, after the fight, both fighters said they were interested in a rematch so fight fans may get treated to another great battle at some point later this year ...
Comments
Collazo was robbed. I had it 115-112 for him. I do think the ref took the point away too quick. Berto was hurt, and he should have been allowed to hold to get his bearing back. Take the point away when the guy’s not hurt and holding. Shame when a ref makes a difference in an otherwise highly entertaining fight. HBO sure kicked off the year with a bang !!
Question if a fighter should have a point deducted for holding only when he’s not hurt who would decide. “No no ref I was hurt that’s why I was holding” Oh come on. The rule no holding gives an advantage to the boxer who has put his opponent in that position if a ref allows the fighter to hold he is affecting the flow and possible outcome. Collazo won. Berto was awesome. Rematch a must.This is real boxing not the farcial heavyweight joke. 111 to 116 relegate that judge to 6 rounders. Collazo and Berto whatever the decision you were both winners great stuff. Mike
Great fight, and a very difficult one to score. A number of the rounds could have gone either way, or have been scored 9/9. I do think Berto was exposed for being less savvy than he needs to be, and his defense was suspect, particularly to the body. The sanctioning bodies should, if they don’t already, grade judges’ performances like the NFL, NBA & MLB do for their officials. Mr. 116-111 needs to be re-trained. As far as the point deduction goes, I’m going to have to watch the first few rounds again, but Berto had been repeatedly warned.
I’d love a remach, but I think Collazo is going to have problems getting anyone to fight him. Kudos to HBO for starting the year off with a great fight, and kudos again for keeping next week’s Mosley/Margarito fight off PPV.
Amazing fight nevertheless.
regards
Henry
I thought Callazo won by a hair, but many rounds could have been scored either way. This was a great fight.
The fight was close,but I thought Collazo
had slight edge. That 116 to 111 left me looking for Don King in the vicinity
influencing that judge. I often wonder
what some of these judges were watching
with so much poor scoring of fights.
This was clearly a very good fight, but in the end, I gave the edge to Collazo, 115-112. I think Collazo dictated the pace of the fight and really made the fight. I saw Berto responding to Callazo, not making the fight and Berto was moving back more than forward. Bot men fought their hearts out, but Collazo did more, did it better, and should have received the win.
When will they get Teddy Atlas to do these top fights. Between Teddy and Manny Stewart, there are no better fight guys. The duds that announce the fights are just wrong.
This was yet another case of robbery to protect the fighter with more earning power for promoters. Even without the questionable 10-8 “holding” round, Collazo won. Those who concoct the unreliable punch stats apparently ignore flurries of punches to the gut, because Collazo dealt out several of them. Through more than half the fight, Collazo was even the aggressor. I don’t know what’s worse in today’s boxing matchups, shameful mismatches or crooked decisions.
dont kid or psyche yourself out Collazo won the fight the only reason they gave it to Berto was to keep his record unblemised in other words POLITICS
Great fight, and as stated before very hard to score. Yet, I gave the fight to Collazo. I do not see how the third judges score was so far off from the others. Was he watching a differnt fight then us 116-111 seriously?
I believe this was fight set the tempo for the year and hope all that follow live up to it. I personally would love to see a rematch and have a feeling if we do Berto will walk away with a loss as he should have done this fight.
In his defense he had a great 12th round.
I can not wait to see the rematch or many of the upcoming fights this year.
After roughly two weeks, the sting from a very controversial decision in the Luis Collazo/Andre Berto fight apparently still hasn’t worn off. Its a big statement which openly ponders an even bigger question……..A question that only Andre Berto and Mr. Lou DiBella can answer…..
Luis Collazo (thoughts in the aftermath of the controversial decision):
It’s been Déjà vu all over again, just like the Ricky Hatton fight. I was brought in as an opponent to face Andre Berto on HBO, I fought my heart out and I did enough to win the fight, but once again, the judges took the victory away from me. I never thought in my wildest dreams that this injustice would happen to me again, but unfortunately, I got three more blind mice to judge my fight.
It’s always an honor to fight on HBO, but, for the second time, I was robbed against one of their own fighters. Everyone knows I beat Andre Berto. His promoter, Lou DiBella, knows it. Even HBO’s Harold Letterman and Max Kellerman said, on air, that I truly won the fight. I threw almost one hundred and fifty more punches than he did. I rocked him several times and tore him up with body shots throughout the fight. At the end of the day, however, it’s all just politics. They know that if I had the chance to fight him again, I would erase that zero he has in his loss column. They just don’t want their young golden ticket to go down.
All I want is a fair chance. I would love to fight Andre Berto again. The public needs to demand that it happen again. This first fight was the “Fight of the Year”, and I can guarantee it’ll be even better a second time around. I promise I won’t leave it up to the judges to decide who the winner will be again. I might not have a world title around my waist right now, but I am the people’s champion. Everywhere I go they keep letting me know that. Everywhere I go! I beat Hatton, I beat Berto; Everyone knows I’m not scared to fight anyone. Margarito, Cotto, it doesn’t matter. I want to fight the best, but first, I’m looking forward to beating Berto again, preferably no later than June. If you’re listening out there Andre, and you’re not scared, all you have to do is sign the contract. I’m not a hard person to find. I want a rematch and that’s no secret! Now the world knows whose demanding the fight, so show everybody what you’re made of.
The ball’s in your court!
Fair comment Luis. I believe that if it was Andre’s decision alone you would get your rematch just as if it was Hatton’s choice you would. But politics so often over ride honor. I’m a Brit and I was convinced you had beaten Ricky and you defeated Berto just as clearly. Whatever happens in that devision you and Molesy are the champions and would’t it be a great gesture if Molesy gave you a shot. Now that would be better than defeating Hatton or Berto for the second time wouldn’t it?
Im so dissapointed for Luis Collazo. He’s been robbed again. I dont trust judges at all, because this happens on and on and nothing is done. Berto showed hes an unpolished, overrated fighter, that hasnt defeated any high caliber opponent, except the Collazo robbery. He’ll have to face more high quality fighters from now on and hes record will start to look a lot different soon because they cant keep protecting him like they did.
Is anyone ready for the cotto vs. jennings match? The margarito drama is in the past. I just bought the cotto track outfit from Ecko. Have you seen this?
http://www.shopecko.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=3204010&cp=3165999
They’ve got MMA stuff too but I’m from puerto rico so I gotta support my man Cotto.
A great fight can never be forgotten!
Robbery? dunno….