By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
Overwhelmed by family loss in the Haiti earthquake, welterweight titleholder Andre Berto withdrew on Monday from his scheduled unification fight with Shane Mosley on Jan. 30 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
The cancellation of the fight could lead to Mosley instead defending his title against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the spring.
"Since the 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday evening, I have been focusing on my family and the Haitian people who are facing an inconceivable battle for survival while still trying to continue to prepare for an opportunity I have dreamt of since childhood," Berto said in a statement. "I lost several family members to the earthquake and, after two days without word, was relieved to learn that my sister, Naomi, and her daughter, Jessica, survived, but were left homeless. I have seen the pain in my parents' eyes as they attempt to understand what has happened to our homeland and recognize a place they once called home.
"As a result of this disaster, I am mentally and physically exhausted and, therefore, I have no choice but to withdraw from my bout on January 30."
Berto lost at least eight family members in the disaster.
Berto's parents were born in Haiti before immigrating in 1980 to Winter Haven, Fla., where Berto grew up and still lives. Berto (25-0, 19 KOs) also represented Haiti in the 2004 Olympic Games and has done charitable work there for the past several years.
"Throughout the past six days, I have received an incredible outpouring of support, and I sincerely appreciate everyone's prayers for the people of Haiti," Berto said. "I hope that everyone will continue to keep the Haitian people in their thoughts and prayers as we work to rebuild this proud nation. The rebuilding of Haiti is not something that will happen overnight, but I am fully dedicated to helping the Haitian people recover from this catastrophic event."
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who promotes Mosley, said he told Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) about the cancellation of the fight, and he was understanding.
"It's just a very unfortunate situation," Schaefer said. "This is unbelievable. Everyone has seen the pictures from Haiti and followed this devastating situation. We all feel very bad for Andre. We know where his focus needs to be and that is with his family and his people. I talked to Shane. Obviously, he shares the sentiment. He feels bad for Andre and understands. But at the same time he is disappointed because he is in amazing shape with two weeks to go, and now this fight fell out. He is not happy about it, but he fully understands the situation. We just wish the best for Andre Berto."
The cancellation of the fight may open another door for Mosley. With the Manny Pacquiao-Mayweather fight falling apart and Pacquiao moving on to face Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium on March 13, the date Pacquiao-Mayweather was supposed to take place on, it left Mayweather without an opponent.
Schaefer, who promotes Mosley and is working with Mayweather, had announced that Mayweather would also fight on March 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on a pay-per-view that would compete with Pacquiao-Clottey.
However, behind the scenes, plans were being made for Mayweather to go on an alternative date. Now, Mayweather could wind up challenging Mosley for his title on May 1, a date Golden Boy has been holding for a pay-per-view event at the MGM Grand.
"That is a super fight, and now my next order of business -- to see if we can put [Mosley-Mayweather] together," Schaefer said. "That is what I am going to be doing in the coming hours. The sooner the better if we can get this potential fight done. With Shane now being available and Floyd being available, that's a fight all fight fans and sports fans would embrace. This would be a huge showdown. Shane has wanted that fight for awhile. That's what I am going to try to do."
Berto's schedule will remain up in the air while he deals with his family loss. He had stormed through his professional career to win a vacant 147-pound title via seventh-round knockout of Miguel Angel Rodriguez in 2008 and has made three defenses against Steve Forbes, former titleholder Luis Collazo and junior welterweight titlist Juan Urango. But the showdown with Mosley was by far the most significant bout of his career and a way to stamp himself as a star with a victory.
But the family tragedy was too much for him to continue training for the bout.
"I think he made a correct decision for himself," said Lou DiBella, Berto's promoter throughout his professional career. "Your mental health and physically health are more important than one fight. I know that Andre has been in agony since this happened. He has been really struggling. He is mentally and physically exhausted and I don't think he's been sleeping. He's been torn about whether to fight and had to make this decision. I think he's going to go to Haiti next week.
"It's the right decision. It's impossible to watch those pictures from Haiti even if you're not Haitian. But he and his family and his parents are suffering. It hits very close to home. How could any human being focus under those circumstances? I'm glad for Andre that he made this decision for himself."
The entire Jan. 30 card has been called off. The undercard included several notable bouts, including Glen Johnson against Yusaf Mack in a light heavyweight title eliminator, former junior welterweight titlist Vivian Harris facing Lucas Matthysse and former junior middleweight titleholder Sergio Mora ending a year-plus layoff to fight Jason Naugler in his first fight since signing with Golden Boy Promotions.
Schaefer said he would huddle with matchmaker Eric Gomez to notify the fighters that the card was off and to discuss alternatives.
DiBella said everyone involved in the show, from his staff to Golden Boy to HBO, which was to launch the 2010 season of "World Championship Boxing" with the fight, was supportive of Berto's decision.
"Not one person involved in the promotion had any negative response to this decision," DiBella said. "Everyone empathizes with Andre and his whole family. The young man's well-being outweighs any one fight."
HBO's Kery Davis echoed DiBella.
"Andre Berto is a terrific athlete and an even better person," Davis said. "We can only imagine the pain the earthquake has caused the entire Berto family. Our thoughts and prayers are with Andre and we hope to have him back on HBO when he is ready to return to the ring."
Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
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Senin, 18 Januari 2010
Devastated Andre Berto Pulls Out of Fight With Mosley -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
Emotionally distraught Andre Berto is pulling out of his scheduled Jan. 30 title matchup opposite Shane Mosley, as a result of having lost several family members during last week's earthquake in Haiti.
The 26-year-old Berto (25-0, 19 knockouts) "has not slept in about six days, and he's not physically well, and he's not mentally well," said Berto's promoter, Lou DiBella. "I made it clear to Andre a while ago that he didn't have to be a hero, and that he had to do what was right for himself and his family."
"Since the 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday evening, I have been focusing on my family and the Haitian people who are facing an inconceivable battle for survival while still trying to continue to prepare for an opportunity I have dreamt of since childhood," said Berto in a statement released on Monday.
"I lost several family members to the earthquake, and after two days without word, was relieved to learn that my sister, Naomi, and her daughter, Jessica, survived, but were left homeless," Berto said.
"I have seen the pain in my parents' eyes as they attempt to understand what has happened to our homeland and recognize a place they once called home," said Berto. "As a result of this disaster, I am mentally and physically exhausted and therefore I have no choice but to withdraw from my bout on January 30."
Berto's oldest sibling, Naomi, and her 12-year-old daughter were missing until Thursday -- two days after the earthquake struck -- when they were found wandering Haiti's rubble-filled streets.
But by then, Berto told FanHouse that he already had discovered "about eight or nine relatives in all who we know are dead right now."
"Mentally, I've been trying to get my workouts in, regardless, but my mind has definitely been on this [Haiti] situation," said Berto, a Hatian-American who represented the island nation in the 2004 Olympics and whose parents, Diuseul and Wilnise, were born in Haiti.
"This fight is the biggest fight of my life," said Berto. "But Haiti -- and the people of Haiti -- they are my life."
On Sunday night, FanHouse learned that the 38-year-old Mosley, who is the WBC's super champ, will meet Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) on May 1 at a site and location to be determined.
"This is a young man going through a horrible, horrible horror. Just watch the pictures on CNN if you're not Hatian. But if you've lost family, and if your parents are born there, then the horrors are immeasurable," said DiBella, a New York native and resident who "was a mess for months after 9-11, but I didn't lose any family members."
"Literally, an entire city has collapsed, and placed people in jeopardy. And those people are Andre Berto's people. Andre has a long career ahead of him, and this is a personal decision, and, obviously, the right decision for him," said DiBella.
"There's no second-guessing here. Everyone from HBO, to Golden Boy Promotions, to everyone we've talked to -- the reaction has all been about empathy and humanity because that's what it should be."
Berto is assisting Hatians through his Web site, andreberto.com, as well as another, carmafoundation.org.
"Throughout the past six days, I have received an incredible outpouring of support, and I sincerely appreciate everyone's prayers for the people of Haiti," said Berto.
"I hope that everyone will continue to keep the Haitian people in their thoughts and prayers as we work to rebuild this proud nation," said Berto. "The rebuilding of Haiti is not something that will happen overnight, but I am fully dedicated to helping the Haitian people recover from this catastrophic event."
(Note: The Red Cross has set up a donation texting system wherein texting "HAITI," followed by, "90999," sends $10 per text to the Haitian Relief Fund. In addition, the U.S. government has designated a telephone number -- 1-888-407-4747 -- for people seeking information about friends and relatives in the country.)
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Emotionally distraught Andre Berto is pulling out of his scheduled Jan. 30 title matchup opposite Shane Mosley, as a result of having lost several family members during last week's earthquake in Haiti.
The 26-year-old Berto (25-0, 19 knockouts) "has not slept in about six days, and he's not physically well, and he's not mentally well," said Berto's promoter, Lou DiBella. "I made it clear to Andre a while ago that he didn't have to be a hero, and that he had to do what was right for himself and his family."
"Since the 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday evening, I have been focusing on my family and the Haitian people who are facing an inconceivable battle for survival while still trying to continue to prepare for an opportunity I have dreamt of since childhood," said Berto in a statement released on Monday.
"I lost several family members to the earthquake, and after two days without word, was relieved to learn that my sister, Naomi, and her daughter, Jessica, survived, but were left homeless," Berto said.
"I have seen the pain in my parents' eyes as they attempt to understand what has happened to our homeland and recognize a place they once called home," said Berto. "As a result of this disaster, I am mentally and physically exhausted and therefore I have no choice but to withdraw from my bout on January 30."
Berto's oldest sibling, Naomi, and her 12-year-old daughter were missing until Thursday -- two days after the earthquake struck -- when they were found wandering Haiti's rubble-filled streets.
But by then, Berto told FanHouse that he already had discovered "about eight or nine relatives in all who we know are dead right now."
"Mentally, I've been trying to get my workouts in, regardless, but my mind has definitely been on this [Haiti] situation," said Berto, a Hatian-American who represented the island nation in the 2004 Olympics and whose parents, Diuseul and Wilnise, were born in Haiti.
"This fight is the biggest fight of my life," said Berto. "But Haiti -- and the people of Haiti -- they are my life."
On Sunday night, FanHouse learned that the 38-year-old Mosley, who is the WBC's super champ, will meet Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) on May 1 at a site and location to be determined.
"This is a young man going through a horrible, horrible horror. Just watch the pictures on CNN if you're not Hatian. But if you've lost family, and if your parents are born there, then the horrors are immeasurable," said DiBella, a New York native and resident who "was a mess for months after 9-11, but I didn't lose any family members."
"Literally, an entire city has collapsed, and placed people in jeopardy. And those people are Andre Berto's people. Andre has a long career ahead of him, and this is a personal decision, and, obviously, the right decision for him," said DiBella.
"There's no second-guessing here. Everyone from HBO, to Golden Boy Promotions, to everyone we've talked to -- the reaction has all been about empathy and humanity because that's what it should be."
Berto is assisting Hatians through his Web site, andreberto.com, as well as another, carmafoundation.org.
"Throughout the past six days, I have received an incredible outpouring of support, and I sincerely appreciate everyone's prayers for the people of Haiti," said Berto.
"I hope that everyone will continue to keep the Haitian people in their thoughts and prayers as we work to rebuild this proud nation," said Berto. "The rebuilding of Haiti is not something that will happen overnight, but I am fully dedicated to helping the Haitian people recover from this catastrophic event."
(Note: The Red Cross has set up a donation texting system wherein texting "HAITI," followed by, "90999," sends $10 per text to the Haitian Relief Fund. In addition, the U.S. government has designated a telephone number -- 1-888-407-4747 -- for people seeking information about friends and relatives in the country.)
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Rabu, 13 Januari 2010
Berto concerned after earthquake -- ESPN
By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
While welterweight titlist Andre Berto trains for the biggest fight of his career, a Jan. 30 unification bout against Shane Mosley, his thoughts the past two days have understandably wandered from his preparation.
Berto is Haitian-American, and he is very concerned about what is happening on the Caribbean island, where a massive 7.0-magnitude earthquake devastated the country on Tuesday.
Thousands are feared dead while rescue efforts continue in the poverty-stricken nation.
"I'm devastated by everything currently happening in Haiti," Berto said Wednesday. "As everybody knows, I have a lot of family members in Haiti and proudly represented Haiti in the 2004 Olympic Games. Like many other Haitian-Americans, my family and I are working to reach my loved ones. From what we have learned to this point, some of my family members are still missing and we have already been informed that members of my family have passed away in the earthquake."
Berto (25-0, 19 KOs) was born in the United States, but his parents were both born in Haiti before arriving in the United States as immigrants and settling in Winter Haven, Fla., where the 26-year-old still lives and trains.
Berto has been involved in Haitian charitable causes and has a foundation with offices in Port-au-Prince, the capital, which was hit very hard by the earthquake.
"Andre has a strong Haitian identity and has been involved with Haitian causes for a long time," said Lou DiBella, who has promoted Berto for his entire career. "His foundation's office has collapsed and he knows that members of his mother's family are missing and presumed dead. It's a bad situation."
DiBella said Berto has not broken camp while continuing to train for the bout, which will take place at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
"He's training as hard as he can and trying to approach this fight with Mosley with a clear head, but right now he is personally distraught," DiBella said. "But I think he will turn that energy to his advantage because he knows that going out there and winning the fight will mean a lot to his Haitian fans and put him in a better position [financially] to help his people. He has friends and family all over Haiti, so pray for them. Pray for all the people of Haiti. My office is helping see what we can do."
Berto said he is figuring out what sort of help he can offer to his people.
"We are currently working on starting our own Haitian relief efforts, and I will be releasing additional information on how everyone can help very soon," Berto said. "I am asking everyone for their continued thoughts and prayers for the people in Haiti during this devastating time."
Dan Rafael is ESPN.com's boxing writer.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
While welterweight titlist Andre Berto trains for the biggest fight of his career, a Jan. 30 unification bout against Shane Mosley, his thoughts the past two days have understandably wandered from his preparation.
Berto is Haitian-American, and he is very concerned about what is happening on the Caribbean island, where a massive 7.0-magnitude earthquake devastated the country on Tuesday.
Thousands are feared dead while rescue efforts continue in the poverty-stricken nation.
"I'm devastated by everything currently happening in Haiti," Berto said Wednesday. "As everybody knows, I have a lot of family members in Haiti and proudly represented Haiti in the 2004 Olympic Games. Like many other Haitian-Americans, my family and I are working to reach my loved ones. From what we have learned to this point, some of my family members are still missing and we have already been informed that members of my family have passed away in the earthquake."
Berto (25-0, 19 KOs) was born in the United States, but his parents were both born in Haiti before arriving in the United States as immigrants and settling in Winter Haven, Fla., where the 26-year-old still lives and trains.
Berto has been involved in Haitian charitable causes and has a foundation with offices in Port-au-Prince, the capital, which was hit very hard by the earthquake.
"Andre has a strong Haitian identity and has been involved with Haitian causes for a long time," said Lou DiBella, who has promoted Berto for his entire career. "His foundation's office has collapsed and he knows that members of his mother's family are missing and presumed dead. It's a bad situation."
DiBella said Berto has not broken camp while continuing to train for the bout, which will take place at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
"He's training as hard as he can and trying to approach this fight with Mosley with a clear head, but right now he is personally distraught," DiBella said. "But I think he will turn that energy to his advantage because he knows that going out there and winning the fight will mean a lot to his Haitian fans and put him in a better position [financially] to help his people. He has friends and family all over Haiti, so pray for them. Pray for all the people of Haiti. My office is helping see what we can do."
Berto said he is figuring out what sort of help he can offer to his people.
"We are currently working on starting our own Haitian relief efforts, and I will be releasing additional information on how everyone can help very soon," Berto said. "I am asking everyone for their continued thoughts and prayers for the people in Haiti during this devastating time."
Dan Rafael is ESPN.com's boxing writer.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
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