Two very skilled boxing technicians will meet this Saturday night on the Shane Mosley vs Ricardo Mayorga undercard with a welterweight bout between Andre Berto vs Steve Forbes. Andre Berto, 22-0, 19 KO’s, will be making the first defense of his new W.B.C welterweight title against the veteran contender Steve Forbes, 33-6, 9 KO’s. Forbes has faced the best over his 12-year career and has never been stopped. Andre Berto is regarded as the top contender in the world to beat welterweight world champ Antonio Margarito. Can Berto be the first man to stop Forbes? Does the small Forbes have enough ammo to hold off the young lion Andre? The boxing betting odds for the Andre Berto vs Steve Forbes fight have Berto as a -675 favorite.
Steve Forbes is a fast and crafty fighter that knows his way around a boxing ring. The problem for Forbes against Berto will be his lack of power and size, against a prime fighter with a new title. Berto has all the tools to be the world champion but, Berto must first show he can blend his offense and defense better. If there is one flaw I see in Berto’s game it’s his inability to slip more shots and counter. Berto will stay defensive at times far too long when he should be counterpunching. Forbes also has a nice set of tools but, the 31-year old Forbes athletic ability is well-below the 25-year old Berto’s.
Berto is a physical specimen that throws some thunderous body blows. Berto has a variety of punches that he can do damage with including, a blitzing right uppercut that is very accurate. Forbes has a well educated left jab that he uses well to set up his own combinations. Forbes also suffer from the same problem as Berto however by not knowing how to blend offense and defense very well. Forbes can have a sparring partner’s mentality at times. Forbes was content with just losing to Oscar De La Hoya by decision rather than risk getting KO’d.
In this bout you would have to go with the fighter that can use more effective aggression with their slickness. Forbes can bite down on his mouthpiece and do some good work inside, but having had 287 rounds of prizefighting, have the fights taken their toll Forbes? Forbes is only 31 but his ring odometer is high. Forbes is also financially well off now and he might not be real hungry. Berto is still a fresh lion with some quicks but Berto still hasn’t shown himself to be quite a pound-4-pound entrant just yet.
Andre Berto vs Steve Forbes Boxing Betting Odds
Berto -675
Forbes +450
Andre Berto Power Ratings 1-10 Marchetti Scale
*Power: 7 (* indicates x200%)
Size: 7
Speed: 9
Stamina: 8
Defense: 8
Chin: 7
Cuts: 9
Heart: 8
Legs: 7
Jab\Reach: 7
In-Fighting: 8
Ring IQ: 8
Peak: 9
Marchetti Rating: 10.2
Tale-of-the-Tape for Andre Berto
From: Winterhaven, FL via Hati
Height: 5'8
Weight: 146-149
Reach: 72
Age: 25
Style: Boxer\Puncher
Best Punch: Left Hook
Steve Forbes Power Ratings 1-10 Marchetti Scale
*Power: 4 (* indicates x200%)
Size: 4
Speed: 7
Stamina: 9
Defense: 7
Chin: 8
Cuts: 8
Heart: 8
Legs: 7
Jab\Reach: 7
In-Fighting: 7
Ring IQ: 8
Peak: 6
Marchetti Rating: 8.4
Tale-of-the-Tape for Steve Forbes
From: Las Vegas, Nevada
Height: 5'7
Weight: 130-150
Reach: 68
Age: 31
Style: Slickster
Best Punch: Left Hook
