In what is quickly becoming the biggest annual event of upstate New York’s revived boxing scene, welterweight prospect Andre Berto (18-0, 16 KOs) faces his stiffest competition yet, as he takes on former world title challenger Cosme Rivera in the featured bout of promoter Lisa Elovich’s show at the Saratoga Springs City Center, in Saratoga Springs, New York, on July 27, 2007.

Boxingtalk readers will remember Rivera (30-10-2, 21 KOs) from his unsuccessful attempt at Zab Judah’s undisputed welterweight title in 2005, which was Judah’s only defense of the crown he won from Cory Spinks earlier that year.  More recently, Rivera dropped a controversial split decision to highly regarded welterweight prospect Joel Julio in an entertaining fight, despite having dropped Julio in the 12th round.

Berto, a 2004 Olympian, is taking on his toughest opposition yet.  The DiBella Entertainment fighter will be looking to make a statement against Rivera in order to answer some questions about his defense, and as a benchmark to separate himself from fellow welterweight prospect Julio.

Also featured on the card are Philadelphia heavyweight prospect Chazz Witherspoon (18-0, 16 KOs), Kingston super middleweight Brandon Mitchem (25-4, 8 KOs), undefeated welterweight Wayland Willingham (11-0, 6 KOs), and exciting Troy heavyweight, and local fan favorite, Shannon Miller (15-3, 9 KOs).