GL: Can you give us some final thoughts on your fight with Cosme Rivera tomorrow night? "Yes sir. I'm finally done with training camp, I'm out here in Albany, New York right now and I'm looking to put on a show on Friday night. I know I'm going to have a lot of eyes watching. I've had a pretty good camp so I'm just going to go in there and do what I do."

GL: In previous discussions you've made it clear that Rivera will not go the distance. Can you refresh our memories as to why this fight will end via KO?

Andre Berto: "That's the plan right now to end it within the distances, my intentions are to knock him out. Zab Judah is the only one to stop him and I think it would make a pretty strong statement to stop him."

GL: Do you want the boxing world to view this fight as a beginning of things to come as you continue to step up your opposition?

AB: "As the opposition gets tougher I want to look sharper, that's the plan. This fight should seperate me from Joel Julio and any other prospect. People need to start viewing me as a contender."

GL: We are all aware of your offensive prowess, what we are still unaware of is if you've tightened up your defense, which by your own admission, needed some work?

AB: "Yeah, definitely. We've worked hard on it in the gym, but the only way for you to see it in full effect is in the fight. You could work on something all day long, but if you don't put that into effect it doesn't mean anything, so we'll have to wait and see on Friday night to see what happens."

GL: Joel Julio turned you down for September 29, I know you're not looking past Rivera, but do you have any idea who you could be facing on that date?

AB: "David Estrada's name keeps coming up so he may be the one, but once I get this one out of the way I'll sit down with the rest of the team and see which fight makes the most sense."

GL: Is there anything you'd like to say in closing?

AB: "I appreciate all of the support from everyone. If you can't make it to Saratoga Springs, tune into ESPN Friday Night Fights because I'm going to have to have some fun."

M

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