GL: It's been a while since we've had you on Boxingtalk. What's the latest and greatest with Andre Berto? "The latest is I've been staying on my grind. I've only been home for like three days since the fight. I've been on the road doing the self promotion thing, I've been doing radio interviews, photo shoots, I've just been on the road making things happen, negotiating with a lot of people, everybody should know that I am a businessman also. Boxing wise, it looks like I'll be back in the ring sometime in January or the first weekend of February. We're still working on some things, but as soon as something is solid I'll let you know."

GL: Who are some of the names under consideration for your next fight?

Andre Berto: "There's a few names. I've heard Gutierrez, Zab Judah's name has come up as well, but there's nothing solid yet."

GL: At this point, are you ready for someone like Zab Judah?

AB: "Oh yeah, definitely. I'm ready to break the mold. They know that I'm the new kid on the block, I'm ready to show them that I'm the next coming. There's no way to sugar coat it, it is what it is."

GL: How does a fight between you and Zab play out?

AB: (laughs) "A fight with me and Zab, I don't think it would go too far. But it would definitely be a tough fight. He's a sharp fighter and a tough veteran but I would eventually break him down and get him out of there."

GL: How long would it take for you to get him out of there?

AB: "As soon as it comes I'm taking it. It doesn't matter. I would be surprised, very surprised if he went twelve rounds with me. You've been waiting for this for a long time G, and I can't believe you've got me talking some shit!"

GL: Based on his name recognition and your belief that you get him out of there, would you prefer a fight with Judah over Gutierrez?

AB: "It makes no difference to me who I fight, but I want to make the fight that generates the most interest and most money. Every fight I have needs to mean something. I don't want to have any fights that are meaningless. They all have to be stepping stones to help me get closer to me with a world title or on the pound for pound list."

GL: Andre Berto is ready to use Zab Judah as a stepping stone?

AB: "Any of the top welterweights in the division are stepping stones at this point."

GL: Who do you like in Cotto-Mosley?

AB: "I got to say Mosley."

GL: Paul Williams and Kermit Cintron are supposed to be fighting on February 2. Who do you like in that one?

AB: "I didn't know anything about that fight, but I like Paul in that one."

GL: Andre Berto world champion 2008?

AB: "That's the plan and that's what it's going to be. It's destined to happen. I'm very focused right now, and after the last fight the only thing I've been thinking about was getting into the next camp to further myself. The more success you have the more focused you have to be because they're waiting for you to fall. I don't want to give them room to say anything so I'm going to stay on my grind in and out of the ring."

GL: I heard rumors you and a certain website owner were cruising midtown Manhattan in a sparkly new four door Maserati last week, you know hitting up the pizza shops at 5am and things like that. Is there any truth to that?

AB: "It's true. Boxingtalk is really doing it big. When you see your boy, the President of a Boxing website driving a Maserati throughout Manhattan like it's nothing, crazy ladies chasing him on the street like he's a rockstar, it's definitely official, so don't be surprised."

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

AB: "I appreciate the love I've been getting. I just got back from New York and I was getting a lot of love and it's been more of the same everywhere I've gone. I'm ready to return the favor to the fans when I get into the ring. There's a new breed in boxing and we're here to revive  it."

M

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