Berto survives knockdown to outduel Rivera

27/07/2007

Berto survives knockdown to outduel Rivera

Andre Berto W10 Cosme Rivera... ESPN showed that when it wants to purse excellent fights, it knows how to get them, and it got an excellent main event for its money on Friday. Undefeated Andre Berto survived significant adversity in the form of a sixth-round knockdown to defeat welterweight gatekeeper Cosme Rivera by scores of 97-92 and 98-91 (twice) in Saratoga Springs, New York. Berto was sent to the canvas in the sixth round, and it was no flash knockdown, either, as Rivera landed a huge uppercut that sent Berto stumbling down. Berto showed he can take apunch, though, as he immediately arose clear eyed and ready to fight. After a tape problem gave Berto a few extra seconds between rounds, he and Rivera engaged in a pirited toe-to-toe seventh that saw Berto's power punches open a big cut near Rivera's eye. The cut would hamper Rivera the rest of the way, as Berto pursued it aggressively and the blood flowed openly. Rivera is now 30-11-2.  Berto, 19-0, is slotted in for an HBO fight in late September, a bout DiBella Entertainment will fomrally make next week. source: dibella entertainment

Chazz Witherspoon TKO9 Talmadge Griffis... In the ESPN2 opener from Saratoga Springs, New York, heavyweight prospect Chazz Witherspoon started tentatively but gradaully turned up the heat until the referee saved an owerwhelmed Talmadge Griffis in the ninth round. Witherspoon let Griffis dictate the tempo in the early rounds of the heavyweight contest, but Witherspoon made the adjustment and took charge after three or four rounds. Griffis did get knocked down, but he didn't protest the stoppage too much, either. Witherspoon is now 19-0, while Griffis is now 24-7-3.   source: dibella entertainment