Press Release: ( MIAMI , FLA. ) – Undefeated Welterweight World Champion Andre Berto ( Winter Haven , Fla. ) (23-0 , 19 Kos ) is featured in the January 12 issue of ESPN the Magazine. The six-page article highlights Berto’s road from an accomplished amateur to his second title defense on January 17 , 2009.

Entitled “1 , 506 Days with Andre Berto” , the story follows the WBC Welterweight World Champion through several important dates , ranging from his professional debut to the purchase of his first house and concludes with his upcoming bout with Luis Collazo.  Providing background into several areas of his life , including his tenure at a local jewelry store and relationship with longtime trainer , Tony Morgan , the six-page spread provides insight to the bumpy road to a world title. The feature is highlighted on the cover with the headline , “1 , 506 Days With Boxing’s Next Great Thing. 

Author Tim Struby selected Berto four years ago after receiving advice from numerous trainers , promoters and boxing executives , and his pick paid off in the form of a welterweight world title and undefeated professional record. “All we needed were two things – the right guy and a thousand lucky breaks , ” Struby writes in the article. “We think of him as our storytelling lottery ticket.”

The 2004 Olympian will face his toughest test to date in his second title defense on January 17 , 2009 in Biloxi , Miss. Berto will take on former World Champion Luis Collazo (Brooklyn , N.Y.) (29-3 , 14 KOs) at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino with the fight headlining HBO’s first Boxing After Dark event of 2009.

Collazo held the WBA Welterweight title in 2005 , recording victories over Jose Antonio Rivera and Miguel Antonio Gonzalez before losing the belt to Ricky Hatton via a close , controversial decision. The 25-year-old Berto is currently in training camp in Miami , preparing for the welterweight clash , which will kick off his fifth year as a professional.

Launched in 1998 , ESPN the Magazine is read worldwide with a circulation rate base of over two million readers.

Andre Berto is the World Boxing Council Welterweight World Champion and maintains a perfect 23-0 record as a professional. An accomplished amateur with numerous national titles , Berto represented Haiti in the 2004 Olympic Games. A Haitian-American , Berto comes from a fighting family. His father , Dieusuel competed as an Ultimate Fighter before a devastating car crash ended his career and brother Edson and sister Revelina are professional MMA fighters.