Andre Berto - an outstanding American boxer with a touching love for Haiti

Andre Berto was not born in Haiti, but his heart belongs to this country, from which his whole family emigrated in 1980.

A native of Winter Haven, Fla., Began boxing at the age of 10, thanks to his father, a former professional fighter in mixed martial arts (the elder brother and sister Andre participate in the battles of the MMA).

Outstanding amateur

Andre Berto quickly showed his outstanding qualities in the ring.

He became the champion of the boxing tournament "Golden Gloves" in 2001 and 2003, a three-time winner of the US amateur championship. During this time, in general, he climbed 22 times on the podium at the championships in his native state.

In 2004, Berto qualified and was able to take part in the Olympics, but was disqualified for pushing Juan McPherson's opponent to the edge of the ring.

Protest Andre was approved, but the US boxing association canceled this decision, and the athlete was expelled from the tournament. Later, Berto had a chance to represent Haiti at the Olympics, but he lost in the first round.

Sunrise to the top of glory

The first professional fight of Andre Berto took place in Arkansas in December 2004.

He defeated 13 of his 15 opponents, and in December 2006, after a technical knockout of Miguel Figueroa, was named one of the popular Internet publications "The Discovery of the Year."

Andre Berto continued on his way to the top of the welterweight division, having beaten such boxers as Norberto Bravo, Cosme Rivera and David Estrada.

The first serious chance for victory was introduced by Berto in June 2008 at the World Championships in Memphis, where he had to fight for the title against Miguel Angel Rodriguez.

The technical knockout in the seventh round allowed Berto to get the long-awaited belt.

Protection of Haiti

Then Andre continued to hold the title, defeating Steve Forbes, Luis Collazo and Juan Urganto.

In January 2010, he was to continue the battle for the title against Shane Mosley, but the fight had to be canceled because of an earthquake in Haiti.

Together with his uncle and family members killed in this terrible catastrophe, André Berto joined a group that, enlisting the help of doctors and stocking necessary medical equipment from the States, went to Haiti to help eliminate the consequences of the earthquake and provide all possible assistance to the victims.

Later, Berto recalls everything as a terrible dream. He tells how he was struck by the houses that formed as a house of cards, as if the country, which forever belongs to his heart, became a place of military operations.

Battle for the title

In April 2010, Andre Berto returned to the ring, again defending his title in the fight against Carlos Quintana, in Sunrise, Florida, and then in November 2010 against Freddie Hernandez in Las Vegas.

In April 2011, Berto failed to win, and the title passed to Victor Ortiz, who sent the opponent in a knockdown in the first round.

But this loss did not mark the black streak in Andre's life, and already in September 2011, in a fight against Jan Zawek, he managed to win again the title of welterweight.

The battle with failures

Wanting to take revenge on Ortiz, Andre Berto abandoned the belt to not engage in another bout with challenger Randall Bailey.

The revenge was scheduled for June 2012, but was canceled a month before the fight.

Upon returning to the ring, Berto lost the 12-round fight to Robert Guerrero in November 2012.

Then in July 2013 followed by a technical knockout in the fight against Jesús Soto Karass. At the beginning of the fight against Karass, Berto injured his right shoulder and in August 2013 had to seek help from a surgeon to repair a damaged tendon.

He left the fighting until September 2014, where he won a battle against Steve Chambers.

In battle with new forces

Berto continued his triumphal march in the fight against Hositito Lopez on March 13, 2015, battling at the first Premier Boxing Championship on Spike TV.

Berto began slowly, giving the opponent to win the early rounds, but already in the fourth raised the tempo, beginning to strike accurate blows on the opponent's body. Knockdown in the sixth round helped Andre Berto win a temporary welterweight title.

In September 2015, a fight was fought against Floyd Mayweather for the world title at welterweight, but Mayweather managed to retain the title behind him.

What will happen later? Will Andre Berto decide to step aside or continue his bitter battle for the title?