Andre Berto has a Posse

Members of the boxing press are often heard complaining about the undue influence manager Al Haymon exerts on the sport and HBO in particular. Said scribes often cite welterweight Andre Berto as the most obvious evidence that Haymon is secretly pulling the strings at the premium cable network, pointing to Berto’s string of lucrative televised outings against questionable opposition.

Saturday night’s edition of Boxing After Dark in Biloxi will do little to sway those conspiracy theorists as the 2004 U.S. Olympian rebounded from his first career loss by capturing the IBF welterweight strap from Jan Zaveck. The Slovenian was forced to retire after the 5th round thanks to nasty gashes over both eyes. Critics will say Berto, who still lacks a signature win over a marquee opponent, was gifted another opportunity he didn’t deserve against an unknown opponent and now sports a meaningless trinket.

But one could also point out Berto dominated The Ring’s fourth-ranked welterweight for most of the fight while delivering another action-packed, made-for-TV performance. Has Berto turned into a fan-friendly fighter because he’s always on the air or was HBO simply the first to see what was always there? The point is moot. The man belongs on the airwaves and we’d just as soon watch him fight as any welter this side of Manny and Floyd.To his credit, Zaveck gave a game performance and appeared genuinely torn up when his corner stopped the fight. But he couldn’t handle Berto’s speed early and was clearly outclassed in the first three rounds. Eventually Zaveck began standing forehead to forehead and fighting on the inside, but the heavy rights of Berto combined with repeated head clashes quickly opened up wounds above both eyes that streamed blood and obscured his vision.

Berto is a formidable foe at 147 lbs. and a marketable commodity for an opponent capable of selling tickets in their own right. Of course the top choice for any fighter around welter would be Mayweather or Pacquiao, but should the two come through their next fights unscathed a superfight appears finally on track to take place. Other possibilities include a rematch with Victor Ortiz, squaring off with Philly contender Mike Jones or even a clash of styles with slick southpaw Devon Alexander, who can sell tickets in St. Louis and has promised to move up to 147.

Perhaps the larger evidence of Haymon’s influence was the presence of Maryland featherweight prospect Mr. Gary Russell Jr. on the undercard in an eight-round bout against Leonilo Miranda, but even that can be explained by the boxing world’s fascination with Russell’s seemingly unlimited potential. Russell showed off every ounce of his Olympic pedigree and blinding handspeed while dominating Miranda for a unanimous decision.

We’ve talked about Russell here before, largely because his family are the kingpins of the DMV boxing scene at the moment. The six brothers (all named Gary) dominate the local amateur ranks. Younger brother Gary Allan Russell III was disqualified from this year’s Olympic trials reportedly because he failed to make weight (in his case 141 lbs.). Another younger brother, Gary Antonio Russell, won his weight class at the this year’s Washington regional Golden Gloves but fell short at nationals.

My trainer Rodriguez, who is acquainted with the family, informed me recently there was even a seventh brother, who was similarly talented before he was tragically struck down in an act of violence several years ago.

And then there’s Gary Russell Jr., widely considered the premier American prospect at the moment. He’s probably ready for almost anyone at featherweight but like Howard Lederer we think Philly’s Teon Kennedy would be a great step-up. Russell hasn’t been seriously challenged yet and he’s unlikely to be tested by the string of stiffs they’ve had him fighting so far. The time has clearly come to dispense with the kid gloves and let the man show what he can do.