It was announced today that Andre Berto has decided to withdraw from his scheduled January 30th bout with Shane Mosley due to “physical & emotional exhaustion” suffered by both he and his family in wake of the tragedy in his native Haiti. Berto, a Haitian-American who represented the small island country in the 2004 Olympics, plans to focus his efforts and energy to support those suffering as a result of last week’s earthquake which has claimed thousands of lives, including 8 members of his own family.
In a statement released today, he goes on express the emotional toll the devastation in his home country has had on him. “Since the 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday evening, I have been focusing on my family and the Haitian people who are facing an inconceivable battle for survival while still trying to continue to prepare for an opportunity I have dreamt of since childhood.” He goes on to say: “I lost several family members to the earthquake and, after two days without word, was relieved to learn that my sister, Naomi, and her daughter, Jessica, survived, but were left homeless. I have seen the pain in my parents’ eyes as they attempt to understand what has happened to our homeland and recognize a place they once called home.”
Read Jemele Hill’s full article here, at ESPN Boxing.
Also, read Dan Rafael’s report at ESPN.
T.J. Breeden
www.iblmedia.com
Not to be overlooked, this is undoubtedly the biggest fight of Berto’s career! A win here puts him in line for $7-8M minimums with Miguel Cotto who, is still in the conversation (and his loss to PacMan will be looked at with less scrutiny if the papers are signed and Mayweather takes his 1st ’L’ in March), Tim Bradley (if/when he moves up in weight), Juan Manuel Marquez, maybe Paul Williams, Pacquiao, or “Money.” On the other hand, a win for Shane guarantees him a shot at the winner of the Pacquiao-Mayweather sweepstakes in the fall of 2010, and his first legitimate mega fight since his BALCO laced win over De la Hoya in the ’03 rematch.
