Boxing

The bay area's next big thing?

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published June 18, 2006

MEMPHIS - Lou DiBella says he respects Winky Wright, thinks Jeff Lacy is a nice guy and was rooting for Antonio Tarver to beat Bernard Hopkins last weekend.

All are excellent fighters.

Just not the best Tampa has to offer, according to the promoter.

That honor goes to promising welterweight Andre Berto, who's actually from Winter Haven. But saying he's the best from Polk County wouldn't have quite the same impact.

"That's no disrespect to Winky, but Winky's an older guy," DiBella said. "Of the young crop you have in Tampa, he's the best."

Berto still has to prove his promoter right, but there seems to be little doubt he will be the next champion from Central Florida.

"I want to be the next guy," Berto said on the eve of destroying Sammy Sparkman in less than two rounds Saturday night. "I feel like I'm from Tampa, as much as I've trained there."

DiBella gives much of the credit for Berto's development to Wright and Lacy, with whom Berto sparred many rounds at the St. Pete Boxing Club.

While neither fighter is willing to concede he is the best now, both see a bright future for Berto.

"Andre Berto is a really good fighter," Lacy said. "I'm not just saying that because I know him. I've seen and been in the ring with him. The one thing about him is he's got that Shane Mosley thing - he's slick with the power."

Berto is 13-0 as a pro, with 11 knockouts. As an amateur, he was one of the country's best and the favorite to make the 2004 Olympic team. He was the only American boxer to medal (bronze) at the 2003 World Championships, and twice won the Golden Gloves national championships at 152 pounds.

But a controversial disqualification ended his U.S. bid. Since his parents are Haitian-born, Berto was able to represent Haiti at the Olympics, but he did not medal.

It didn't matter. He was earmarked for fame.

"I called Berto before the Olympics and I said, "I don't care what you do in the Olympics, you are my No.1 draft pick,"' DiBella said. "Andre sparred his whole life with Winky Wright and Jeff Lacy. That's good training. And you know, Winky and Jeff, they helped make that kid what he is. I promise you, he's a world champion."

[Last modified June 18, 2006, 08:19:53]