Jan Zaveck vs. Andre Berto
{{Short description|Boxing match}}
{{Infobox boxing match
| Fight Name = Battle In Biloxi
| image = 250px
| caption =
| fight date = September 3, 2011
| location = Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.
| titles = IBF welterweight title
| fighter1 = {{flagicon|Slovenia}} Jan Zaveck
| nickname1 = "Mr. Sympathikus"
| hometown1 = Ptuj, Styria, Slovenia
| purse1 =
| record1 = 31–1 (18 KO)
| age1 = {{age in years and months |13 March 1976 |3 September 2011}}
| height1 = 5 ft 7+1/2 in
| weight1 = 146+1/2 lb
| style1 = Orthodox
| recognition1 = IBF
Welterweight Champion
The Ring
No. 4 ranked welterweight
| fighter2 = {{flagicon|USA}} Andre Berto
| nickname2 = "The Beast"
| hometown2 = Miami, Florida, U.S.
| purse2 =
| record2 = 27–1 (21 KO)
| age2 = {{age in years and months |September 7, 1983 |3 September 2011}}
| height2 = 5 ft 8+1/2 in
| weight2 = 146+3/4 lb
| style2 = Orthodox
| recognition2 = IBF
No. 9 ranked welterweight
The Ring
No. 3 ranked welterweight
Former WBC welterweight champion
| result = Berto defeats Zaveck via 5th round RTD.
}}
Jan Zaveck vs. Andre Berto was a professional boxing match contested on September 3, 2011, for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight title.{{cite web |title=Jan Zaveck vs. Andre Berto |url=https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/Jan_Zaveck_vs._Andre_Berto |website=boxrec.com |publisher=BoxRec |access-date=18 July 2024}} The fight took place at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, in Biloxi, Mississippi, United States on September 3, 2011 and was televised via HBO's Boxing After Dark.[http://www.hbo.com/boxing/fights/index.html#/boxing/fights/2011/09-03-jan-zaveck-vs-andre-berto/index.html HBO: Boxing]. HBO.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-31.
Background
After discussions to fight Paulie Malignaggi on the Canelo Álvarez vs. Ryan Rhodes undercard fell through,{{cite web | url=http://www.ringpolska.pl/boks-na-swiecie/8650-dejan-zavec-paul-malignaggi-18-czerwca |language=sl |access-date=4 September 2019 | title=Dejan Zavec - Paul Malignaggi 18 czerwca? |work=ringpolska.pl - boks, MMA, sporty walki, największy portal bokserski w Polsce |trans-title=Dejan Zavec - Paul Malignaggi June 18? |author1=Redakcja }} Zaveck traveled to Biloxi, Mississippi to face Andre Berto who had just lost the WBC welterweight title to Victor Ortiz.
Zaveck expressed the hope that a victory in his us debut would boost his career saying that "A win over someone like Berto will elevate me to a whole new level. Just like everyone else, I want to fight Mayweather and [Manny] Pacquiao, and I see this fight as my golden opportunity to make that happen."{{cite web |author1=Dan Rafael |title=Andre Berto reboots against Jan Zaveck |url=https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/6922063/andre-berto-reboots-jan-zaveck |website=espn.com |publisher=ESPN |access-date=18 July 2024 |date=2 September 2011}}
The fight
Despite being a 4-to-1 underdog coming into the fight, Zaveck proved competitive; trading clean punches with Berto and earning praise from HBO's Roy Jones Jr. In the fifth round, a number of cuts opened on Zavec's face, which resulted in Zaveck's corner waiving the fight off before the sixth round.{{cite web |title=Andre Berto Stops Jan Zaveck After Five |url=https://www.badlefthook.com/2011/9/4/2403787/andre-berto-stops-jan-zaveck-after-five |website=badlefthook.com |publisher=Bad Left Hook |access-date=18 July 2024 |date=4 September 2011}}
Aftermath
Berto thanked the Slovenian fans for traveling over to America to cheer their countryman on. He would call his performance "so-so", despite becoming a two-time welterweight champion.{{Cite news|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/834372-berto-wins-ibf-title-a-look-into-the-fight-and-the-future-of-the-two|title=Andre Berto Wins IBF Title: A Look into the Fight and the Future of the Two|last=Martin|first=Henry|work=Bleacher Report|access-date=April 24, 2017|language=en-US}}
Just over two months later he would vacate his IBF title rather than face mandatory challenger Randall Bailey in order to facilitate a rematch with Ortiz.{{cite web| title=Victor Ortíz vs Andre Berto Rematch: Lou DiBella Says Fight Is On | url=http://www.badlefthook.com/2011/11/23/2582724/victor-ortiz-vs-andre-berto-rematch-january-28-february-11-hbo-boxing-news| publisher=Bad Left Hook.com | date=November 23, 2011 | access-date=December 20, 2011 | last=Christ | first=Scott}} However, after Berto tested positive for a banned substance, the rematch against Ortiz planned for June 23, 2012, was cancelled.{{cite web| title=Andre Berto tests positive | url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/story/_/id/7946982/andre-berto-tests-positive-rematch-victor-ortiz-canceled | work=ESPN.com | date=May 28, 2012}}
Undercard
=Televised=
- WBC welterweight title bout: {{flagicon|Slovenia}} Dejan Zaveck vs. {{flagicon|USA}} Andre Berto
:Berto defeats Zaveck via Technical Knockout (Retirement) at 3:00 of round five.
- Featherweight bout: {{flagicon|USA}} Gary Russell Jr. vs. {{flagicon|Mexico}} Leonilo Miranda
:Russell Jr. defeats Miranda via Unanimous Decision. (80-72, 80-72, 79-72)
=Preliminary card=
- Super middleweight bout: {{flagicon|South Africa}} Thomas Oosthuizen vs. {{flagicon|USA}} Aaron Pryor Jr.
:Oosthuizen defeats Pryor Jr. via Unanimous Decision. (117-111, 117-111, 117-111)
- Welterweight bout: {{flagicon|USA}} Randall Bailey vs. {{flagicon|Dominican Republic}} Yoryi Estrella
:Bailey defeats Estrella via Unanimous Decision. (100-89, 100-89, 98-91)
- Featherweight bout: {{flagicon|Puerto Rico}} Luis Del Valle vs. {{flagicon|Kenya}} Anthony Napunyi
:Del Valle defeats Napunyi via Technical Knockout at 1:21 of round three.
- Light welterweight bout: {{flagicon|Ukraine}} Ivan Redkach vs. {{flagicon|USA}} Vernon Alston
:Redkach defeats Alston via Technical Knockout at 1:57 of round three.
- Light middleweight bout: {{flagicon|USA}} Gerald Jordan vs. {{flagicon|Georgia}} Sergio Vartanov
:Jordan defeats Vartanov via Split Decision. (59-54, 58-55, 56-58)
Broadcasting
| class="wikitable" | |
| align=center | Country
! align=center | Broadcaster | |
|---|---|
| {{flag|Hungary}} | Sport 2 |
| {{Flag|Slovenia}} | TV Slovenia |
| {{Flag|Sweden}} | Viasat |
| {{flag|United States}} | HBO |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-bef | before=vs. Paul Delgado}}
{{s-ttl | title=Jan Zaveck's bouts |years=3 September 2011}}
{{s-aft | after=vs. Bethuel Ushona}}
{{s-bef | before=vs. Victor Ortiz}}
{{s-ttl | title=Andre Berto's bouts |years=3 September 2011}}
{{s-aft | after=vs. Robert Guerrero}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zaveck, Berto}}
Category:2011 in sports in Mississippi
Category:September 2011 sports events in the United States
Category:Boxing in Mississippi
Category:Boxing matches in the United States