Just three years and a half years since turning professional, Florida welterweight Andre Berto won the prestigious WBC title belt last night at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, TN but thoroughly outclassing opponent Miguel Angel Rodriguez on the way to banging out a seventh round TKO.

From the first bell, the 24 year old Berto peppered his 29 year old rival from Naucalpan, Mexico with a blazingly fast two-handed attack that Rodriguez had few answers for.

Berto forced the taller Rodriguez to fight on the inside and masterfully mixed uppercuts at short range coupled with spearing body shots before dropping back to fire off stunning lead right crosses and left hooks that rarely seemed to miss.

Rodriguez was rocked as early as the second round but the gritty Mexican never stopped trying until he was leveled by a Berto uppercut in the seventh.

It all came to an end for Rodriguez at 2:13 of the frame as he was canvassed again, prompting referee Laurence Cole to step in and call a halt to the action.

With the stoppage, Berto improves to 22-0 (19) and captures the vacant WBC Welterweight title in dominating fashion. Rodriguez loses for the first time since dropping a title eliminator bout to Carlos Baldomir in 2005 and falls to 29-3 (23).

In other action at the FedEx Forum, previously undefeated heavyweights Chris Arreola, 24-0 (21), and Chazz Witherspoon, 23-1 (15), duelled for Arreola's WBC Continental Americas title in a scheduled 12 rounder.

California's Arreola proved to have the upper hand early on, flooring Witherspoon twice in the third before being awarded the victory by disqualification as Witherspoon's corner jumped into the ring to offer their fighter assistance after the second knockdown.

(0) comments | Add your comments
Click to read more boxing articles by Richard Eberline

Discuss in Boxing Forum | Send to a friend.

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Boxing Prospect Futrell Calls Out Top Welterweight Contender Andre Berto

  Welterweight contender Don Juan Futrell, 21-3-1 (10), wants to sent a message to NABF Welterweight Champion Andre Berto, 21-0 (18) before Berto's scheduled HBO televised fight takes place June 21, >
  
  

• Boxing Perspective: Andre Berto-Rising Star

  Andre Berto, 21-0 (18), is a strong, fast, up and coming welterweight who in the past few years has made his way into the spotlight, showing more of the immense >
  
  

• Boxing Prospect Andre Berto Added To Taylor Pavlik Showdown

  Unbeaten welterweight Andre Berto (19-0, 16 KOs) will get a chance to prove why the critics are raving about him when he faces world title challenger David Estrada on September >
  
  

• Star Boxing: Rodriguez Challenges “No Contest” Ruling From Collins Fight

  Star Boxing announced today that Delvin Rodriguez has challenged the "No-Contest" result that was declared after the fight between Delvin Rodriguez 20-2-1 (12KO's) and Keenan Collins 12-2-1 (8KO's) was stopped >
  
  

• DiBella Boxing Prospect Andre Berto Invades Horse Country

  Boxing’s sleek thoroughbred – undefeated welterweight sensation Andre Berto – the fight game’s version of three-year-old Triple Crown race winners Street Sense (Kentucky Derby), Curlin (Preakness) and Rags To Riches >
  
  

• Andre Berto To Make Boxing Debut On Friday Night Fights

  When promoter Lou DiBella signed Olympian Andre Berto a little over a year ago prior to his pro debut, the president of DBE called the Winter Haven, FL native his >
  
  

• WBC Boxing Champion Andre Berto Defends Against Steve Forbes September 27 On Mosley vs. Mayorga Undercard

  Earlier this year, Andre Berto won the WBC Welterweight Championship. On Saturday, September 27, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California, he will begin his reign as champion >
  
  

• Star Boxing: Commission Rules Rodriguez Now A Winner

  Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing announced today that the NYSAC reversed the "No-Contest" decision that was declared after the Delvin Rodriguez 21- 2-1 (12KO's) vs Keenan Collins 12-3-1 (8KO's) bout. >
  
  

• DiBella Boxing Adds Navarro, Berto And Hearns To Taylor - Spinks Fight Card

  A bevy of DiBella Entertainment youngsters, including superstar welterweight contender Andre Berto, have been added to the spectacular Jermain Taylor-Cory Spinks card set for Saturday night, May 19 at >
  
  

• DiBella Boxing: Berto vs. Estrada Added To Taylor vs. Pavlik Showdown

  While most fight fans at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall and those viewing live on HBO World Championship Boxing on September 29th are anticipating the World Middleweight Championship bout between champion >
  
  

---

Boxing News Tags: Andre Berto, Chazz Witherspoon, Chris Arreola, FedEx Forum, Miguel Angel Rodriguez