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. More...

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, 2008 at the FedEx Forum in Memphis TN.

"My brother Repo Rick has informed me that your fight with Miguel Angel Rodriguez is not signed yet." said Furtell. "If Rodriguez doesn't want to step up, I will. Let's make it happen." More...

© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing

What better stage to highlight a New York rivalry than a live HBO telecast from Madison Square Garden? Dmitriy Salita, 28-0-1 (16), hopes to take his first step towards the boxing elite by facing cross town rival Edgar Santana, 24-5 (15), on the undercard of DiBella Entertainment’s Boxing After Dark on June 21.

“I received a call a few days ago about fighting Santana,” Salita told SaddoBoxing. “The offer was good and I accepted the fight; I really hope this fight happens for New York City and for the fans.”

According to Salita, his fight is being considered as part of a potential triple-header telecast headlined by Andre Berto, who will face Miguel Angel Rodriguez, and a heavyweight co-feature of Chazz Witherspoon against Chris Arreola. More...