Round By Round: Berto Vs. Trabant

We're almost ready to go on HBO's Boxing After Dark. The announcers are hyping Berto as someone who can be marketed as a star if he continues to win.

Berto enters the ring tonight at 158, Trabant at 150. Kind of surprising to see Michael Buffer on hand, though since Paul Williams has a title this could easily have been a World Championship Boxing telecast.

It's Trabant's first fight in the U.S., and though he has 43 wins he has only 19 knockouts. Berto is 20-0 with 17 KO's. Kellerman calls Berto the welterweight division's top prospect - no argument there.

Round 1

Tentative start but Berto immediately looks to have the hand speed advantage. Nice 1-2 combos off the jab by Berto. Trabant tries some jabs to the head and body. Trabant's head already showing some redness. A definite feeling out round if there ever was one.

Franchise: 10-9 Berto
Spartan117: 10-9 Berto

Round 2

Trabant more jabs but nothing with them. Good right and left to the head by Berto and he pushes the tempo. Now Trabant does a little work along the ropes. Right and left coming in by Berto and they tie up. Left to the body by Berto. Double lefts by Berto. He looks to have many options at his disposal. Announcers discussing Berto's resemblance to Reggie Bush.

Franchise: 10-9 Berto
Spartan117: 10-9 Berto

Round 3:

Berto looks to the body to start the round. Trabant has to lunge on a lot of his punches. Berto doing a little more stalking and scores with rights to the head and body. Double lefts and an uppercut. Berto waving his opponent in now too. Trabant blocking some shots but a few are sneaking through. Vicious right uppercut lands and left hooks are following from Berto. Quite the clinic of power punching in that round and Trabant looks overmatched.

Franchise: 10-9 Berto
Spartan117: 10-9 Berto

Round 4:

Triple jabs by Berto and Trabant is in full retreat. Trabant comes forward a bit but nothing serious lands. Hooks from both hands by Berto. Even Berto's jabs snap his foe's head back. Now Berto is backed into a corner but he's in no real danger. Big right over the top but Trabant blocks the uppercut that follows. Best round for Trabant though that's not saying much and Berto still took it.

Franchise: 10-9 Berto
Spartan117: 10-9 Berto

Round 5

Tempo picks up at the start of this round but it quickly settles again. Plenty of jabs by Berto but Trabant is blocking most of the second shots. Possibly the first 1-2 combo by Trabant - he doesn't show much power though. Right hook to body and left uppercut by Berto. Nice right cross by Berto lands right before the bell.

Franchise: 10-9 Berto
Spartan117: 10-9 Berto

Round 6

Berto comes out firing with both hands. Right uppercut and straight right; those look painful. Berto digs to the body with the left hand. Again, Trabant can't do much but jab back in return. Left to the body and head and Trabant swelling a little more. I agree with Max Kellerman - Trabant looks like no threat and Berto needs to step up in competition. Hooks and an uppercut by Berto bring a reaction from the crowd.

Franchise: 10-9 Berto
Spartan117: 10-8 Berto

It's over, as Trabant won't come out to start the seventh round. Nice showing by Berto - he definitely has the complete arsenal of punches, plus speed and power.

The winner by sixth round TKO, Andre Berto. At the time of the stoppage, Franchise had the score 60-54 Berto, Spartan117 had it 60-53 Berto.