Though it came with some controversy, Andre Berto came out with a victory for the first time since 2016.
Berto, fighting for the first time in well over a year, defeated former world champion Devon Alexander on a PBC on FOX card from Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York. Despite getting knocked down in the third round, Berto won a split decision over Alexander with scores of 115-112, 113-114 and 115-112.
The fight started with Alexander taking control of the action, landing right hooks in the second round that gave Berto some early trouble. Alexander followed it up with a right hand in the third round that allowed Alexander to knock down Berto with a series of follow-up hooks.
Berto eventually got back into the fight and managed to pressure Alexander, who was starting to tire out in the later rounds of the fight. Berto was successful later in the fight in bringing the fight up close and landing numerous shots on the inside. By the time, the fight ended, there was no clear winner, but Berto won enough rounds late to get the victory.
The careers for both Berto and Alexander were at a crossroads with both men not being in the world title scene for years in a loaded welterweight division. Berto has not fought since losing a title eliminator against Shawn Porter back in April 2017. Before that, Berto last fought in April 2016 when he knocked out Victor Ortiz in the fourth round of their fight.
Alexander, who has won only two fights since the start of 2014, is coming off a controversial majority draw against Ortiz back in February, a fight that headline its own PBC on FOX card. Alexander has not fought in a world title fight since losing his IBF welterweight title to Porter in 2013.
The card was filled with former world champions looking to have statement wins on such a big stage. In the opening fight of the television card, former IBF junior welterweight champion Sergey Lipinets defeated Erick Bone by majority decision. The co-main event fight saw former middleweight champion Peter Quillin continue to solidify his standing in the super middleweight division, scoring a wide unanimous decision win over rising contender J’Leon Love.
