Jan Zaveck vs. Andre Berto

Battle In Biloxi

Date	September 3, 2011
Venue	Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.
Title(s) on the line	IBF welterweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Jan Zaveck Andre Berto Nickname "Mr. Sympathikus" "The Beast" Hometown Ptuj, Styria, Slovenia Miami, Florida, U.S. Pre-fight record 31–1 (18 KO) 27–1 (21 KO) Age 35 years, 5 months 27 years, 11 months Height 5 ft 7+1⁄2 in (171 cm) 5 ft 8+1⁄2 in (174 cm) Weight 146+1⁄2 lb (66 kg) 146+3⁄4 lb (67 kg) Style Orthodox Orthodox Recognition IBF welterweight champion The Ring No. 4 ranked welterweight 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.^[1] 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.^[2]

After discussions to fight Paulie Malignaggi on the Saul Alvarez vs. Ryan Rhodes undercard fell through,^[3] 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."^[4]

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.^[5]

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.^[6]

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.^[7] However, after Berto tested positive for a banned substance, the rematch against Ortiz planned for June 23, 2012, was cancelled.^[8]

Confirmed bouts:^[9]

• WBC welterweight title bout: Dejan Zaveck vs. Andre Berto

Berto defeats Zaveck via Technical Knockout (Retirement) at 3:00 of round five.

• Featherweight bout: Gary Russell Jr. vs. Leonilo Miranda

Russell Jr. defeats Miranda via Unanimous Decision. (80-72, 80-72, 79-72)

• Super middleweight bout: Thomas Oosthuizen vs. Aaron Pryor Jr.

Oosthuizen defeats Pryor Jr. via Unanimous Decision. (117-111, 117-111, 117-111)

• Welterweight bout: Randall Bailey vs. Yoryi Estrella

Bailey defeats Estrella via Unanimous Decision. (100-89, 100-89, 98-91)

• Featherweight bout: Luis Del Valle vs. Anthony Napunyi

Del Valle defeats Napunyi via Technical Knockout at 1:21 of round three.

• Light welterweight bout: Ivan Redkach vs. Vernon Alston

Redkach defeats Alston via Technical Knockout at 1:57 of round three.

• Light middleweight bout: Gerald Jordan vs. Sergio Vartanov

Jordan defeats Vartanov via Split Decision. (59-54, 58-55, 56-58)

Country	Broadcaster
Hungary	Sport 2
Slovenia	TV Slovenia
Sweden	Viasat
United States	HBO