Andre Berto boxer

Andre Michael Berto (born September 7, 1983) is a professional boxer who holds dual American and Haitian citizenship. He is a two-time former welterweight world champion, having held the WBC and IBF titles between 2008 and 2011, as well as the WBA interim title in 2015. As an amateur he won the National Golden Gloves tournament in 2001 (at light middleweight) and 2003 (welterweight), and would represent the U.S. at the 2003 World Championships, winning a welterweight bronze medal. He also represented Haiti at the 2004 Olympics, reaching the opening round of the welterweight bracket.Since his professional debut in 2004, Berto has become known for his toughness, formidable punching power, and fast hand speed. In the late 2000s he was considered a rising star in the welterweight division, as well as a highly regarded young prospect in boxing. He reached the peak of his career in 2011, holding the WBC welterweight title which he had won in 2008 and made five defenses, and was ranked as the world's third best welterweight, behind then-top stars Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.Berto's success was cut short after his first career loss to Victor Ortiz in 2011, which won Fight of the Year honors by The Ring magazine. Since then, Berto's career has fluctuated: from 2012 to 2015 he suffered three further losses, but bounced back in 2016 with a win over Ortiz in a rematch.The son of Haitian immigrants, Berto was one of seven children born and raised in Winter Haven, Florida. Multiple members of the Berto family would become involved in combat sports. Andre's sister Revelina and brother James are both professional mixed martial artists. Their father Dieuseul is a retired professional kickboxer who competed at UFC 10. Andre was introduced to boxing by his father after getting beat up multiple times by classmates. Dieuseul taught the sport to Berto at his own school in Winter Haven called Tiger's World. For Berto, the sport of boxing became a solace to stay out of trouble in the rough community in which he grew up.As an amateur, Berto won a bronze medal in the 2003 World championships. He was also a two-time U.S. National Golden Gloves champion, a two-time National PAL champion, a three-time U.S. amateur championship medalist, and won 22 state titles in Florida. Prior to the 2003 World championships, Berto defeated future world title challenger Andre Dirrell, and future three-weight world champion Timothy Bradley twice.