"I wasn't shocked for several reasons. You know what? Floyd is entitled to do what he wants to do. I mean, people need to accept that. He's done everything, so he has his choice...Berto is up for the challenge and I think it'll be a better fight than people realize it'll be. Berto has really seen a lot in this sport. People can say what they want to say, but he's not damaged goods...As he commits himself and dedicates himself like he's been and I understood him more as a fighter and athlete, he's going to be in that fight if that fight happens," stated world-class trainer Virgil Hunter, who shared his thoughts on undefeated pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather naming former world champion Andre Berto as a potential opponent for his return to the ring this September.
BT: Virg, were you shocked at all to hear Floyd Mayweather name Andre Berto as one of the guys he's considering facing when he returns in September?
VH: I wasn't shocked for several reasons. You know what? Floyd is entitled to do what he wants to do. I mean, people need to accept that. He's done everything, so he has his choice. I mean, they put Pacquiao as the guy and the only guy, so why look for something else if he passed that test? Now they want to see him out of his weight class. He's been fighting big guys all of his life. I mean, if anybody's fought guys out of his weight class, Floyd Mayweather is the one, so you can't pin that on him. Canelo, Cotto, Oscar, you name it. You can't take it away from him. If he wants to fight Andre Berto, Berto is up for the challenge and I think it'll be a better fight than people realize it'll be. Berto has really seen a lot in this sport. People can say what they want to say, but he's not damaged goods in terms of being in those wars with Guerrero and Ortiz. He just didn't have the IQ at the time to really put himself in a position to win those fights. He had the physicality, but not the mentality. As he commits himself and dedicates himself like he's been and I understood him more as a fighter and athlete, he's going to be in that fight if that fight happens. It will not be easy if people think it will be a cakewalk.
BT: Stylistically, does Andre Berto bring anything different to a potential Mayweather fight than Amir Khan would, or do you see it as a similar fight, considering that both guys are fast and know how to move around the ring?
VH: He brings his own personal set of weaponry just for him, just like Amir brings his own personal set of weaponry just for him. Each one is different, but each one is unique. Both of them have had setbacks, but both of them, if they're prepared physically and mentally, give you a very competitive fight, and if you are not ready and not prepared, if you shortchange them, it could come out bad for you. Each one has their own strengths so to speak. Amir is rangy and long and fast, and Berto has a little more explosive side when he's on his A game. Either one of those fights would be good fights. As the coach of both of them, I can't say one would do better than the other because I would even be shortchanging myself for whoever I have to prepare. It just wouldn't be right. What I can honestly say is they'll be prepared and prepared to win. That's what you have to do so that's what we're going to do. We're going to prepare to win at whatever cost. I think that in itself can make a real exciting fight and give the fans something that they didn't expect to see from either guy.
BT: Amir has been campaigning for the Mayweather fight for awhile. Now that there's a possibility that Berto could get the fight, does that put you in awkward position being the coach of both fighters?
VH: Well, you know, I think by Amir going through it one time before, even though he really, really wants this fight, I think that by going through it once before, he's man enough to, if it doesn't go his way, it shouldn't affect him. After all, he has established his own legacy. It puts me in a tough, tough situation because you do have both of these guys, but again, at the same time, it's always going to be Floyd's choice, so we all have to realize it's his decision. If anybody between the two of them gets it, I'm going to be happy for them and I'm going to feel for the other because I'm in that position. I don't expect nobody like Floyd to come to me and say, "Hey man, which one do you want me to fight?" Six and six, okay. You can fight one and then fight the other one if you ask me that question. I have to feel for both of them and wish both of them the best. I'm pulling and rooting for both of them, but only one person can get in that ring.
BE SURE TO CHECK BACK SOON FOR MUCH MORE FROM WORLD-CLASS TRAINER VIRGIL HUNTER
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