The media and fans alike converged on the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino for the official announcement of Mosley vs. Berto, set for January 30, 2010. Presented by Golden Boy Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, the 12-round bout will air live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing and will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas.

“In the history of boxing hundreds of guys have called themselves “Sugar”, but the three guys who have the right to call themselves “Sugar” are immortals: Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard and Sugar Shane Mosley”, said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. Calling Mosley an immortal is high praise indeed, especially from the man who promotes the other champion in the fight, Andre Berto. But that’s where the pleasantries ended. “On January 30th the Shane Mosley era ends and the Andre Berto era begins.”

Sugar Shane Mosley, the WBA Welterweight Super World Champion, has won four world titles over three weight divisions since turning professional in 1993. With victories over Oscar De La Hoya, Fernando Vargas and Ricardo Mayorga, Mosley is a certain future hall-of-famer. Yet his most impressive victory may have been his most recent, when on January 24, 2008 Mosley demolished then welterweight champion Antonio Margarito.

Andre Berto is young, fast, and undefeated. The WBC Welterweight World Champion turned professional in 2004 and has amassed 25 straight victories. With wins over former world champions Luis Collazo and Juan Urango, Berto has bested slick boxers and tough bangers. Possessing both speed and power, Berto reminds many ringside observers of a young Shane Mosley. “When I first saw Andre Berto fight he reminded me of a young Shane Mosley”, explained Kery Davis, Senior Vice President of Programming of HBO Sports. “When I saw Shane Mosley defeat Antonio Margarito, he also reminded me of a young Shane Mosley.”

“The young lion against the all-time great is a great recipe for boxing”, declared DiBella. We couldn’t agree more.