22844L (Hermantin)Miami-Herald-Forced to think outside the box (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Sun, Aug. 01, 2004


SUNDAY FOCUS | BOXING


Forced to think outside the box

A controversial ruling cost Miami-born boxer Andre Berto a chance to
represent the United States in the Athens Games. So the dual citizen will
fight for Haiti -- a country in which he has never set foot.

By MICHELLE KAUFMAN

mkaufman@herald.com


Haiti has gone more than 75 years without an Olympic medal. A twist of fate
could end the drought next month and turn Miami-born boxer Andre Berto into
a national hero in a country where he has never set foot.

Berto, the son of Haitian parents and the No. 3-ranked welterweight in the
world, said one of the most daunting tasks in his quest for Olympic gold is
learning the lyrics to La Dessalinienne, Haiti's national anthem.

Until a few months ago, Berto was one of the top Olympic medal contenders
for the United States. The 20-year-old envisioned himself belting out The
Star-Spangled Banner atop a medal podium from the time he began running
three miles to the gym in elementary school.

Though his parents spoke Creole and served Haitian food at home, Berto felt
every bit as American as his good friend, NBA player Tracy McGrady. And like
McGrady, he dreamed of being an American sports star.

But a controversial disqualification from the U.S. Olympic trials in
February squashed Berto's plans, leaving him to wonder if the countless
blows to his body and the thousands of miles of jogging had been for naught.
''I was crushed,'' Berto said.

His father, Dieuseul, desperate to help, called the Haitian boxing
federation and asked if it would welcome Andre, a dual citizen, if he
qualified for the Athens Olympics. The federation was overjoyed.

Haiti has won two Olympic medals, and none in 76 years. The first was a
bronze in 1924 in team free rifle, and the second was Silvio Cator's silver
medal in the long jump in 1928. Nobody has boxed for Haiti in the Olympics,
so when Berto qualified under the Haitian flag at the Pan American
pre-Olympic meet in Mexico, he became an instant hero.

HAITI'S BEST HOPE

The U.S. Olympic Committee, at the urging of the U.S. boxing federation,
signed a waiver allowing Berto to fight for Haiti even though he had
competed internationally for the United States.

''We are very proud that this young man elected to represent Haiti at the
Olympics, and he could have a tremendous impact on the youth of Haiti if
they can see somebody win a medal under our flag,'' said Jean-Edouard Baker,
president of the Haitian Olympic Committee. ``When it's all over, I'd like
to bring Andre back to Haiti so he can see his heritage.''

Haiti is sending 10 athletes to the Olympics -- six in track and field, two
in judo, one in tae kwon do and Berto, who has the best chance to medal. He
was the only American boxer to win a medal (bronze) at the 2003 World
Championships and is a two-time Golden Gloves national champion at 152
pounds.

''In a way, I see this as a blessing for the people of Haiti,'' Berto said.
``Haiti needs a hero right now, and hopefully I can win a gold medal for
them and give them something to be proud of. My dad went down there last
month, and there were posters of me at gyms and the media was buzzing.

``Even though I still feel American, this whole situation has allowed me to
get closer to my roots and given me extra motivation.''

Berto knew from a young age that fighting was in his future. Everywhere he
turned in his house, somebody was punching, kicking or grappling. His father
is a kickboxer and Ultimate Fighter who emigrated to Miami in 1980. He
delivered The Herald and picked fruit when he arrived, moved to Central
Florida for better opportunities, became a chef, competed on the Ultimate
Fighter circuit in Japan, and now runs a martial arts studio in Winter
Haven.

One of Berto's older brothers, Cleveland, was a high school state champion
wrestler and is on scholarship at the University of San Francisco. Another,
Edson, is an Ultimate Fighter. His 15-year-old sister, Ravelina, is a
wrestler and kickboxer. His 9-year-old sister, Rachelle, does kickboxing and
jujitsu. The Berto kitchen doubled as a slapboxing ring.

''The only person who doesn't fight in my family is my mom,'' Berto said.
``My dad looks real mean. When I was growing up, I thought he was Superman
and my friends were afraid of him. He was always working out and banging his
shins with metal pipes to make them stronger. If I got in trouble in
elementary school, he'd make me wake up at 5 in the morning and do 500
push-ups. Once I started boxing, he made me run to the gym, and he'd tail me
in his car and bump me if I wasn't going fast enough.

'Kids used to call me `Forrest Gump' because I was always running. Some
people thought he was crazy, but he just wanted to see us excel and stay out
of trouble. So many Haitian kids who come to this country get caught up in
American culture, which can mean drugs and alcohol and crime. He wanted to
make us an example, to show that immigrant kids from Haiti can become
successful.''

McGRADY CONNECTION

Berto said he and McGrady were among the rare kids at the Citrus Center Boys
Club who had long-range goals and who paid attention when guest speakers
were brought in.

''So many of our friends are in jail or dead or doing nothing with their
lives,'' said Berto, a student at Polk Community College. ``I'm going to the
Olympics. It's not exactly how I had planned, but I'm going, and I'm going
to prove that you can't keep me down.''

It took five months, but Berto said he finally put the U.S. trials drama
behind him. He was leading his first-round bout with 27 seconds left in the
fourth round when he tossed opponent Juan McPherson to the canvas and was
disqualified. McPherson suffered a concussion. Berto said McPherson was
holding him by the waist and should have been called for excessive holding.

Berto and his corner appealed, and he was reinstated. But the decision was
reversed, leaving him ineligible for the Olympics.

''It was an injustice, but everyone makes mistakes, so we have tried not to
be bitter,'' Dieuseul Berto said. ``What happened is a God-given gift to
Haiti. I believe everything happens for a reason.''

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