Winter Haven boxer Andre Berto honored by Polk County

Posted Jun 23, 2010 by Eddie Daniels

Updated Jun 23, 2010 at 05:42 PM

WBC welterweight champion and Winter Haven native Andre Berto was named the 2010 Commissioners Award for Perseverance by the Polk County Sports Hall of Fame Tuesday.

Berto received the award during a ceremony at The Lakeland Center. Because he was out of town, Berto’s younger sister, Revelina, a Mixed Martial Arts fighter, accepted the award on his behalf.

The annual award is given to an individual who has overcome personal hardship to excel in sports and life. Berto lost eight family members in the January 20 earthquake in Haiti. The natural disaster took place 10 days before his schedule bout against Shane Mosley.

In the aftermath, Berto cancelled the fight to focus on the recovery efforts in Haiti and actually went to the country and helped in many fashions.

Berto later made his way back to the ring, beating Carlos Quintana via an eighth round knockout, and defending his belt a fourth time, despite a torn biceps muscle in his left arm.

The 26-year-old has also been honored as the Professional Athlete of the Year and Male Amateur Athlete of the Year by the Polk County Sports Hall of Fame.

“It is always special to receive an award from your hometown,” Berto said in a press release. “(Two thousand and ten) has obviously been a very difficult year for me, but everything I have gone through makes me stronger and I appreciate all the support everyone has given me and the people of Haiti.”