Berto's young fans cheer him on from Polk County

WINTER HAVEN (FOX 13) - Boxer André Berto has a lot of young fans, some only 5 and 6 years old.  The kids go to Citrus Center Boys and Girls Club in Winter Haven, just like Berto did when he was a kid.

Berto will be fighting World Welterweight Champ Floyd Mayweather next Saturday night in Las Vegas.

The kids will be watching every punch live on a  big screen TV at a party to cheer him on the club. They are already impressed.

"Most people, when they want to do something in life and something happens, they give up," said club member Pharaoh Carter, 14.  "He kept going for it. He ain't never stopped."

That's the message that administrators want every kid to remember. Berto was not born a superstar.

"I think Mr. Mayweather has made a mistake," said one of Berto's longtime friends, Walt Hall.

As the former head of the Citrus Center  Boys and Girls Club for decades, Hall has known Berto since he was a little kid.  Berto began going to the club with his brother when he was 5 years old.

"He is a hard-working kid, and he believes in himself," said Hall.  "That in itself is going to make Mike dangerous."

Even if he loses, Berto will walk away with $3-million. Not bad for a kid from Polk County.