Humberto Soto: “Sasaki wont be easy” ; Soto wants Morales or Maidana @140 lbs

[MexicanPoster]

Lightweight titlist Humberto Soto will face Japanese veteran Motoki Sasaki on June 25.

Romor has it Soto is looking to become the first Mexican to win a major world title in four different weight classes and perhaps eventually face Erik Morales or Marcos Maidana at 140 lbs.

Sasaki is a decent fighter but has yet to beat a top-tier opponent.

This fight should be an easy tune-up for Soto.




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Humberto Soto: Sasaki wont be easy
By Gabriel F. Cordero

On Saturday at the Parque Andrés Quintana Roo in Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico, WBC lightweight champion Humberto “Zorrita” Soto (55-7-2, 32 KOs) faces Japan’s Motoki Sasaki (36-8-1, 23 KOs) in defense of his world title.

“I trained hard for this fight and I hope for the victory,” said Soto. “Fights between Mexicans and Japanese are interesting and I hope Sasaki is a great fighter. Sasaki is an aggressive fighter and strong and will surely come well prepared.

We analyzed the video of one of his fights and in truth it won’t be easy, but I’m coming to do my thing.” Sasaki has already arrived in Cozumel.

[MexicanPoster]

Humberto Soto v Motoki Sasaki? Bloody hope not! 05/11/2011

In the past few days we've been reading that Humberto Soto's up coming WBC Lightweight title defence will be against Japanese fighter Motoki Sasaki. Admittedly the source for this so far as far as I'm aware has only been notifight.com though still it's something I'd like to just have a look at as apparently the WBC have “approved” the fight.

Soto has just turned 31 (literally just turned 31) and has a record of 55-7-2-1 (32) having won “world” titles at Featherweight, Super Featherweight and Lightweight. He's one of the true under-rated Mexican fighters and has really been unfortunate in not capturing the public's attention enough. His thriller with Urbano Antillion last December should have seen him becoming a star though contractual issues seem to have seen him leave Top Rank and seen a rematch with Antillion fall through.

Soto at a little over 5'7” seems intent on trying to become a 4-weight champion and moving up to Light Welterweight at some point down the line and has fought just once this year, actually testing the water at Light Welterweight by defeating Fidel Monterrosa Munoz in a 10 round bout. It's fair to say Soto, although not a superstar is a well known fighter.

Motoki Sasaki however is much much less well known, in fact he's probably best known for WBA Welterweight title fight with Vyacheslav Senchenko. In that bout Sasaki looked very under-sized for a Welterweight and is actually the same height as Soto a 5'7”. Sasaki however at 35 years old is certainly on the back end of his career which has already seen him racking up a record of 36-8-1 (23).

Sasaki is currently ranked at #12 at Lightweight by the WBC, this is one of the major gripes I have with the bout. The lightest that Sasaki has been recorded as weighing was over 138lbs (when he faced Randy Suico in July 2010) in a bout that Sasaki would win and defend the OPBF light welterweight title. He has NEVER weighed inside the Lightweight so why and how can the WBC be ranking him at the weight? Style wise he's far from the most straight forward of opponents though he has been stopped in 3 of his 5 losses and when you consider possible weight draining effects you need to ask whether or not he'll be able to survive with a guy like Soto. Whilst Soto isn't a monster puncher at 135lbs he still hits hard enough to hurt folks at the weight.

Sasaki's only fight outside of Japan was the bout with Senchenko and other than that it's difficult to know too much about the quality of opponents he has been facing. A recent fight however saw Sasaki facing a guy called Geisler AP who was 3-0 which would probably sum up the type of fights that he has been involved in recently.

In the bout with Senchenko Sasaki won 1 round all 3 cards to lose 119-107 on each card, he was deducted 2 points in the 6th round due to head clashes which opened up a nasty cut on Senchenko's eye and at times he looked wild and somewhat lost as a fighter. If he's lost against Senchenko then it's likely he'll be lost against Soto, who for me is a better fighter even if he's not as big. Quite why this fight is being spoken about is a mystery, though maybe the fight would have made more sense had Soto dropped the belt and started his campaign at Light Welterweight. Why the WBC ranking him at Lightweight is a mystery.

Hopefully this bout does fall through somewhere and we get Soto v Maidana or Morales in what could be genuinely exciting fights.

[jjbj2]

Can't even choose a little bit dangerous of an opponent. Humberto Soto is last year's news. I'm moving on.

[LeG00N]

too bad he won't fight Rios or any other top LW

[Pullcounter]

I dunno why he wants to fight morales. Morales is shot and he gains nothing from beating morales. The Maidana fight will be more interesting. there's a chance he can outbox maidana but there's also a chance that maidana will KO soto

[MexicanPoster]

too bad he won't fight Rios or any other top LW

Soto called out Marquez, Pacquiao, Barrera, Morales, valero at 135lbs and they all ducked him.

Soto said he'll fight Rios later in the year, but first he wants that 4th title and JMM, and other BIG names, cause Soto has waited years for the opportunbity.

If Soto fights Rios now, Soto will KO Rios badly, and then JMM, Pac and other big names will AVOID Soto more than he already is avoided.

[jjbj2]

Soto called out Marquez, Pacquiao, Barrera, Morales, valero at 135lbs and they all ducked him.

Soto said he'll fight Rios later in the year, but first he wants that 4th title and JMM, and other BIG names, cause Soto has waited years for the opportunbity.

If Soto fights Rios now, Soto will KO Rios badly, and then JMM, Pac and other big names will AVOID Soto more than he already is avoided.

Yea, but he was an x-factor meaning he wasn't that popular or relevant at the time. Look at those names he called out Barrera, Morales, Marquez, and Pacquiao were all going at war with each other. And all those boxers were fighting different relevant boxers too. Barrera fought Rocky Juarez who called him an old man and a bum. Morales finding that elusive 4th title from Zahir Raheem to David Diaz. Marquez fighting Chris John another worthy 135lb boxer.

Humberto Soto during that time was young and irrelevant much like how Ortiz calling Mayweather and Pacquiao 3 or 2 years ago.

[MexicanPoster]

Yea, but he was an x-factor meaning he wasn't that popular or relevant at the time. Look at those names he called out Barrera, Morales, Marquez, and Pacquiao were all going at war with each other. And all those boxers were fighting different relevant boxers too. Barrera fought Rocky Juarez who called him an old man and a bum. Morales finding that elusive 4th title from Zahir Raheem to David Diaz. Marquez fighting Chris John another worthy 135lb boxer.

Humberto Soto during that time was young and irrelevant much like how Ortiz calling Mayweather and Pacquiao 3 or 2 years ago.

Barrera fought Soto's "leftovers"-Juarez, whom had lost to Soto.
Barrera turned down shots at Soto's title many times, cause he knows Soto is dangerous.
Marquez also fought Soto's "leftovers"-Juarez, rather than fight the man that beat Juarez.
Morales fought unknowns Adilton ??? rather than fight Soto for the WBC title.
Pac fought unknowns Jorge Solis, and David Diaz, rather than fighting the man that KO'd his brother.

They all fought lesser known boxers, than facing Soto, cause they all fear Soto.

[-Antonio-]

Everyone wants to fight Maidana now as well they should. Guerrero will beat them all to the punch though when he wins an easy decision.

[MexicanPoster]

Everyone wants to fight Maidana now as well they should. Guerrero will beat them all to the punch though when he wins an easy decision.

Guerrero ducked Soto when they were 130lbs champions.

I dont think Guerrero wants any part of Soto anytime.