By Mark DeSisto

LAS VEGAS - In a crossroads welterweight bout, Los Mochis, Mexico native Jesus Soto-Karass propelled himself to top contender status in one of boxing’s deepest divisions with an impressive TKO over tough David Estrada at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Friday night.  A left hook along the ropes floored the Chicago native, who beat referee Tony Weeks’ ten count, but Weeks took a good look at Estrada (22-5, 13 KOs) and wisely stopped the bout 1:03 of round eight.

A few ringside observers thought perhaps Estrada should have been allowed to continue, but due to the grueling nature of the bout, Estrada’s history of being stopped late in past wars, and with the recent brain injury to fellow welterweight warrior Oscar Diaz, seasoned referee Weeks made the right call.

Boxing insiders anticipated fireworks in what didn’t disappoint as a nice Friday night appetizer to Saturday night’s world championship welterweight bout between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito. Adding some intrigue was that the trainers of Friday night’s combatants will be in the opposing corners for Saturday night’s bout, with Soto-Karass’ trainer Javier Capitello with Margarito, and Estrada’s trainer, Evangelista Cotto, with his nephew Miguel.

The iron chinned Soto-Karass is well known for his volume punching and brawling style, but he was more measured and used his height advantage well in the opening round, establishing an excellent jab that didn’t allow Estrada to work inside.  Soto-Karass put together some heavy power punches towards the end of the round for a dominating finish that already had Estrada’s face quite red.

“El Renuente” looked to do much of the same and started that way in round two, but the always resilient Estrada fought back and landed a good right hand to at least make it a close round.

 

The brawl that fight enthusiasts anticipated surfaced in the third. Soto-Karass came up on the short end of some serious slugging, with Estrada landing a right haymaker that may have dropped lesser foes, but only left Soto-Karass with a welt under his left eye.   The punch for punch action also further damaged Estrada’s face, with his left eye swelling and closing up.

Estrada spent much of the fourth round in pursuit of Soto-Karass, who was now boxing off the back foot, trying to counter the oncoming Estrada. Soto-Karass boxed well late in the round and found a rhythm, but Estrada had done enough good work early, punching up and down on his opponent’s long frame and suddenly the bout was even after four.

Soto-Karass took control of round five from the start, as he went back to the effective jab while throwing effective combinations often with a right hand followed by a searing left uppercut.  Estrada started to get tired, allowing Soto Karass to finish the fifth round strong and do much of the same in round six.

With the fight slipping away, Estrada managed to get Soto-Karass to the ropes in round seven and he enticed him into a punch for punch brawl. Estrada may have done enough to win the round and tighten up the score, but the war of attrition favored Soto-Karass heading into the final round, with Estrada looking the worse for wear.

Despite his diminishing status in the fight, “King David” pushed forward and had his foe’s back to the ropes but Soto-Karass’s hard left hook and follow up swings ended the bout.

“It was a very tough fight against a world class fighter” said a very happy Soto-Karass (21-3-3, 15KO) after the bout. “I felt good and in control, but my corner kept telling me that the fight was close and to step it up, so that’s what I did.”    

This writer had a chance to ask Soto-Karass post fight what’s next, and without hesitation, the pleasant puncher said Andre Berto, the current WBC welterweight champion.  Now that would be a good one, with Berto’s hand speed a real obstacle to Soto-Karass capturing that coveted belt.     

As for the near future, chances are he’ll be rooting for his countryman and sparring partner Margarito to see who is currently the best welterweight in the world.