In boxing, professional excellence is often attributed to destiny. Olympic records lead to carefully plotted rises to power. The prize being HBO contracts, world title baubles and seven figure paydays. But such privileged athletes cannot always take the heat. Maybe they don’t make ‘em like they used to. Or maybe amateur excellence can no longer guarantee professional greatness. Whatever, this generation’s Olympic stars haven’t measured up.
Want proof that the current crop is short of elite class?
Jose Navarro faltered twice in challenges for the WBC super flyweight crown. Jeff Lacy lost every round in unification against Joe Calzaghe. Jermain Taylor’s top contender Kelly Pavlik gets more respect than the reluctant middleweight champion. And Rocky Juarez twice faltered even before he got a world title tilt.
Humberto ‘La Zorrita’ Soto comes from a different school. A blue-collar fighter, his amateur career took a back seat to putting bread on the table. As a pro, he took his lumps and learned harsh lessons which ironed out his flaws, rather than breaking his spirit.
It\’s been a slow burning career, but he\’s quietly come along, championed here and there by the likes of UK-weekly Boxing News, Graham Houston and Dan Rafael, for those willing to listen.
After the Mexican outslugged Juarez in a 2005 upset (for the WBC interim title), he appeared to be one of the sport’s happy accidents – “the best five-loss fighter in the sport,” as Jim Lampley so delicately put it, giving off connotations of elitism and snobbery. But the 27-year-old has conquered a steep learning curve, despite being written off after a narrow loss to Kevin Kelley back in 2002.
Since dropping a decision to the cagey old southpaw, Soto has transformed beyond recognition. No longer slow and upright, he’s now aggressive, exciting and powerful. On a 20-fight unbeaten streak, the 41-5-2 (25 KOs) puncher is at his peak heading into tonight’s fight against Bobby Pacquiao (27-12-3, 12 KOs) on the Cotto-Judah undercard.
Presuming he beats the lesser Pacquiao at New York\’s Madison Square Garden – as is fully expected – a major fight is all but guaranteed. Should he batter Bobby on HBO PPV, a fight with Top Rank stablemate Manny Pacquiao won’t be hard to put together. Given that Soto is close to outgrowing 130-pounds, and that Pac Man peaked at 122, this might be one Mexican that the Filipino shouldn\’t mess with.
Humberto is also the leading contender for WBC super feather king Juan Manuel Marquez (after Manny relinquished his mandatory position), in what could be the next great Mexican rivalry following the Barrera-Morales era. Sadly, this won\’t be happening until at least 2008, what with Marquez defending against the shopworn, weight-troubled Jorge Barrios in September.
Having been developed at his own pace, Mexico\’s Soto looks ready. He may be a lot better than when he walked through huge shots to outwork and back up Juarez – a late notice job that he had to drain down to 126-pounds for – in that fierce 2005 battle that brought \’La Zorrita\’ (the \’Little Fox\’) onto the world class radar.
On terrific form, Soto is coming off stoppages of Humberto Toledo (TKO3, in Mexico) and Ivan Valle (TKO4, on the Maskaev-Rahman II undercard in Vegas) – a pair of lightweights that he left staring at the ring lights. Not convinced by those names? A brutally efficient fighter, he had Jorge Solis down before the fight was undone by head clashes (NC after three sessions) – the same Solis that strafed Manny Pacquiao with jabs and rights before head clashes distracted him enough for the Filipino icon to take him out in the eighth.
Relaxed, powerful and poised, Humberto has an awesome armoury of hooks, body shots and right hands, which he can unleash with deceptive speed. Able to block, parry and smother, he\’s defensively apt as well. A complete-looking pro, he often lands his most crushing blows when opponents come charging in to seize an advantage. An enigmatic figure, he can be seen embracing opponents before the introductions before laying them out with crippling singe blows.
In all, he\’s terrific to watch.
Tonight\’s fight is a purposeful one, not only in manufacturing his next big fight (a vengeful Manny, wanting to get even for his little brother, perhaps) but for putting the finishing touches on Soto, who will have to deal with a southpaw. Being brought along with economy and purpose, the Mexican is close to the top but must be at his brutal best to make the world take note.
If he were to, say, edge out a foul fest or win a split decision, it wouldn\’t quite be the same, would it? On a big stage, Soto will have to keep his head with the elite names and biggest of stages within reach.
