Humberto Soto is considered one of the dark horses to come out as the ruler of the super featherweight division. Splashing onto the radar screen of most fight fans with an upset victory against Rocky Juarez during 2005, Soto is now scheduled to fight another avoided super featherweight and WBO champion Joan Guzman.
Boxing Confidential caught up with Soto via phone from his Tijuana, Mexico training camp.
How is your training camp for the fight with Joan Guzman going?
Soto: Very good. I have been here in Tijuana for more than a month. I am focused and waiting the final days before the fight.
Having spoken with Joan Guzman a few weeks back, he showed you a lot of respect. He said you?re a tough fighter and it will be a tough fight. What are your thoughts on Guzman as a fighter?
Soto: More than anything he is a great fighter, that is why he is where he is, as a world champion. He is a great champion for giving me the opportunity that Juan Manuel Marquez, [Marco Antonio] Barrera, [Edwin] Valero did not want to give me. I recognize him as a great champion.
Does Guzman have the power to hurt you since moving up from 122 pounds? Does he still have the power to cause you problems?
Soto: No, I don?t think so. I don?t think his power can hurt me. I expect for him to be prepared to win and expect a great fight. He is prepared for me, but I am prepared for everything.
Will Guzman?s foot and hand speed cause you problems during the fight?
Soto: No, I am dealing with that psychologically in my preparations. I am prepared not to get frustrated and take things calmly. I am going to come out very different. I am going to do things completely different than in my previous fights. I am going to be intelligent and planning on a totally different type of fight.
You fought recently. Did you consider that a dangerous move? You can hurt yourself in boxing; suffer a cut from a clash of heads. Why did you fight to be well prepared in November? Why?
Soto: That was just me being stubborn and following and idea I had of fighting in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico. It had been years since I had fought in my homeland. I just wanted to fight in my hometown so my people could see me fight before I become champion.
I knew it was not going to be easy. I did not expect a one or two round fight, but preparation is everything and I got out of the fight early.
Speaking of Los Mochis, a lot of boxing talent has come from there recently. Jorge Arce and Fernando Montiel are just a few. Why is there so much world class talent coming out of Los Mochis?
Soto: Honestly, I do not know. But as you said, there are a lot of athletes coming out of Los Mochis, Sinaloa. There have been soccer players, world champions in boxing, a little of everything. That is something very important for Sinaloa.
What did you think of Manny Pacquiao?s last outing? What is your opinion of the Filipino?
Soto: He is a fighter who is at the top of the mountain. In that fight, he did not look very hungry. Barrera was on his last legs and it look like he [Pacquiao] was there just to get the decision not make a fight.
What is your goal as a boxer? I know you are focused on Guzman right now, but what is your goal? Do you want to become champion at super featherweight and defend the title a few times, or move up to lightweight? What is it?
Soto: My goal is not just to take Guzman?s championship, but to take his undefeated record as well; like I did to Rocky Juarez. Afterwards, interesting fights will come. Honestly, I won?t be a super featherweight for long.
It is harder to make weight each day and I will eventually have issues like I did at the featherweight limit. With God?s grace, if I am crowned champion, I will make one or two defenses. If I can I would like to unify with Juan Manuel Marquez, stick around for a year and then jump up to lightweight.
Juan Diaz, a Mexican-American, what are your thoughts on one of the bigger figures in the lightweight division?
Soto: I am not familiar with him, having never seen him fight. I do not know what he is like, in all reality. Watching him on tape and analyzing him live, I am sure I could jump up to his weight class. I have the height and weight necessary for the lightweight division.
