Cesar Soto (left) acknowledges that Naseem Hamed (right here with Soto on the Joe Louis monument in Downtown Detroit in September 1999) was probably the most well-known opponent he fought, however he says “Prince” was on no account the perfect. (Photograph By Invoice Pugliano/Getty Photos)
Mexican hardman Cesar Soto turned professional barely into his teenagers, realized on the job and ultimately claimed a world title on the age of 27. The teak-tough power-puncher was a handful for anybody he fought throughout his 90 bouts unfold throughout a 25-year skilled profession.
Soto, who was tenth of 12 youngsters, was born within the state of Durango on September 17, 1971. His father labored a number of jobs, together with as a ranch hand, whereas his mom taken care of the household.
“We had been a really hardworking household, very humble,” Soto advised The Ring by Mauricio Gonzalez. “We didn’t have any of the extras, however a really blissful childhood. We didn’t have something, however we didn’t want something. We lived paycheck to paycheck, however I didn’t must go work [as a child]. We didn’t have something in abundance, however we weren’t lacking a meal, both.”
Nevertheless, hassle was by no means distant for Soto, even at an early age.
“Ever since I can keep in mind, I used to be combating – not essentially boxing, however combating in class, on the streets,” he recalled. “My older brother stated, ‘As a substitute of combating on the streets, come to the gymnasium and begin boxing. You by no means know, you would turn out to be a boxer.’ I used to be a child that enjoyed to battle.
“Within the mornings earlier than going to highschool, I might reiterate to my mom to not put together a lunch for me, since I earned it by defending my classmates! I felt like a hero, regardless of my weak look.”
(Photograph courtesy of the WBC)
Soto did nicely on the gymnasium. He left college and commenced an beginner profession that lasted simply six months and 9 fights, although he did win a regional title in Durango. He turned skilled at 14 years outdated, making round $50, in March 1986.
“For the glory of being an expert boxer, for the cash, for the journey, to see the world,” he stated of his reasoning for turning skilled so younger. “That’s what pushed me.”
The teenager loved a productive first yr as an expert, registering 12 consecutive wins, all inside the primary 4 rounds. He moved his base of operations to northern Mexico.
“I moved to Juarez after I was 15; I’m adopted to that metropolis like [singer] Juan Gabriel,” he stated. “I used to be simply an adolescent, who out of curiosity went there and preferred it and stayed there.”
A tough patch in Soto’s early profession quickly adopted, nonetheless. His first loss got here in July 1987, one other in 1989, and within the following two years he would lose twice to future world titleholder Victor Rabanales (SD 10/UD 10), which bookended wins over seasoned veterans Armando Castro (UD 10) and Willy Salazar (UD 10).
“These fights undoubtedly matured me and made me loads stronger,” he stated of the 2 defeats in opposition to Rabanales. “I realized loads from them.”
Whereas nonetheless a youngster, he was chosen to face the extra skilled Duke McKenzie for the WBO bantamweight title in London, England, in September 1991.
“Preparation was nice and it was an ideal expertise,” stated Soto, who dropped a hard-fought 12-round unanimous determination. “To go to a first-class nation like England, a stupendous expertise and I liked it.
Soto vs. Luisito Espinosa. (Photograph courtesy of the WBC)
“The one unhealthy expertise was the consequence. All people noticed me the winner and I hit him with the whole lot. It was undoubtedly freeway theft; folks noticed it. The choice was unhealthy. It was a tough expertise.”
It proved to be one other step in Soto’s schooling, and he bounced again strongly with 14 wins, initially up at junior featherweight after which featherweight, capturing nationwide titles in each weight courses. He additionally gained bragging rights with victories over beforehand unbeaten future light-weight titlist Jose Luis Castillo (TKO 2) and former two-weight world champion Louie Espinoza (PTS 12).
“I matured and educated even more durable and acquired higher,” he stated. “Castillo got here in 18-0 and all people anticipated Castillo to win. At that time, he was one of many high guys sparring [Julio Cesar] Chavez. I used to be in a position to take him out.
“I had these previous experiences that taught me find out how to put together mentally, and it was an thrilling one [against Espinoza].”
Soto’s spectacular run got here to an finish when he dropped a spirited 12-round cut up determination to Alejandro Gonzalez in a WBC featherweight title eliminator in Juarez in August 1994.
“For the glory of being an expert boxer, for the cash, for the journey, to see the world … That’s what pushed me.”
“It was a troublesome battle; Gonzalez boxed nicely,” he stated. “I assumed I gained, however he acquired to face Kevin Kelley for the title.”
Whereas Soto started his climb again up the mountain to battle for a world championship, the WBC 126-pound title was handed from Kelley to Gonzalez, who in flip misplaced to Manuel Medina, who was crushed by Luisito Espinosa.
Soto was rewarded with a shot at Espinosa however needed to enterprise to the Philippines in July 1996 to get it.
“It was an ideal expertise however a troublesome one,” stated Soto, who dropped a hard-fought 12-round unanimous determination. “Within the Philippines, the whole lot was geared towards him successful. The president got here and it was an enormous deal there. I felt I placed on an ideal efficiency.”
Unperturbed, the persistent “Cobrita” labored his means again with 10 wins over the following three years and was in a position to face Espinosa in a rematch, this time in El Paso, Texas.
“In Manila, he ran and saved going backwards, however in Texas, he really got here to battle,” stated Soto, who would seize the WBC belt with a unanimous determination win. “It was superb. I celebrated with associates, household and a journalist good friend. We traveled 40 miles throughout the border [back to Juarez] to have a good time.”
Later that yr, Soto was provided the chance to face featherweight money cow Naseem Hamed in a unification.
“I had an ideal coaching camp,” stated Soto, who misplaced an unsightly, foul-filled 12-round encounter. “As soon as we acquired to Detroit, I noticed numerous humorous enterprise occurring to the purpose the place Hamed weighed in on his personal scale. He made an enormous deal and so they stated, ‘No, you may’t weigh by yourself scale.’ In the long run, they conceded and let him weigh in on the scales he introduced. He didn’t weigh on the official scale all people weighed in.
“The opposite factor that was humorous to me, Arthur Mercante was going to be the referee and Hamed advised them, ‘If he’s going to ref, I’m not going to step within the ring.’ That they had a last-minute change of official. Had we had a ref who wasn’t designated by him, I feel he would have been disqualified for a few of these clown issues he was doing.
“Hamed was a well-known fighter, however combating with him was simply horrible. It was only a soiled battle. He wasn’t there to battle. All he did was run and run and be a clown present. I don’t wish to take something away from Naseem Hamed, however after I fought him, he was a coward. He didn’t come ahead. I don’t wish to take away that he was a world champion, and I respect him as a result of that is boxing, not one thing straightforward.”
When Soto reemerged eight months later, he made the stunning determination to drop to junior featherweight, the place he met future two-division titlist Oscar Larios in a WBC title eliminator.
(Photograph courtesy of the WBC)
“It’s one of many stupidest issues I ever did, going again and dropping weight courses,” admitted Soto, who misplaced a 12-round unanimous determination.
After returning to 126 kilos with a draw, the often sturdy Soto was surprisingly halted in three rounds by Johnny Tapia, who regardless of successful world titles in three weight courses wasn’t often known as a puncher.
“It was a type of fights – I misplaced my practice of thought for a second, and he caught me,” Soto stated. “There’s nothing extra to that one.”
That was the start of Soto slipping from the world stage, the primary of seven consecutive defeats in opposition to stable opposition. Whereas he was in a position to get again within the win column, he was by no means in a position to attain world degree once more and retired with a document of (63-24-3, 43 knockouts) in 2011.
Since retiring, Soto has frolicked working with native youngsters, hoping to find future fighters.
“Cash can come and go, however they will by no means take away that I used to be world champion. That lasts without end,” he stated proudly.
Soto, now 52, is divorced however lives together with his present companion, with whom he had a toddler. He additionally has three youngsters from his first marriage. He lives in Juarez and continues to be his metropolis’s solely world champion, however he often returns to go to his household in Palacio Gomez.
He graciously took time to talk to The Ring about the perfect he fought in 10 key classes.
BEST JAB
Luisito Espinosa: “For sure, it was an advanced jab, as a result of I assumed he was going to throw a hook and the jab would come out of nowhere. It was a really powerful jab to decipher.”
BEST DEFENSE
Espinosa: “He had a really excessive guard and a troublesome guard to crack.”
FASTEST HANDS
Alejandro Gonzalez: “After I first began boxing, I fought numerous guys with hand velocity. However so far as a recognized fighter, I’d say Alejandro Gonzalez. He would throw punches from all angles.”
BEST FOOTWORK
Gonzalez: “I fought numerous fighters who had good motion and generally had points with fighters with lateral motion. I’ve a troublesome time answering that one. Naseem Hamed was recognized for his footwork, however he didn’t impress me. Gonzalez moved round loads and had good toes.”
CHIN
Victor Rabanales: “I used to be like, ‘Rattling! This man’s not taking place.’ And I used to be hitting him with the whole lot. I hit him with the whole lot and the kitchen sink, and he wouldn’t go down.”
SMARTEST
Gonzalez: “He was sensible as a result of he knew to maneuver and field and never commerce.”
STRONGEST
Louie Espinoza: “He was very robust; he was the strongest fighter I confronted.”
BEST PUNCHER
Espinoza: “He shocked me a bit. Within the fourth spherical, he acquired me with a shot that had me out on my toes. I used to be out for a few seconds, which is an eternity in boxing. I don’t imagine Espinoza even discovered I used to be damage that unhealthy. If he knew, he would have knocked me out. Hamed was recognized to be a tough puncher and I wouldn’t take that away from him, however in my battle with him I by no means acquired damage. I didn’t really feel it.”
BEST BOXING SKILLS
Jose Luis Castillo: “I do know I took him out early. Technically, even in these couple of rounds he was the perfect fighter I confronted.”
BEST OVERALL
Louie Espinoza: Castillo was good, however that got here after we fought. Hamed achieved loads and you’ll’t take that from him, however he didn’t impress me. He ran and may have been disqualified. Tapia was good; he simply caught me with an excellent punch. Espinoza from Arizona was powerful; we stood and traded all night time. That was one in every of my hardest fights. I might give it to him.
Learn extra from the “BEST I FACED” sequence.
Mauricio Gonzalez helped translate this function. The Ring appreciates his help.
Questions and/or feedback could be despatched to Anson at [email protected].
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