Cesar Soto (left) acknowledges that Naseem Hamed (right here with Soto on the Joe Louis monument in Downtown Detroit in September 1999) was essentially the most well-known opponent he fought, however he says “Prince” was on no account the perfect. (Photograph By Invoice Pugliano/Getty Pictures)
Mexican hardman Cesar Soto turned professional barely into his teenagers, realized on the job and finally 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 sorted the household.
“We have been a really hardworking household, very humble,” Soto informed The Ring by Mauricio Gonzalez. “We didn’t have any of the extras, however a really comfortable childhood. We didn’t have something, however we didn’t want something. We lived paycheck to paycheck, however I didn’t need to go work [as a child]. We didn’t have something in abundance, however we weren’t lacking a meal, both.”
Nevertheless, bother was by no means far-off for Soto, even at an early age.
“Ever since I can keep in mind, I used to be preventing – not essentially boxing, however preventing in class, on the streets,” he recalled. “My older brother mentioned, ‘As an alternative of preventing on the streets, come to the gymnasium and begin boxing. You by no means know, you can grow to be a boxer.’ I used to be a child that loved 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 started 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 He turned skilled at 14 years outdated, making round $50, in March 1986.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 knowledgeable boxer, for the cash, for the journey, to see the world,” he mentioned of his reasoning for turning skilled so younger. “That’s what pushed me.”
The teen loved a productive first 12 months as knowledgeable, registering 12 consecutive wins, all inside the primary 4 rounds. He moved his base of operations to northern Mexico.
“I moved to Juarez once I was 15; I’m adopted to that metropolis like [singer] Juan Gabriel,” he mentioned. “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, nevertheless. 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 positively matured me and made me loads stronger,” he mentioned of the 2 defeats towards Rabanales. “I realized loads from them.”
Whereas nonetheless a young person, 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 amazing expertise,” mentioned Soto, who dropped a hard-fought 12-round unanimous choice. “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. Everyone noticed me the winner and I hit him with every little thing. It was positively freeway theft; folks noticed it. The choice was unhealthy. It was a tough expertise.”
It proved to be one other step in Soto’s training, and he bounced again strongly with 14 wins, initially up at junior featherweight after which featherweight, capturing nationwide titles in each weight lessons. 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 tougher and received higher,” he mentioned. “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 capable of 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 break up choice to Alejandro Gonzalez in a WBC featherweight title eliminator in Juarez in August 1994.
“For the glory of being knowledgeable boxer, for the cash, for the journey, to see the world … That’s what pushed me.”
“It was a tricky battle; Gonzalez boxed nicely,” he mentioned. “I assumed I gained, however he received 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 amazing expertise however a tricky one,” mentioned Soto, who dropped a hard-fought 12-round unanimous choice. “Within the Philippines, every little thing was geared towards him successful. The president got here and it was a giant deal there. I felt I placed on an amazing efficiency.”
Unperturbed, the persistent “Cobrita” labored his manner again with 10 wins over the following three years and was capable of face Espinosa in a rematch, this time in El Paso, Texas.
“In Manila, he ran and saved going backwards, however in Texas, he truly got here to battle,” mentioned Soto, who would seize the WBC belt with a unanimous choice win. “It was wonderful. I celebrated with pals, household and a journalist buddy. We traveled 40 miles throughout the border [back to Juarez] to have fun.”
Later that 12 months, Soto was provided the chance to face featherweight money cow Naseem Hamed in a unification.
“I had an amazing coaching camp,” mentioned Soto, who misplaced an unpleasant, foul-filled 12-round encounter. “As soon as we received to Detroit, I noticed lots of humorous enterprise happening to the purpose the place Hamed weighed in on his personal scale. He made a giant deal they usually mentioned, ‘No, you possibly can’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 informed them, ‘If he’s going to ref, I’m not going to step within the ring.’ They’d 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 preventing 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 need to take something away from Naseem Hamed, however once I fought him, he was a coward. He didn’t come ahead. I don’t need to take away that he was a world champion, and I respect him as a result of that is boxing, not one thing simple.”
When Soto reemerged eight months later, he made the stunning choice 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 lessons,” admitted Soto, who misplaced a 12-round unanimous choice.
After returning to 126 kilos with a draw, the normally sturdy Soto was surprisingly halted in three rounds by Johnny Tapia, who regardless of successful world titles in three weight lessons wasn’t referred to as a puncher.
“It was a kind of fights – I misplaced my practice of thought for a second, and he caught me,” Soto mentioned. “There’s nothing extra to that one.”
That was the start of Soto slipping from the world stage, the primary of seven consecutive defeats towards stable opposition. Whereas he was capable of get again within the win column, he was by no means capable of attain world stage once more and retired with a file of (63-24-3, 43 knockouts) in 2011.
Since retiring, Soto has hung out working with native youngsters, hoping to find future fighters.
“Cash can come and go, however they’ll by no means take away that I used to be world champion. That lasts eternally,” he mentioned proudly.
Soto, now 52, is divorced however lives along with his present companion, with whom he had a baby. He additionally has three youngsters from his first marriage. He lives in Juarez and remains to be his metropolis’s solely world champion, however he frequently 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: “Indisputably, it was a sophisticated 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 tricky guard to crack.”
FASTEST HANDS
Alejandro Gonzalez: “After I first began boxing, I fought lots of guys with hand pace. However so far as a recognized fighter, I’d say Alejandro Gonzalez. He would throw punches from all angles.”
BEST FOOTWORK
Gonzalez: “I fought lots of fighters who had good motion and generally had points with fighters with lateral motion. I’ve a tricky time answering that one. Naseem Hamed was recognized for his footwork, however he didn’t impress me. Gonzalez moved round loads and had good ft.”
CHIN
Victor Rabanales: “I used to be like, ‘Rattling! This man’s not taking place.’ And I used to be hitting him with every little thing. I hit him with every little thing 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 sturdy; he was the strongest fighter I confronted.”
BEST PUNCHER
Espinoza: “He stunned me a bit. Within the fourth spherical, he received me with a shot that had me out on my ft. I used to be out for a few seconds, which is an eternity in boxing. I don’t consider Espinoza even discovered I used to be harm 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 received harm. 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 may’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 a great punch. Espinoza from Arizona was powerful; we stood and traded all night time. That was considered one of my hardest fights. I might give it to him.
Learn extra from the “BEST I FACED” sequence.
Mauricio Gonzalez helped translate this characteristic. The Ring appreciates his help.
Questions and/or feedback will be despatched to Anson at [email protected].
