(From Left to Right) Undefeated Texas rising star Omar Figueroa Jr., former Two-Time World Champion Andre Berto, veteran welterweight contender Jesus Soto Karass and undefeated top rated welterweight contender Keith Thurman pose on May 30, 2013 in San Antonio, Texas at a press conference to officially announce their July 27, 2013 fights where Berto will face Soto Karass, Figueroa will face Nihito Arakawa for the vacant WBC Interim Lightweight World Championship and Thurman will face WBA Interim Welterweight World Champion Diego Chaves at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, all of which will be televised live on SHOWTIME.
“KNOCKOUT KINGS II” San Antonio Press Conference Quotes
ANDRE BERTO, Former Two-Time Welterweight World Champion
“I’m looking forward to this challenge on July 27. As you can see, it’s an exciting undercard with my man Keith Thurman and my man Omar Figueroa.
“I’ve been through some ups and downs. I feel that I have made some of the right changes that I needed to get focused.
“I have a new team and I’m dedicated to win another world title.
“I let the big show get away from me twice, once against Victor Ortiz and once against Robert Guerrero. I’m coming to San Antonio focused.
“It’s going to be a hell of a show. Make sure you buy your tickets or tune in on SHOWTIME because there’s nothing stopping me. I’m ready.
“You can have all the power in the world, but if you don’t know technique or don’t have a strategy, then you’ve got nothing. I’ve made changes in my game plan and I’m going to fight smarter.
“Soto Karass is a good fighter. I’ve seen his fights. There’s nothing too spectacular about him, but he does have that tough Mexican fighting style.”
JESUS SOTO KARASS, Veteran Welterweight Contender
“I have a great test ahead of me. I have followed Andre Berto’s career very closely. When he was a world champion, I was hoping I was going to get to fight him someday.
“I wasn’t ready for him then, but now that I got offered the fight, I know I’m ready.
“This is a very important fight for me and I know I’m ready. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got to prove all of the doubters wrong.
“I decided that this year is the year I’m going to become a world champion.
“San Antonio is one of the best places for boxing. With these ticket prices, I’m hoping the arena is going to be full of Mexicans and Mexican Americans.
“The name of this fight is ‘Knockout Kings II’ for a reason and I’m going to try to make sure it lives up to its name.”